2012: The End of the Automotive World?

The Mayans predicted the world would come to an end in 2012.

Maybe they were right, as this news from analyst Grant Thornton LLP could signal the end of times:

Foreign automakers will build more cars on U.S. soil than the Detroit 3… by 2012.

Epic, isn’t it?

The analysts predict by 2012 the Detroit 3 (I’ve retired my use of the “Big 3″ term) will produce 7.5 million vehicles, compared to an estimated 8 million produced domestically by the likes of BMW, Volkswagen, Honda, Toyota, and Hyundai. Most of those 8 million “foreign” cars will be built with non-union U.S. labor, which is enough reason for me to buy my “American” Toyota and be proud of it.

More good news: U.S. automakers should return to profitability by 2012, even if they reduce production by 35 percent from 2008 numbers. The bad news is for the suppliers, who will have to adapt to these changes in order to survive. I think many won’t.

The whole landscape of what “Made in the USA” means is changing. Does this mean the world is ending? Hardly.

More like a whole new one is beginning.

Are you bothered by the news that foreign automakers will, by 2012, build more vehicles in the U.S. than the Detroit 3?

-tgriffith

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Tires on New Cars: Replace After 20,000 Miles?

Expensive car, inferior tires?

I think car manufacturers and tire makers have a deal with each other. Here’s why:

I bought a 2007 Suzuki SX4 two years ago to serve as a commuter car. Today it has 22,000 miles on it, and last week I had to replace all four tires, because the front ones were nearly bald.

I figured I just had a case of bad luck and partly blamed myself, since I failed to rotate the tires on a regular basis. But the guy at the tire shop said he’s noticing a common trend: People are coming in for new tires with about 20,000 miles on the odometer. 

I got home and started searching online, and sure enough I found forums where people complain that their new cars need new tires after only 14,000 to 20,000 miles. A guy here made it 18,000 miles with a 2007 Lexus ES 350. Same thing here on a Mercedes GL450.

What’s the deal? Are car companies cutting costs by putting inferior OEM tires on their vehicles?

While I don’t doubt that could be a possibility, I think the bigger picture is a lack of proper tire maintenance. The guy who sold me the new tires for my Suzuki recommended having them rotated every 5,000 to 6,000 miles; maybe if I had done that in the first place the originals would’ve gone another 10K or so. 

Also, please keep an eye on your tire pressure. As temperatures rise, tires that were properly inflated in cold weather could suddenly be overinflated. Measure your tire pressure “cold.” If possible, park the car in your garage overnight, and check the pressure in the morning.

Even with proper maintenance, tire life is another thing to consider when buying a new car. Check to see if the tires come with a warranty, and if not, use it as a negotiation tool to inch your price down.

When selling a car, consider doing what the guy who traded in the car my wife bought did: He felt bad getting rid of a car with used tires, so he put on brand-new 18″ Yokohamas before getting rid of it. Sweet!

Has anyone else noticed a short life for tires on new cars? How many miles do you typically get out of a set of tires?

-tgriffith

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