GET A
GRIP.
In every industry there
are organisations who
claim to be something
they’re not. Products
that claim to change
your life at rock-bottom prices.
Companies hiding behind an over
inflated image, or over-promising on
what their products can deliver.
I
I was thinking about this recently when
I visited a restaurant that, on paper,
looked top-notch. But in reality, the
proof really was in the pudding.
The food simply didn’t live up to the
promises made by the establishment,
leaving me, the customer, dissatisfied
and disgruntled.
In 1900 André Michelin tuned into this
issue. With his brother Édouard they
published the first edition of what was
to become a game-changing guide. The
Michelin Guide listed the very best
places to eat. And as the brothers also
manufactured tyres, demand for cars
was consequently boosted, and thus for
car tyres. What a clever business
model.
We all know there is an enormous
range of tyres available in today’s
market, from premium brands at
premium prices, right through to the
most budget of budget tyres, from
brands whose names are often
unpronounceable.
Choosing the right tyre is a confusing
business. And with a huge price and
product differentials, often the
temptation is to focus on value without
giving consideration to whether
premium tyres are worth their weight
in…well, rubber.
Budget tyres are actually a
controversial topic. UK is often cited
among cynics as Europe’s "dumping
ground" for cheap tyres. And indeed,
we fit a higher percentage of budget
tyres to our vehicles than anywhere
else on the Continent.
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