The Tire Solutions program helps you create a Tire Policy booklet that summarizes all the rules, roles, recommendations and rewards contained in your Tire Solutions plan.

What is Tire Solutions?

In our view, Tire Solutions is a program that defines what we’ll call “The 4 Rs.”

These are:
1. Rules: WHAT do we need to do?
2. Roles: WHO does what?
3. Recommendations: WHAT are our “best practices”?
4. Rewards: HOW do we measure success?

These “4 Rs” are summarized in a written document, called the “Tire Policy,” which you, your dealer and your Bridgestone representative create together, and which is always available for everyone to consult. The “Tire Policy” is also a “living” document. From time to time, as your needs and objectives change, you may choose to alter part or all of it, to fit your new situation.

You’ll specify the tires you want to use, on new vehicles, and as replacements, for each axle and each vehicle type in your fleet. There’s total flexibility as to brands, sizes and patterns, including retreads.

So what are the “Rules”?

Rules define basic operations regarding the tires in your fleet. What kinds of tires will you use, on which vehicles and on which axles? How will you purchase them and from whom?

And so on. The idea is to produce written standards and specifications for tire-related purchasing, operations, maintenance and services. That way, instead of having to ask the same questions over and over, your plan will be in writing, so everyone who needs to can consult it. It will be clear and consistent.

The “Rules” would also contain things like inflation pressure standards, pull points and repair and retreading guidelines – and other procedures affecting the handling of your tires. Again, having all this written down goes a long way to establishing consistent practices in your fleet.

Your Tire Policy will contain customized details on your procedures for Mounting, Balancing & Installation, Tire-Related Maintenance, Retreading, Repair & Scrapping, and other operations affecting your tires.

Who’s going to do the work?

That’s where “Roles” come in. Again, in your Tire Policy document, you will specify who will perform each task. And because you define these roles, you can set up your tire program to outsource as little or as much as you want. You don’t have to commit to total outsourcing, nor do you have to do everything yourself. Each of the participants in the Tire Solutions program will know what their responsibilities are, what standards of performance are expected of them, and how results will be evaluated. Again, just as with the Rules, everything will be clear, consistent, and written down.

You can specify your own procedures, or draw on the collective experience of Bridgestone fleets around the country and around the world to determine your own “best practices” for your operation.

You can specify your own procedures, or draw on the collective experience of Bridgestone fleets around the country and around the world to determine your own “best practices” for your operation.

How do “Recommendations” come in?

One of the big advantages of having Bridgestone representatives as part of your Tire Solutions team is that they can draw on the collective experience of Bridgestone fleets across the country (and even, around the world). You’ll always have the benefit of the very latest information on tire care and maintenance, the very “best practices” known for tire management.

You’ll learn what other fleets are doing, what’s been found to work and what hasn’t, and be able to choose products, procedures and practices that will maximize tire performance, and minimize your cost per mile.

Will Bridgestone share our ideas with other fleets?

Only to the extent you’re willing to allow it. And always with your identity kept confidential. Once again, you’re in complete control. You’re not obligated to Bridgestone or participating dealers in any way. Your Tire Policy is yours and yours alone. As we mentioned before, there are no contracts or binding agreements, as with some other plans.

How about the “Rewards”?

Of course, that’s the one we all want to get to. “Rewards” consist of systems you, your dealer and Bridgestone will use to determine how successful your Tire Policy is.

You’ll develop methods for measuring your cost savings, and for evaluating those things that may not have a clear-cut price tag – like improved uptime. And don’t forget improved customer loyalty. When you’re more efficient, more profitable and more reliable, you’re delivering greater value to your customers too – another benefit from effective Tire Solutions.

Your Tire Policy will also define how you will measure success, and what reports you will receive that document program performance.

Your Tire Policy will also define how you will measure success, and what reports you will receive that document program performance.

How will we implement all this on a daily basis?

Tire Solutions has ways to help with that too. Among other things, you’ll receive as many copies as you need of the written Tire Policy, together with laminated cards you can distribute to shop personnel to direct them as they perform routine tire work. The cards are laminated to stand up to the tough environment of the tire shop. Perhaps the best thing about the Tire Solutions program is that instead of everyone's having to guess what to do, it’s spelled out, clearly. Generally speaking, everyone’s happier, because everyone knows what is expected of them and how their performance will be judged.

In addition to as many copies of the Tire Policy as you need, you’ll also receive sturdy, laminated cards that shop personnel can use as ready references to the procedures they’re expected to follow. The same information is also available to your shop via a secure Internet site.

Could we access this information from our shop computers?

You certainly can. If your shop computers have Internet access, they can be given access to the secure site where the shop data is stored.

In fact, you can assign a special password, limiting access to the information in the Tire Policy to those things that relate to day-to-day functions. Access is “read-only,” so you don’t have to worry about anyone's changing the contents of your Tire Policy.

Couldn’t we do this ourselves?

Yes, you could. And if you already have, you’ll find that Tire Solutions adds an extra dimension of clarity and consistency to the standards you’ve already created. And some powerful planning tools.

But, if, like many customers, it’s something you haven’t had time to do, Tire Solutions helps you get going and benefiting from a solid Tire Policy, right away.

Its computerized system lets you, your dealer and your Bridgestone representative create your “first draft” very quickly, then helps you refine and revise it as necessary.

Each time, you’ll create clean, clear, customized, professional-looking documents that will help everyone involved integrate decision-making, planning and team-building. The results will be true cost control for you and profitable long-term business relationships for all parties involved.

How can we find out more about Tire Solutions?

Just ask your Bridgestone Territory Manager. Good luck, and good tire management to you!