A convincing offer

adminonJuly 27, 2022February 11, 2022Leave a Comment

our scope of services focuses on assortment, purchasing and sales support services. We also support our parts wholesalers and their customers with expert advice and a high level of IT competence. With unique data and product management, we pave the way to the digital future for our shareholders. A strong purchasing community secures attractive sales conditions for our shareholders. From our service modules, our parts wholesalers and their affiliated workshops select precisely tailored solutions.

PARTS

SERVICES

Market situation / position

Direct link to industry and trade
SELECT AG acts as a link between industry, wholesalers and workshops.

We are in close contact with parts manufacturers and suppliers. In this way, we ensure attractive prices and top product quality for our parts wholesalers.

SELECT AG sees itself as a service provider. We support our shareholders with a clear product range strategy, central purchasing and a wide range of modular services.

Via our stockists, affiliated independent workshops purchase high-quality automotive spare parts and benefit from the services of our comprehensive myselect!-world.

Advantages at a glance

A strong negotiating position in parts purchasing

Economic security through the organizational structure as a purchasing cooperation

Democratic say of the shareholders in all decisions

Possibility to design and use innovations on the IAM

Parts trade

Parts trading

As a purchasing cooperative, we offer auto parts wholesalers a perspective that enables them to remain viable and economically successful in the price-driven IAM in the long term. Our motto "made in quality" underscores our high standards of product quality in the aftermarket. In all matters relating to purchasing and product range design, we attach great importance to joint decision-making and communication on an equal footing. Our shareholders have an equal say in all resolutions, irrespective of their sales volume. No matter how the IAM develops, we are at your side as a reliable, trustworthy partner with a strong advisory service.

We combine forces in purchasing

Central purchasing is one of our main characteristics. This means that we define the SELECT supplier portfolio in close consultation with our shareholders and negotiate purchasing conditions centrally for all shareholders of the Group. Adherence to the product range strategy defined in a stringent set of rules and the associated volume commitment strengthen our negotiating position vis-à-vis the parts manufacturers. For our suppliers, this approach enables binding planning and transparency in cooperation. All logistics processes, including planning, storage and distribution of goods, are handled independently by our shareholders on the basis of central agreements.

Our suppliers: quality comes first

In order to meet the high quality demands of our shareholders, the workshops and their end customers, we attach great importance to cooperation with the OEMs of the automotive manufacturers. Despite a clear commitment to the premium brands, we also offer our customers solutions on the subject of "value-for-money repairs. In addition to the quality of the spare parts, factors such as delivery capability, product range depth and data quality also play a decisive role in the selection of suppliers. In this way, we ensure that our shareholders can always provide their customers with the right spare part at the right time.

these SELECT premium suppliers have given us their promise of quality:

Data is the future

Our seamless and efficient data and product management is what sets us apart: more than 4.2 million articles are stored in our forward-looking product data management (PDM) system. In order to expand our market leadership, we are constantly developing the PDM further. For each individual product, the system automatically extracts up to 500 pieces of information from our supplier data. This includes, for example, the installation instructions, the dimensions and other article-specific features. For 1.6 million items, the purchasing conditions for our automotive parts wholesalers have also been deposited. Our auto parts pilot (ATP) is the only catalog system on the market that directly accesses this central product database. A total of twelve million items can be ordered from our ATP. Unbeatable advantage: our customers find the right part with just one click. Returns of wrong parts are a thing of the past, multiple orders are unnecessary. Efficient processes are guaranteed.

compulsory winter tires in germany

In europe the regulations for winter tires are very different. What is valid in austria, is not at the same time also in belgium or france law. Sometimes winter tires are mandatory, sometimes they are only recommended. In germany winter tires are compulsory. In the event of black ice, slush and black ice, i.e. "wintry weather conditions", you must change from summer to winter tires. If you are caught with summer tires in these weather conditions, you will be fined 60 euros and receive a penalty point in flensburg.

By the way, since January 2018, only tires with the Alpine symbol (also known as the snowflake symbol) fulfill the winter tire requirement. Surely you have seen the small three-pointed mountain with the snowflake in the middle before. Tires with this symbol have been officially tested for their winter properties and are particularly efficient in snowy or icy conditions.

Your old set of winter tires, however, is only marked with the M+S symbol? Don’t worry, until the 30th. September 2024 there is still a transitional regulation. You do not have to buy new winter tires with the snowflake symbol until this period has expired.

Expert Tip:

The M+S symbol on the tire indicates that it is suitable for driving in slush and snow.

From what temperature do winter tires make sense??

We recommend winter tires from a constant low temperature below seven degrees celsius. Whether you change your tires as early as october or as late as december, as stipulated by the "O to O" rule, depends on the weather conditions. Likewise, until when you drive with winter tires. if temperatures remain below seven degrees celsius for a long time in the spring, simply change your tires a little later. The opposite is true for mild temperatures in autumn or winter.

There is no obligation for summer tires. In principle, you could drive with winter tires all year round without changing your tires. But does it make sense to forego changing tires?

Driving winter tires in summer – makes sense?

Driving winter tires in summer is permitted, but not advisable. Even without the ban, we strongly recommend that you change your tires twice a year. Why?

Winter and summer tires are differentiated by their construction: summer tires are harder and have a special tread pattern that reduces the risk of aquaplaning. Winter tires, on the other hand, have a softer rubber compound that is optimally adapted to the cold season. This is particularly noticeable in braking performance. In snow, black ice and slush, the pronounced tire tread ensures good grip – unlike in summer. The different construction of the tires is also noticeable in other areas. In terms of fuel consumption and driving comfort, winter tires offer the best performance only at the appropriate time of year.

What makes winter tires perform in cold conditions?

Winter tires are specifically designed to deliver full performance in cold temperatures. Their rubber compound has a higher natural rubber content. So you remain flexible even at below seven degrees Celsius and have better grip on the road. In addition, the grooves and sipes on the tread are deeper than those on summer tires. This ensures particularly good driving in snowy conditions. How these properties are affected at higher temperatures? Little efficient. Winter tires have a higher rolling resistance in warm weather and a significantly longer braking distance. For comparison: at temperatures from 15 degrees celsius, your car will come to a standstill up to seven meters later than with summer tires. Therefore, use winter tires only in appropriate weather conditions.
our conclusion: adapt your tires to the weather conditions. This saves energy and fuel and ensures greater driving safety. In addition, keep an eye on the winter tire requirement in cold temperatures. When to change to winter tires depends on country and region.

Which vehicles are exempt from the winter tire requirement??

Some vehicles are exempt from the winter tire requirement in snowy and icy conditions. These include:

Winter is a rather slippery affair for many motorists. There is one issue that cannot be avoided every year: winter tires. When should they be fitted, which tires may be used?? Is there a winter tire obligation in germany? We have summarized some information for you on the subject of winter tires.

Only with good winter tires and sufficient tread depth can you drive safely through snow and icy roads.

For whom does the winter tire requirement apply?

In principle, winter tires are compulsory for all vehicles on public roads, also for vehicles with foreign license plates.

When to change winter tires?

When it comes to the question of when winter tires must be fitted, the popular rule is O to O, i.e., from october to easter.

The legislator does not specify an exact period, because this does not depend on the season, but on the weather conditions.

You must have winter tires?

One thing is certain: anyone driving with summer tires on slippery roads, ice or snow must expect a fine and a point in the central traffic register. If there is an obstruction, a hazard or even an accident, it becomes even more expensive.

By the way: insurance coverage often does not apply or only partially applies here. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. Recently, not only the driver but also the owner of the car who allowed the car to be driven without winter tires will be held responsible.

Driving without winter tires?

Anyone driving with summer tires on slippery roads, ice or snow must expect a fine of at least 60 euros and a point in the central traffic register.

Which winter tires may I drive?

The requirements for winter tires have changed again in 2017.Whereas in the past a so-called M+S marking was sufficient to certify that a winter tire had better driving and traction properties on snow than a normal tire, the alpine symbol – a mountain pictogram with a snowflake – is now required.

The alpine symbol was introduced as a new label by the united nations economic commission for europe (UNECE). This is intended to ensure uniform conditions with regard to rolling noise emissions and adhesion on wet surfaces.

But there is a transitional period until 30. September 2024. Until then, M+S tires are considered to be suitable for winter use if they are fitted by 31.12.2017 were manufactured. Winter tires purchased this year can therefore be fitted without hesitation.

Remember:

30. September 2024

alpine symbol

A winter tire configurator helps to find the right winter tire for your vehicle.

Who is excluded from the winter tire obligation?

Excluded are single-track motor vehicles as well as agricultural and forestry vehicles, trailers, forklifts, emergency and special vehicles for which no suitable winter tires are available. Even parked cars that are not moved during the winter months are not subject to the winter tire obligation.

But there are restrictions: before I start a journey with a vehicle that is exempt from the winter tire obligation, I have to check whether my destination could not also be reached with another means of transport. If this can be denied, further precautionary measures apply in road traffic:

Minimum distance

Winter tires and car rental

If you rent a vehicle in winter weather conditions, you should always find out about its tires. As a general rule, a car may not be rented out if it is not in a safe and roadworthy condition. This also includes the right tires. Car rental companies are free to charge additional costs for the use of winter tires.

Accident in winter and no winter tires: who is liable??

If you drive with summer tires in winter conditions and have a traffic accident, you will have to accept a reduction in benefits from your comprehensive insurance or your car insurance company. Calculate liability insurance.

These are issued on the basis of gross negligence. The joint liability affects the owner and driver equally. The owner, because he allowed the use of his car with summer tires, and the driver, because he objectively violated the winter tire obligation. This is also the case if another driver caused the accident.

It is therefore better to put on winter tires before the first snow falls and thus minimize the risk of an accident. This contributes to the safety of all road users.

Store winter tires correctly

As quickly as winter comes, it is often just as quickly over again. Before you store your tires, increase the air pressure by 0.5 bar more than the manufacturer’s specifications. Even though the tires are not used, the air pressure decreases during the storage period. Rimless tires should be stored upright and rotated a few times over the course of the months.

How long you can drive with winter tires?

Basically you should use winter tires not longer than 10 years use, only eight would be better. If you need new tires, it’s best to take care of them early, otherwise you may be faced with long waiting times – depending on the model – as there may be bottlenecks in production and delivery during the peak period.