The Tire Dealers Association of Western Pennsylvania (TDAWP) is adding Tire Industry Association (TIA) training to its offerings as a way to recruit members and also encourage best practices and safety measures for all members.
The first class, featuring TIA Automotive Tire Service (ATS) Certification training, will take place March 15-17 at Skander Tire Service in Evans City, Pa. The class is open to TDAWP members and non-members. Tire technicians interested in attending are encouraged to sign up quickly, as class size is limited to 12.
“TIA is excited the western Pennsylvania tire dealers are offering this training to its members,” says TIA CEO Richard “Dick” Gust. “Raising the technical level and professionalism of technicians in the tire industry is a core component of both association’s missions. We encourage all dealers in the region to take advantage of the training offering and to consider joining the TDAWP, if they are not already members.”
Alex Skander, a TIA-certified ATS and Commercial Tire Service (CTS) instructor and third generation owner of the dealership, will teach the class, which will have an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter participating. The TDAWP recently elected Skander president.
The ATS class will include two days of classroom work and a half-day of hands-on training. Skander recently renovated a former retread storage room to create a training studio at the tire dealership.
TIA’s ATS certification program provides comprehensive instruction on the recommended procedures for servicing passenger and light truck tires. Those who attend the class and successfully complete the Certified ATS exam will receive a certificate and 13 uniform patches.
The class consists of 15 modules ranging from raising the vehicle, to tire and wheel assembly removal, to the relationship between torque and clamping force, to the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) relearn procedures on domestic and import vehicles. It also includes an exclusive module on Tire Conditions Analysis that uses images from TIA’s Passenger and Light Truck Tire Conditions Manual to educate technicians on the most likely reasons for common irregular treadwear patterns.
Members of both TDAWP and TIA will pay $250 for the class. The fee is $360 for those who are members of TDAWP only. Those who aren't members of either association will pay $425.
Registration is available online. Those with questions can contact Skander via email.
Skander says the TDAWP intends to offer additional classes each quarter. Those unable to attend the March session can contact him to be added to a waiting list for the next class.
