Dec 1, 2007 12:00 PM

At Goodyear's new Commercial Tire Academy Boot Camp in Dallas TX, tire sales representatives undergo a week of intense training to learn more about tire issues and how they affect a customer's tire program.

Students get hands-on instruction beginning with how to “read” a tire. Tire inspections can detect underlying tire issues and trends, such as underinflation, irregular wear, and excessive scrubbing of tread elements on the road surface. Students use that information to help determine causes, such as maintenance or driver issues, alignment factors, or tractor configuration.

A session on scrap-tire analysis helps dealer representatives understand what's happening in a fleet's tire program.

Students also engage in simulations with “customers” to hone their skills at uncovering a fleet maintenance manager's problem areas.