Tire dealers in the aftermarket are used for much more than that — vehicles brought into their shop often return more work than customers originally anticipated.

The Aftermarket Business World Tire Dealers Study surveyed those repair facilities that offer tires, and 64 percent of respondents reported that when customers come in for maintenance or repair work, this occasionally leads to the sale of aftermarket products, including brakes, battery chargers, water pumps, oxygen sensors and shocks and struts.

With the majority of respondents categorizing themselves as independent general repair shops who offer tires, 80 percent offer free vehicle inspections to potential customers and consider quality and OEM form, fit and function the main considerations when selecting aftermarket parts for installation.

Jobbers and auto parts retailers were named as the preferred suppliers of the tire dealers surveyed, with quality product offerings and long-standing supplier relationships the main reasons survey respondents stay loyal.

The web has taken over as the main method for tire dealers to advertise, with 27 percent sending direct email to customers, while 23 percent rely on their company website or other sites to advertise, results show.

Aftermarket product sales have remained steady among these establishments, with ordering, sales and gross margins expected to reflect numbers seen in 2010, respondents report.

Good, better and best product offerings are only provided by 30 percent of respondents, with 73 percent of tire dealers reporting their product sales come from installation. Just more than one-fifth of respondents make sales through both installation of products and retail sales to consumers.

Click here to see the Aftermarket Business World Tire Dealers Study results.

METHODOLOGY: The Tire Dealers Study was surveyed via email to readers of Aftermarket Business World and Motor Age who have identified themselves as such.