MSP Tyres is a sales and service centre located at Namakkal, the major truck market in the South. The centre which is the Bridgestone Fleet Point at Namakkal was set up in 2009 by Mr. M. Subramaniam who shared his views with Motorindia on how radialisation of tyres has boosted business and the immense potential for growth in one of the most important trucking hubs of the country.
The whole concept of truck servicing has gained prominence only after radial tyres came into the market. As more multi-axle trucks have started plying on major roads, wheel-alignment became more of a necessity than an option. The traditional six-wheelers rely less on wheel-alignment, whereas in multi-axle vehicles, the additional axle requires careful alignment because of the increased possibility of wheel misalignment.
“The drivers and fleet operators have understood the importance of wheel-alignment, which has become as important as oil-servicing for engines. Since tyre costs have gone up, the customers have more awareness about the issue. Even if one tyre is damaged, there is considerable loss for the owner, so they understand the consequences”, said Mr. Subramaniam.
Wheel-alignment does provide reasonable advantages to the owner as well as the driver. Apart from better tyre-life, diesel consumption is better and the life of spares is enhanced as a result of alignment.
MSP Tyres offers many services, including tyre-changing, wheel-alignment, tyre-rotation, greasing and nitrogen-filling. These operations, for which automatic pneumatic tools are used, were brought in at a time when radial tyre sales were growing exponentially.
In addition to sales of popular tyre brands such as Bridgestone, Michelin, JK and Apollo, repair of radial tyres is also undertaken at MSP Tyres.
Mr. Subramaniam feels that the servicing routines help improve the centre’s relationship with customers and also ensure steady growth of both parties. The centre is exploring the possibilities of bringing out a contract-based service for top-level customers in order to maintain their vehicles with complete vehicle history.
MSP Tyres enjoys full support in terms of technical back-up and training from the global tyre-maker. Madhus is the preferred garage equipment supplier at the centre which currently has 20 employees. On an average, seven to eight trucks and around 10 passenger vehicles are serviced everyday. With growing awareness of the importance of radial tyres, the centre has seen an increase of 20 per cent in business this year.
Mr. Subramaniam’s next plan is to open a new service extension, exclusively for passenger vehicles, while the existing one would continue to be a one-stop for all vehicles. Buoyed by the strong growth in the segment and positive customer response, he is confident of further expanding operations.