Tuesday, July 3, 2012

How to Choose a New Set of Car Tires

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Too many people don't place enough importance on the maintenance of their car's tires. As long as the tires aren't flat and the car can ride smoothly enough most people take car tires for granted.
But take a moment to think about this: the tires are the only part of your car that actually comes into contact with the road, this makes them extremely important when it comes to safety. When you're looking to buy a new set of tires you really need to take the style of tire into consideration. Not to mention that if you know what the right kind of tire is for your car you'll be able to quickly replace them should you ever suffer a blowout or other issue.
Just a little bit of research is required to find out what kind of tire is right for your model of vehicle. The first factor you need to consider is size. Take a look at the numbers on the tires currently on your car and write them down, this can give you a lot of information. Each number is the size of the tire in inches followed by its serial number.
Most cars will use 13 to 17 inch tires, trucks and SUVs tend to use a slightly larger size of about 22 inches. The size is important so that it fits the rims and wheel wells that control your tires.
The internet is a good place to start when you want to compare brands. There are also a number of consumer product testing websites out there that can help you find the most durable and reliable brand of tire. You can usually rely on your local auto center to have the type of tire you need in stock, or at least know where you can go to get it. You could also speak to an auto mechanic that you trust and get his or her opinion on which style of tire would be best for your vehicle.
Once your new tires are installed you need to make sure that you maintain them properly. Regular tire rotations are a must, you should do this every 3,000 to 5,000 miles or can choose to do so whenever you have your oil changed.
Tire rotations ensure an even wear of the tire tread which ensures they grip the roads smoothly. You'll also want to examine your tires yourself on a regular basis. Make sure there are no bumps in the tires themselves. Such bumps or bulges indicate a weakened area which could cause a tire blowout.
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Buying Car Tires - What You Need to Consider

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Car tires are one of the most important safety features of a car. Aside from safe driving, good tires ensure the safety of the passengers.
Tires need replacement. They get usually worn out because of a number of reasons. One of these would be the condition of the road. If roads traveled are rough, then, obviously, the tires are easily worn out. Second, the frequency of travel counts. The more the car is used definitely means the more the wheels become worn out.
When are you suppose to replace them? One common method of determining when to replace tires is the penny test. To perform this test, insert a penny into the tire's tread. Take note of Lincoln's image in the penny. If Lincoln's head disappear, your tires are still good. If Lincoln's head in the penny does not appear, they need to be replaced. All tires must be checked using the penny method.
What do you consider when buying car tires? One should look into the size of the wheel and type of vehicle when choosing new wheels. Also, consider the terrain usually being traveled. The weather in your place should also be taken into account when choosing replacements. There are those that are fitted for the snow and tires for rainy conditions. However, to play safe, many car owners purchase the all season tires.
If you are purchasing car tires, you should also consult and seek advice from a mechanic or a car enthusiast. These are the people who are adept in this area. Also remember, that when buying new tires, quality should come first even if they are expensive. High priced quality tires spell out dependability and safety for the riders.
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What To Look For In A Used Car - Tires

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When purchasing a second hand car it is handy to know different areas of the vehicle to check. In this article we will look at tires, those all important round things that are the only things keeping you on the road.
Tread depth
The amount of tread left on the tires will let you know how long till they will likely need replacing and also about the driver of the car. If the tires are bald then it could be a sign that the car is driven hard or that the owner of the vehicle does not care about maintenance of the car. Tires can be quite expensive to replace, so if they look like they are getting low on tread, factor this into the price you are willing to pay for the vehicle.
Tire size
Are the size of the tire fitted to the car legal? In some locations there are restrictions on the size of tires that can be fitted to particular cars. Check that the tires on the car are within legal guidelines.
Tire pressure
Once you buy a car make sure that the tires have the correct pressure in them. There should be a sticker in one of the front doors or glovebox which states the correct inflation pressure for the car. If the pressure is low it can adversely affect the handling of the car. If it is too high it can cause the tires to wear in the middle.
Tires are important and should be looked after with regular inspection for damage and to ensure that they are correctly balanced.
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Choose Good Summer Car Tires

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At some point or the other, one needs to replace their car tires. This ensures safety and also enhances the handling ability and fuel economy of the car. Tires should be inspected regularly for wear and tear, preferably by professionals. A general rule of thumb is: If the tread depth has worn to 1/16 mm (2/32"), it is time for a replacement.
The all-season tires are marked as M+S which stands for mud and snow. They are made for spring and winter weather conditions. That apart; there is a numeric code (for e.g. 175/70R13 82T) which signifies the width in millimeters, as well as the aspect ratio and tire's load and speed rating etc.
The new replacement tires should also have these same numbers except for the last letter that indicates the tire's speed rating. Letters like T, H and S etc indicate the speed limits that should not be crossed when using these tires. The higher the number preceding this letter, indicates a more stable and rigid tire at high speeds. Naturally, you also need to pay more for such tires.
If you live in a region where summers tend to get extremely hot, then summer tires are a must. Such tires are made with special compounds that allow for better grip on heated roads. Summer tires also enhance the performance and handling efficiency at the same time, keep the car safe by improving the braking and handling aspects.
That apart, the summer tires must also be able to handle the weight of the vehicle. So, the new tires should not be undersized. For most cars and vans, the diameter change of plus/minus 3 percent is acceptable. For SUVs and pickup trucks the engineering can handle a 15 percent oversized tires. For the sake of convenience, tire manufacturers have come up with Plus Sizing, which accounts for available sizes in tires and wheels. Based on this, one can choose the right tire width for adequate load bearing capability. Many websites have a convenient feature of allowing you to enter the make, model and year of your car based on which you are recommended the correct tire size. The owner's manual may also guide you on the right sizing of summer tires and many times this information is stamped on the door jam or gas cap.
Finally, before purchasing the tires, one must always consider the worst weather conditions that one might need to drive in. Based on this, one can choose all weather tires or purchase separate sets of wheels for the summer or snow.
Choose good summer tires for your car, and you can also buy other car parts, Honda prelude accessories, Honda Jazz accessories at reliable car parts store.
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Exposing Car Tires

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Having the right set of car tires is essential as you strut down the road. Not only will it increase the vehicle's performance but also minimize the risks and hazards while driving. As a driver, it is your responsibility to look after not only the car's engine and outside appearance but also the smallest details like mounting the right set of tires. Most people conveniently ignore the importance of good tires. Drivers forget that they are the only contact between the car and the surface and should not be taken lightly.
Tires play a crucial role in accelerating, maneuvering and braking of any motor vehicle. Whatever automobile you possess from BMW, SUV, commercial trucks to utility trucks, having a good set of tires completes the overall performance. Shopping tires may seem like a daunting task especially for amateur drivers who do not know what they should be looking for. There are so many brands and even more options. So how do you get the most of your money? Your driving habits are one of the most important components in determining which tires to buy. If you use your car every day as your transportation to work then keep in mind the driving conditions and changes in temperature that you encounter. If you live in an area where there are a many hills, this environment can affect your tires greatly because going up and down hills can produce more wear and tear on your tires. If you reside in an area where it snows most of the time, then you need tires that will provide more traction and grip in snow and ice.
Another thing to look into is the tire types. For driving at high speed, a performance tire suits the job description. It has a different type of compound that makes the tire sticky on the road. This is not the type of tire though you should choose if you just use for simple errands or to run back and forth school or your office. On the other hand, all season tires are for general purpose and longevity. The typical mileage rating for these tires is 40,000 miles to 80,000 miles depending on the driving conditions, driving habits and weight of the vehicle. They are designed to handle trekking through the three seasons except winter. Winter tires are your trusty companion for the cold and icy season. They contain a special compound that make the tire soft for traction during snow but these tires cannot be used all year long since they wear out easily during warm weather.
These are only some of the things to consider when buying tires. Taking the time to understand the importance of having the right set of car tires will protect your car as well as your safety. Find a reputable tire retailer to purchase your tires from and assist you to finding the right one for your car.
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What is the Risk When Your Car Tires Are Not Functioning Properly?

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One of the most common causes for traffic accidents is tire failure. Although, in some cases the tire dysfunction is caused by the driver, some of the tires might have manufacturing defect. Many people think that the tire manufacturers have to warn their customers about the possible danger when using such car tires, but the facts say that most of them fail to do that. Therefore, you would be familiar with some of the most common tire dysfunctions that might occur and try to predict them if possible.
The most common cause for tire dysfunction is tread separation. That occurs when each one of the layers separates from one another. During the assembly process the car tires are exposed to large temperature and pressure. Furthermore, some of the steel belted tires have special belts, which will improve its puncture resistance, but some of the tire manufacturers do not cover the steel wires, before using them. Therefore, the rubber components are unable to stick to the steel and this causes the tread to separate. Most of the small tire manufacturers do not use that special procedure, because it makes the manufacturing process a lot more expensive. Remember that sometimes it is better to buy more expensive car tires from one of the big names in that industry, than making compromises with your life.
If you use rims that are created from more than one pieces, the risks of tire failure is a lot higher. Most of the tire manufacturers are offering free educational services related with that topic, so you can pay a visit to the websites of some of the largest among them. Remember that using rams that are created from more than one pieces, can improve the look of your car, but also it will reduce its safety.
Finally, the last common tire dysfunction that can occur is when the sidewall of your car tire explodes. There are many things that you can do to reduce the strength of your car tire such as deflating it and also small cracks in the sidewall. Therefore, make sure that you will regularly inspect your car tires, because that way you will notice a possible tire failure, before it actually occurs. Each one of the tire manufacturers have warnings related with that issue and it is a good idea to find and read them, because that way you will learn exactly what you are not supposed to do with your car tire.
If you want to read more about car tires, please follow the link and read this article.
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Car Tires Safety Check

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Car tires check is an imperative part of automotive inspection in ensuring your safety on the road. Basically for tires, the most common thing to do is to always make sure the tires have adequate and proper amount of air pressure. The tire pressure must be checked when the tire is cold as pressure is affected by temperature. The air temperature inside the tire is increased while driving and causes the tire to expand. A low tire pressure is more dangerous than a little higher pressure because the former makes the tire more susceptible to wear thus presenting the need for replacement. Additionally, when the tire is soft, the car uses more fuel.
The wheels and the tires too should be well balanced. A common procedure is to rotate the tires on a regular basis for an even wearing and to maximize the usability of the tires. If you notice that there is vibration when you are steering the vehicle's wheel while driving, it is an indication that the wheels and tires needs balancing. balancing is especially essential when the tire is new. Not only is steering affected by unbalanced tires and wheels but also the suspension system of the vehicle.
Wheel rotation is not just merely switching the tires' and wheels' position, but rather while on this task, the tires must be inspected appropriately to see if there are distinct wear patterns or mechanical defects.
One of the things to inspect in relation to the car tire is the tread depth. Tread mainly has contact with the road. It is a thick rubber that provides sufficient traction or grip to the surface. There are actually rules governing the amount or depth of thread because some drivers, to avoid expenses are stubborn and still use the tires with less tread thus causing accidents and road mishaps. The lower the tread of the tire means lesser traction and steer or brake control.
The next thing to check in the tire is its side walls. Carefully see if there are carved holes and cuts on the tire walls. Depending on where the cuts and holes are as well as the size and gravity will determine if the tire is a candidate for replacement or some repairing will do.
Proper caring for your tire is not only for extending its life but more importantly is for guaranteeing your safety and protection on the road. The road surface if loaded with too many holes, small and big. Therefore in driving you must try to avoid those holes because chances are, your tires will lose air in an instant as it took the entire impact when you hit on the holes. This is a dangerous scenario that may result to loss of control and a likely accident.
Tires have a certain amount of load that it can carry. When you put too much stuff in the vehicle, it also affects the condition of the tire. When there is excessive load in the car, the tire is possible to come off the rim when the car tries to turn in the road corner. Each vehicle has its appropriate type of tire to be used so depending on the possible loading on that particular vehicle.
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How to Replace Car Tires - Some Pointers to Remember

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If you're looking for some advice on how to replace car tires, this is your one-stop guide. When replacing tires, there are just a few pointers to remember.
Never Combine Tire Types On The Same Vehicle
You CAN use different tire types on the same vehicle but it's just better not to. If you want top performance, the same kind of tires should be employed on all four wheel positions. Different tire types and their different constructions, sizes, and phases of wear may have a negative effect on car stability and handling. These apply unless you own a car that are purposefully fitted with tires of varied sizes.
Replacing With Tires Of Different Speed Ratings
If tires of various speed ratings are employed in a car, the lower speed rated tires should be positioned in the front axle no matter which axle is driven.
How To Replace Car Tires If You Only Purchase Two
In this case always make sure to have the new tires fitted on your car's rear axle. There are some good reasons for this. First, when new tires are fitted on the rear, this assists in minimizing the tendency for your car to hydroplane or fishtail in wet conditions. The new tires will present better grip on wet surfaces compared to your old tires.
Replacing Old Tires With Lower Speed-rated Ones
When replacing speed-rated tires, you should employ replacement tires with ratings that are the same as or more than those of the older equipment tires that you had. This is if you wish to maintain the speed capability of the car.
These are the basic tips on how to replace car tires. Hopefully this will help you in your future tire replacements.
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Car Tires - Safety Issue - Serious Defect

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Serious warning - Car tires may have a hidden defect that could cause drivers to lose control on the road.
A lot of us think that if our car tires look good, are properly inflated and have a good amount of tread, that they are probably safe to go out on the road with.
But few drivers ever think about the age of their tires - as we are about to learn, this can be a tragic mistake.
Tires, especially the spare tire, could be up to a decade old, making them an accident waiting to happen. A ten year old tire can have deteriorated to the point of having rotted inside, when the tire is used at highway speeds the effect can be disastrous.
"In tires, the materials that hold the belts together -- the rubber materials -- will degrade and lose its elasticity, and those properties will get to the point where the tire can no longer hold together," said vehicle safety advocate Sean Kane. Also, in warmer climates tires start to break-down even earlier. Six years, or older, is when we start to see a disproportionate rise in tire failures. An American government report on tire aging, analysing insured tire claims from several states, found that 84 percent of claims were for tires over 6 years old.Even never used tires, such as those bought from the showroom floor, in the same age bracket, are just as dangerous, as they may indeed have been sitting there for a decade or more, just waiting to be sold.
Many auto-makers now put warnings in their new-car manuals, warning against using tires more than 6 years old. What is really needed are expiration dates stamped on the product, similar to many other consumer products, from washing machines to yogurt.
The tire industry disagrees, stating that expiration dates will only give consumers a false sense of security, Dan Zielinski from the 'Rubber Manufacturers Association' says: "Consumers may view the use-by-date as the minimum service-time they can use that tire, no matter what they do to it - whether they care for it or not, or have worn it to the nub."
Tire-makers say proper maintenance is the key to safe tires and that there is no reliable data available showing tires becoming dangerous after 6 years.
So, where does this leave the consumer? I have some invaluable information to pass on to you!
On the outer wall, or side-wall of the tire, the bit that faces away from the car, are a series of four raised numbers and letters (actually manufactured with the tire). The last series of four numbers actually shows the "birth-date of the tire". e.g. if it shows 1501, this means on the 15th week of 2001 is the date of manufacture.
Safety experts advise that if a tire does fail, the driver should not slam on the brakes, this can cause the vehicle to swerve out of control, pulling suddenly toward the affected tire, nor should drivers jerk the wheel back, possibly causing the car to roll.
Drivers should immediately back off the accelerator and gently pull the wheel back to straighten the car applying the brakes carefully once the car has slowed to a manageable speed.
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Taking Care Of Your Car Tires

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One of the most important, and easily worn, parts of an automobile is the tire. Since there are four tires on most private cars, that is four times the troubles that can come as a result of poor maintenance. Tires are very important to many aspects of a car. Not only do tires provide the means whereby the car can even move, they are also essential for proper amounts of fuel efficiency, for keeping cars on the road even in rainy or snowy weather, and for maintaining control of the car. Because tires are so vitally important, it is also necessary to keep them in good order and replace them as necessary. There are a couple of things that every car owner should know as they maintain their tires. Overlooking or naysaying the necessity of holding to these practices can result in many adverse effects.
Car tires are, as you most likely know, made of rubber, which means that they are pliable and susceptible to all kinds of things. Tires can be punctured with nails or glass on the road, compress or get flat when the weather gets cooler, and be worn bald over time. All of these instances can create different potential hazards. Tires that are punctured with nails or other objects are far more likely to go flat or even blow out depending on how deep they go. It is very important to get these obstructions removed as soon as possible. Because nails and other similar objects have such a detrimental effect on the tire as a whole, any tire that is punctured will most likely have to be replaced by another tire, which can be very expensive. To avoid this, it is best to watch out for any sharp objects while driving in order to ensure that tires are not punctured. Because there is air inside the tires, the amount of inflation in the tire is somewhat determined by the weather. As weather gets colder, the air inside a tire compresses and can create a lower or close to flat tire. Driving on underinflated tires can ruin the tires themselves, as well as create a completely flat tire and decrease the car's fuel efficiency. Another consequence of not taking care of tires is that they eventually lose their tread and become bald. This is extremely dangerous, especially in rainy or snowy weather. As the roads become slicker, tires have less of a chance to grab onto them because the friction is reduced. This is what causes sliding, fishtailing, and skidding. Putting a bald tire on a slick road is a sure recipe for an uncontrollable and dangerous car.
In order to avoid all of the adverse effects that these situations cause, make sure to have tires rotated about once every six months or so, to make sure that they are always inflated to the PPSI (Pounds Per Square Inch) listed on the tire, and that they are replaced whenever the tread has worn down. Taking care of tires can help greatly to ensure your and your passengers' safety through any type of weather and any type of circumstance. Maintaining control of the tires helps all to maintain control of the car as a whole.
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The Importance Of Maintaining The Performance Of Car Tires

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You should never ignore the fact that your car will surely encounter some sort of wear and tear in a few years after you bought it. This cannot be avoided even after providing good and timely servicing to your car. In time, some of the car parts will need replacement. The most important car parts that experience high stress are suspension, axles, lights, transmission, engine, and tires. If the stress is continuous, these parts of the car may actually break down. Moreover, amongst all these car parts the tires need higher level of care.
So, which conditions are responsible for the wear and tear of the car tires? Long time driving, lack of servicing and maintenance, vehicle dynamics and rough roads, driving conditions and alterations in weather can easily affect the quality of the tires to a substantial level. Such conditions can surely deteriorate the material of the tires along with tire tread loss.
Thus, the outcome will be serious car crash, accidents, and tire skidding. These are the reasons that make it significant for the car owners and drivers to provide utmost maintenance and care to the tires for better safety and security on the road.
You just have to follow some specific guidelines in order to avoid such incidents. First thing that needs to be checked regularly is the tire pressure. The over inflation and under inflation can result in decreased traction in the tires, reduced fuel economy, and complete wear and tear. Secondly always check the condition of the car tires. In case your tires have started wearing, then alter them on time. You need to monitor the tires constantly. Last but not the least guideline is to verify whether the alignment for the wheels is required or not. This signifies that the weight must be equal on all the four car wheels. Thus, you will be able to maintain the quality of the car tires.
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Useful and Interesting Information About Car Tires

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The car tires are very important for the performance of your car. Therefore, you should find the best way to maintain them properly and also what to look for when choosing new tires for your car. In that article, I will give some basic information about the tires, which will explain you the basics of those car parts.
  • When you pay a visit to your local car store, you will notice that there are 3 main types of car tires available there - good, better and best. Those grades refer to the mileage of those tires. The main difference between those grades is the fact that with good car tires, you can drive up to 40000 miles, with better car tires you can drive 50000 miles and with best car tires -100000 and more.
  • There are different grades available for SUVs and light trucks, because they depend on the load rating of the particular vehicle. If you notice that some of the SUV tires you are looking to buy have C rating, this means that the maximum inflation pressure of those tires is 35 pounds per square inch. With D and E rated SUV tires, the maximum inflation pressure is as follows 60 and 80 pounds per square inch.
  • When you buy performance tires, do not expect them to last for long period of time. The reason for that is the fact that to achieve performance, the tire manufacturers had sacrificed the durability of those tires. Usually, with your performance tires, you can drive up to 50000 miles, but they will rapidly improve the handling, steering and braking capabilities of your vehicle.
  • There are some recommended tire rotation patterns available for the different types of vehicles and you should check your vehicle's manual to find out, which is the best among them for your model. Furthermore, in most of the websites of the largest car manufacturers, you will find a lot of really useful tips about how to improve the performance and the life duration of your car tires. The simplest rotation pattern available today involves rotating the tires on the drive train with the others every 5000 miles. That way, you will improve the duration of the tire's life and when you have to replace them, you will have to replace all 4 instead of just 2.
With all this information you are now ready to pick the best tires for your car. Still there is a lot more to learn.
If you want to keep reading about tires, follow this link and check out this article.
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How to Make Your Car Tires Live Longer?

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The tires are among the main components of your car and actually they allow you to drive it. However, if your tires are not in good shape, sometimes you might pay with your life. Therefore, you should learn how to maintain your tires to make them work better and also to increase the duration of their life. Here are some of the most common ways to make your tires last longer:
First, you should rotate your tires on regular basis. There is no better way to make all of them to wear-out at the same rate. Many factors can cause your tires to have different wear rate, like for example there might be more weight on one of the sides of your car. Furthermore, the tires on the driving wheels wear out faster than the other ones.
Another thing to do to allow your extend the life of your car tires is to regularly check their pressure. If a car tire do not have the proper pressure, it will wear out a lot quickly than you have ever imagined.
To make your tires last longer you should avoid driving on rough roads whenever it is possible. Remember that the type of roads you drive on have a lot to do with how quickly your tires will wear down. If you live in an area where the roads are not in good condition, you will have to often replace your tires. If you driver carefully, your tires will be in good shape for longer period of time. It is important to remember that if you happen to have a nail in your car tire, you should not remove it, because the car tire will quickly deflate, but pay a visit to a tire specialist to see whether you can get your car tire fixed or not.
Finally, regularly check your the tire tread. Remember that no matter how you take care of your tires, eventually they will wear-out. When that happens usually your tire tread will wear out and that seriously increases the risks of getting involved in traffic accidents. Therefore, if you notice that the tread of your tres is less than 2/32 of an inch, you should replace them. If you manage to keep your tires in good shape, you will also improve the fuel efficiency of your car.
Believe it or not there is a lot more that you should learn about the car tires, You can see an article about winter tires to get my point.
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The Best Way to Save Money and Fuel - Tuning Your Car Tires

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According to the experts of the tire industry, millions of Americans are running on tires with inadequate pressure. These motorists are not aware that their safety is at risk nor how the air pressure in tires affect fuel economy, maneuverability of the vehicle and tire life.
Many drivers never or rarely, check air pressure in their car tires, but this is a simple task that takes two to three minutes. Test your knowledge in this brief questionnaire:
Q. How do inflated tires affect your fuel economy in your car and how much it would cost?
A. A badly inflated tire increases resistance to rolling so the engine of your vehicle work harder. According to the Department of Energy of the United States, if tire pressure is just two pounds below recommended, results in an increase of one percent in fuel consumption. When you multiply four tires by several pounds, easily could increase gasoline consumption by ten percent or more. For many drivers, it could cost several hundred dollars per year in gasoline.
Q. Should I inflate my tires to the maximum air pressure marked on the sidewall of the tire?
A. No. You should inflate your tires according to the pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer and is in the door jamb or in the manual of your car. If there is a range, always use the highest level of pressure psi (psi is an abbreviation for pounds per square inch and expresses the inflation pressure).
Q. How much air pressure a tire can lose commonplace in a year?
A. According to Bridgestone / Firestone, the tires can lose one pound per square inch per month.
Q. How low tire pressure may cause harm to tire causing additional risks?
A. The bad side of a tire inflation is deflected over when the vehicle is in motion, generating heat. This heat will increase and could destroy the components of the tire.
Q. When is the best time to check my tire pressure?
A. It is best to check tire pressure when the tire is cold (usually in the morning when the car has been stopped.)
As a general rule, tires of today are made to last much longer and have higher performance compared to tires from last decade, this was told by Director of Marketing for Bridgestone / Firestone, Phil Pacsi. But without proper maintenance, including regular testing of pressure, rotation and alignment, tires lose their effectiveness. The most important thing is knowing that this maintenance helps ensure that the tires offer a safer ride to drivers and passengers.
Tuning our car is essential no matter the activity we are planning to carry out. To keep your trip on going, it is always recommended to get the correct set of accessories for your car. For example, biking is one of my favorite activies so I always use my bike rack carrier. Find more information about car and truck accessories at pro3xpert.com
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Car Tires - History and Information

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Since Thompson and then Dunlop first introduced the pneumatic tire in the 1840s and 1880s, there has been a radical change in the design. From the early car tires which were essentially just a piece of rubber hose wrapped around a wheel and sealed shut, first were added valves. Soon after the techniques of hardening rubber such as vulcanization were perfected, allowing tread patterns to be imprinted onto, cut into, or molded into the tire.
Soon the inner tube concept was invented, allowing a wheel with a rim that wasn't airtight to be used, which meant lighter, spoked wheels became the norm until quite recently. Cars were able to start going comfortably and safely much faster than a person only because of the invention of the pneumatic car tire.
Modern tires have usually abandoned spokes and inner tubes, in favor of a sealed rim, and the fabric and metal that is layered into a modern car tire make the sidewalls stronger, allowing them to be only a partial tube in themselves.
Different types of rubber including synthetic compounds, and many different construction techniques mean that tires are almost as varied as the cars themselves.
Asymmetric and multi-radial tread patterns, along with specially designed structures allowing maximum road contact for grip and steering are common. In certain applications such as the military, we can also find tires that don't go flat when they are punctured or shot. There are special car tires designed for snow, ice, rain, mud, sand, high speed and any other specialist application you can think of, but the most numerous type of car tire is the general purpose road tires we probably all have on our cars.
Car tire technology is currently going through significant changes due to the environmental problems associated with manufacture and disposal, but so far little progress has been made. Time will tell.
Nuno R Batista
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Choosing Your Next Set of Car Tires

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Maintaining your vehicle's tires is an often-overlooked task by many people. It is easy to take for granted that your car tires are in working condition because when they are functioning properly, you barely notice them. But your vehicle's wheels are the only part of the car that touches the road, making them the most important safety feature on your automobile. That is why it is imperative that you choose the right style of tire for your car the next time you purchase a set. Learning which are right for your vehicle will also help you if you ever have a blowout and need to quickly have one replaced.
Finding the right type of tires for your car requires a small amount of research. First, you must know the size you need. A good way to find this information is by looking at the numbers on the walls of your current car tires. It will have the number of inches followed by the serial number of the tire. Standard cars usually measure between 13 and 17 inches in diameter, while trucks and SUVs can have standard tires around 22 inches. It is important that you select a set that matches the size of your wheel's rims and wheel wells.
When selecting a brand, a good place to do research is the Internet. You can check out consumer testing websites to see which brand of tire has been rated the safest and the most durable. In most cases, your favorite local auto shop will have - or know where to get - the exact type that you want. A trusted auto mechanic will also be able to offer his or her opinion on which would be a good fit for your car.
You may live in a climate that sees all four seasons. If this is the case, your auto mechanic may recommend all-season or all weather tires. These tires are manufactured to perform well in dry, wet and snowy conditions. If you live in a region with long, snowy winters, you should change your tires to a style that is manufactured with a traction pattern specific to traveling in snow and ice. In the summer, you can change your tires back to the standard tread pattern.
Be sure to properly maintain your new tires after they are installed on your car. Schedule regular tire rotations, usually done every 3,000 - 5,000 miles, or when you have your oil changed. Rotations will ensure that the tread is wearing evenly, giving you the maximum grip on the roadway. Also visually inspect your tires periodically. Look for bulges or bumps in the rubber. These areas could mean that the tire is weak and could possibly lead to a blowout.
Take steps to prolong the life of your car tires and arm yourself with knowledge about the styles available. The next time you need new tires, you will know exactly what you need and how much they cost. Your vehicle's tires are an important safety feature, so don't just assume they are in good working condition. Know that they are.
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What You Should Know About Buying Car Tires

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These car tire buying tips can help you to maintain your car with a degree of confidence, especially if you do not have much knowledge about them.
The biggest thing you need to do when buying tires is to make sure you have the right size. Getting them in a size not made for your specific car can cause the treads of the tire pattern to wear out much faster and cost you money. Plus, there are tires specifically made for just about every car model.
The information for the tire size is also in the owner's manual and locate on the side of the existing tires. If all else fails, ask the person changing your tires what size they are so you'll know. Then double-check for yourself to make sure it matches up when the tires on the car.
If you can, always buy five new tires at once. The reason for this is that as your tires get rotated, the spare can be worked in to extend the life of all your tires, help them to wear evenly, and save you money in the long term. Many times, tire shops have sets on sale when you buy them all together. It does come at considerable savings. But shop around because a good sale can save you a nice chunk of change.
It is also good to know what type of tires originally came on your car. This way, if you do change them, it'll be easier to back track if your driving experience is negatively impacted.
Most cars come with all-season tires. These are good general tires because they are designed to handle all types of weather. Of course. if you live in a hot climate like South Florida, year-round Summer tires may suit your needs best since these have a higher tolerance for heat. But they will not perform well in the Winter should you find yourself making a road trip to Boston in January.
The same principle applies if you happen to live in Maine, for example. Getting year-round tires built mainly to handle driving over snow and ice are fine.
If you drive your vehicle off road, all-terrain may be better for you. If your driving is done more at high speeds, in a fancy sports car, then year-round high performance tires may be more suitable since they are made for that purpose.
Also, be aware that tires wear at different rates. For example, high-performance tires, like those you might see on a Corvette, tend to have softer treading in order to deal with speed and gripping requirements. This also translates into much faster wear. It is not uncommon for all-season tires to last twice as long as high-performance tires.
There are a number of different tires for different driving styles and conditions. So, knowing your driving style before you go in for tires can help you quickly determine what you need.
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Car Tire Information You Should Know

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Your car tire is one of the things that can provide you with a great riding experience. Even the most expensive and stylish cars are nothing without a good set of tires. If you want to personally shop for your tires, here are some important pieces of information that you should never neglect.
Size Matters
Different tires don't just have different brands. They also come in different sizes. Your car tires should always fit the type of vehicle you are driving. Examples of various types of tires for vehicles are passenger and light truck type tires. If you get a smaller size than is appropriate, you could endanger yourself or end up paying more for tire maintenance.
You would know your tire size by looking for it in your car manual or on the sidewall of your tires. The sidewall print also contains other pieces of important tire information. If you are not sure how to interpret the sidewall letters and numbers, you may want to consult a tire and car website for proper interpretation. Some sites will simply let you enter information on your car's model and make so you can get your tire size information.
Rims Should Match
Aside from the size, you should also have the appropriate rims for your tires. The rims give your tires the right support. Getting the wrong rim for your car tire may result in too much tension on your tires. This could damage your tires sooner than they should be. If you want to customize your wheels, make sure you consult experts who know which tires fit with which rims.
Many Different Tires
There are various options for car tires. You can have tires for the winter and summer. Tires are also categorized according to type of vehicle. Passenger tires have different dimensions from those used in vans and SUVs.
One other category of tires is according to use. Each driver may have very specific driving styles. Some may also drive more often in rough terrain than others or may need their vehicles for frequent transport of heavy load. There are specific tires depending on your intended use and the way you use your tires.
Tires Don't Last Forever
Regardless of the tire brand and how carefully you take care of your tires, they will not last for a lifetime. Part of keeping yourself safe on the road is to know exactly when your tires should be changed. You can follow manual suggestions for when tires should be changed. You should however also manually check your tires. Look for leaks, tears, wear and bumps on the rubber of your tires.
You Shouldn't Guess
If you aren't sure about anything about your tires, then you shouldn't make guesses. You could put your life in danger. If you need any help with tire information or tire changes, you should ask a qualified tire dealer.
Never underestimate the value of getting the right car tire. Save on money and effort by asking experts to help you get your tires.
Get tips on how to find tires on sale for your vehicle. Find relevant car tire information online.
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Finding Cheap Car Tires

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There is no escaping the fact that you have to buy new tires from time to time. For most people it seems way too often. Since it is a recurring expense you want to get the best price possible. Your tires influence the way your car handles which affects the safety of your car, so you need to buy tires that keep you safe as well. So, we are definitely talking about finding tires that are cheap, as in not expensively priced and not cheap as, in low quality here.
Minimum Safety Standards
Can you find "cheap" tires for your car that are safe? Absolutely! Actually, there are minimum safety standards that all tires have to meet so you can be assured your tires will at least meet those. The only other concern you will have is how long the tires will last. With proper rotation you will be able to extend the life of the tires, so it is important to be especially diligent about it when buying cheap car tires.
Finding cheap car tires is relatively easy to do on the internet. You can search stores and compare prices for both live stores and online stores. Many tire sellers online offer free shipping when you are buying a full set, so be sure to look for a deal like that. You will want to take into consideration whether you are able to install them yourself when comparing the prices as well.
Finding Good Deals
Many shops also offer complete wheel and tire packages that come fully prepared with the tires properly mounted and balanced on the wheels. Installation then becomes as easy as turning a few lug nuts, anyone can do that. These package deals are easy to find with free shipping and that is a substantial savings.
How About Used Tires?
Another alternative for finding cheap car tires is to purchase some previously owned tires. You need to be really careful with this option, because it can be difficult to tell how much life is really left in the tires, but if you need something to get you by until you can afford a better set, this may be the way to go.
Sometimes you can pull off buying two new tires for the front and rotating the old tires to the back or buying a good used set for the back. This tactic can cut the tire bill dramatically while improving the safety of the vehicle.
If you are ready to buy some cheap car tires, be sure to know what size you need before you begin your search. The size will be listed on the sidewall of your current tires or in your vehicle's owner's manual. Having this information handy will help you get an accurate quote on cheap tire prices for your car. Be sure to get at least three quotes before making your final decision to get the cheapest price. You will feel much more secure knowing your car is safer to drive and much less stress knowing you got the best deal possible on your tires.
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Ensuring Safety Through Maintenance of Car Tires

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Maintenance of car tires is fundamental to the safety of the vehicle's occupants and life of the car. This important aspect is often overlooked by many either due to ignorance or lack of knowledge about maintenance. Here are a few essentials for maintaining tires to keep these in perfect shape and ensure safety.
Maintenance Tips
Maintenance tips for the car tyres could be found everywhere, over the internet, through car experts, mechanics and in your car user manual as well. Thus, follow these tips and get your car tyres in proper form.
Tire Balancing
Getting the car tires balanced at your mechanics ensures that these revolve around the wheel hub in a perfect manner. Balanced tires lead to increased tire life and enhanced performance of the vehicle. Apart from a mandatory requirement of an annual tire balance check it is important to balance them after each time they are removed for repairs.
Alignment
Periodic check of tire and wheel alignment is most essential aspect of tire maintenance. Tire alignment is essential for the vehicle to run straight. It helps to retain even tread wear along with extremely precise steering capability and sound suspension.
Inflating Tires Up To The Recommended Air Pressures
It is very important to check tire pressure every now and then and definitely prior to commencing a long journey. It is recommended that you check the tire pressure at least once a month. Proper tire inflation is critical to the vehicle's safety.
Low tire pressure leads to increased tread wear and reduced tire life because of excessive heat generated by under inflated tires. Similarly over pressure also results in increased tread wear and reduced tire life. It is a good idea to keep a good quality air gauge in the car.
You should know the correct pressure that your tyre requires. Check the user manual for the correct tyre pressure or visit the manufacturer's website online. If possible, use an air gauge cage of good quality to ensure that you get best results.
Regular Tire Rotation
Because of uneven weight distribution of the vehicle there is a need to rotate the tires periodically to ensure even tread wear. This periodicity is laid out in the car manual however every 6000 to 8000 miles of running is a good guide.
Thus, ensuring that you follow the above car maintenance tips, you would surely be able to take proper care of your car tyres. This is important not only for long life of your car tyres, but also to ensure your personal safety.
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Buy Car Tires Online - The Simple and Trouble-Free Approach to Buying Your Next Set of Tires

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When you have a car, you know perfectly well that buying new tires is a task that you do not do frequently. As a matter of fact, there are car owners who have never experienced buying a new tire for their car. It may be because they change cars often or they don't drive too far for their tires to be used up.
However, there are also car drivers who constantly worry about the need to change car tires again even after changing it with a new one several months ago. Indeed, different car drivers have different needs when it comes to changing the tires. But, whichever between the two types of car owner you fall in, buying tires can be a crucial and overwhelming task especially if you don't know much about car tire specifics. However, since more and more items are made available online at present, why not look into buying car tires online?
In case you are not yet aware, the common belief that buying things online would most likely result to being ripped off or hoaxed by bogus sellers has finally vanished. People have now learned the efficient ways and methods on how to steer clear of bogus sellers and how to identify them from the start. This paved the way for the popularity of buying products online and tires for cars are not exceptions at all.
In point of fact, car owners even consider buying car tires online far more beneficial and easy instead of getting them from supply outlets. If you try turning to this new avenue, you would discover the advantages of getting your next set of tires for the car online.
What makes online shopping for car tires very convenient is the fact that you can work on comparison shopping with much ease. It is definitely easier to just type in or use your computer mouse and clicking here and there while you sit comfortably in your couch or on your swivel chair. Compared to hopping in from one outlet to another and walking from one store to another in search for better car tire choices.
By means of online shopping, you can effortlessly come across with thousands of highly regarded dealers both local and international, isn't that interesting enough? You can do this twenty four hours each day without worrying of shops closing down because online dealer's sites are open 24/7.
In addition to that, shopping for car tires online gives you the chance to find great deals that no physical outlet could ever touch. You will come across plenty of tire brands that are offering discounts and even are offered on sale from their websites. Plus, the availability of different sizes of tires in stock; in case one site does not have what you are looking for, you can simply hop on to another site by simply clicking your mouse; easy, isn't it?
Buying car tires online is such a breeze; you only have to key in the exact size of your tire, pay for it using the specified payment option and voila! All you have to do next is to wait for your new set of tires delivered to your door step, depending on what is outlined in your purchase agreement. Isn't it a much simpler and undemanding way of shopping for car tires? So, are you ready to buy your car tires now?
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Car Tires - Check Your Tire Pressure and Develop Your Gas Mileage

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Make it a regular habit and you'll save money.
One of the most effortless ways to get the best possible gas mileage out of your car is to continue your car tires properly inflated. Doing so will improve your fuel economy by 3.3 percent, saving you about 10 cents per gallon of gas.
While it's easy to drive every day and think that your car tires pressure is correct, the truth is that some factors can trigger tires to lose pressure over time. General wear and tear, seasonal temperature fluctuations and more instigate car tires to lose about 1 to 2 pounds per square inch (psi) every month. Lose 1 psi in all four tires and your miles per gallon will go down by 0.4 percent.
With today's gas prices that decline will add up fast, especially as the car tires lose more pressure over time. Think about this example for a 25 mpg car driven 1,250 miles a month and $3 a gallon for gas: After five months of declining pressure, you'd spend an extra $13.80 on gas; after 10 months, an extra $51.68.
Here's how to ensure your car tires pressure, and know what it should be:
• Look for a sign on the inside of the driver's door, on the doorframe or in the glove box. If you don't see it in any of those places, check your owner's manual. That sticker lists the right tire pressure for your car.
• Whether the sticker says 'cold tire pressure' or not, you want to make sure the car tires when they are cold, meaning the car hasn't been driven for a few hours.
• Don't follow the psi numbers marked on the car tires themselves. That's the upper limit pressure those tires can take, not what's ideal for your particular car.
• Use a tire pressure measurement to settle on the tires' current pressure level. Your best bet is a digital gauge. Digital gauges are easy to use and far more precise than their non-digital cousins, such as the sliding gauge that looks similar to a pen. A digital gauge costs more than the latter, but will quickly pay for itself in gas savings if you regularly use it to sustain the correct tire pressure.
Don't take as read that your car tires are appropriately inflated. It's a good habit for safety and gas mileage to check them at least once a month. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 30 percent of cars and trucks have at least one tire that's underinflated by 8 psi or more. And don't believe that your car tires are at the right pressure just because they look 'normal'. Even significantly underinflated car tires [http://www.all-in-car-tires.com] may have understated, if not indiscernible, visual differences.
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Things to Keep In Mind When Purchasing Car Tires

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Selecting the right kind of tires for a car can be quite a hectic procedure. There are many tire manufacturers that produce tires these days. Each manufacturer claims to be the best at what they do. However, you can not simply go to a tire store and purchase a tire that looks good. You need to consider a few things before purchasing one.
You should be well aware of your car tire size before you go to purchase one. Every car has a different tire size fitted onto it and choosing an incorrect car size may lead to problems. Often people choose to install larger tires on their cars. The car may look good, but the tire may not perform as it should. It is seen that such misfit tires either wear out fast, thus costing you money.
Once you consider changing your car tires, you should change all of them together. Even if a single tire requires a change, you should try to wait till most of the tires of your car wear out. Having a tire that is not of the same life as the rest installed on the car may not guarantee you the performance you seek.
You should consider purchasing tires that can withstand different weather conditions if you frequently commute using your car. The reason for this is that your tires may work ideally in the city you live in but if you plan on going to a city with a very cold climate, your car tires will not perform the way they should. If you require traveling on highways at high speeds, you should purchase tires that are suited to give you high performance all year round. Other types of tires may not perform well on high speeds and may end up bursting on the highway.Selecting the right kind of tires for a car can be quite a hectic procedure. There are many tire manufacturers that produce tires these days. Each manufacturer claims to be the best at what they do. However, you can not simply go to a tire store and purchase a tire that looks good. You need to consider a few things before purchasing one.
You should be well aware of your car tire size before you go to purchase one. Every car has a different tire size fitted onto it and choosing an incorrect car size may lead to problems. Often people choose to install larger tires on their cars. The car may look good, but the tire may not perform as it should. It is seen that such misfit tires either wear out fast, thus costing you money.
Once you consider changing your car tires, you should change all of them together. Even if a single tire requires a change, you should try to wait till most of the tires of your car wear out. Having a tire that is not of the same life as the rest installed on the car may not guarantee you the performance you seek.
You should consider purchasing tires that can withstand different weather conditions if you frequently commute using your car. The reason for this is that your tires may work ideally in the city you live in but if you plan on going to a city with a very cold climate, your car tires will not perform the way they should. If you require traveling on highways at high speeds, you should purchase tires that are suited to give you high performance all year round. Other types of tires may not perform well on high speeds and may end up bursting on the highway.
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How to Maintain Your Car Tires and Maximize Their Lifespan

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Your car will definitely experience some wear and tear after a few years on the road and even timely servicing may not prevent the occasional requirement for a part replacement. Among all the parts of a car, the ones that face the most stress are the engine, transmission, axles, suspension, brakes, lights and tires. With continuous stress these parts are most likely to break down or wear out. Even among these parts, the ones that experience the most wear and tear are the tires.
Changes in weather and driving conditions, types of roads, vehicle dynamics, and years of usage along with lack of maintenance can affect the condition of your car tires to a substantial extent.
The effects of these factors can lead to deterioration of tire-material and loss of tire-tread that may result in tire-skidding and possibly accidents or car crashes.
It is imperative that car tires receive utmost care and maintenance because if they are not in a condition to do their job properly, there is a serious threat to the safety of the vehicle along with its occupants and other entities on the road.
But there is no need to panic. We can ensure that our car tires remain in a fighting-fit condition for years by following these simple guidelines.
Maintain proper tire pressure - Always make sure the air pressure in your car tires is maintained between recommended levels. Under-inflation as well as over-inflation of tires can induce uneven wear and tear in tires, reduced traction, decreased fuel economy and compromised steering control.
Keep a check on the wearing process - A worn out tire is the main ingredient in the recipe for road accidents. Monitor the wearing process of your car tires to know exactly when you need to replace them. It is a proven fact that constant monitoring of the condition of tires can save you from a lot of hassle.
You should identify the pattern of tire wear and try to gauge the decrease in the depth of the treads. Most tires have wear-out indicators called "wear-bars" around the circumference in the form of rubber marks between treads. If the depth of the treads matches that of the wear-bars, you definitely need to replace the tire. If you can't locate the wear-bar, you can also use a tread measuring device (available with most car-spares sellers).
The measuring device needs to be placed between the treads. If the reading is around 2/32 of an inch, you definitely need a tire replacement. Under extreme driving conditions, you might want to replace your car tires before a reading of 4/32 of an inch appears on the device.
Verify whether wheel alignment is needed - Proper alignment of your car wheels is aimed at distributing the weight of the vehicle evenly on all four wheels. In doing so, each wheel should maintain a constant angle with the road and with the axis of the opposite wheel. There should be no inward or outward tilt in the axis of the wheels. The purpose of wheel alignment is to reduce uneven tire wear, make sure the vehicle travels in a straight line without any sideways drag and improve steering control.
Along with uneven wear-out of tires, another prominent sign of misaligned wheels is a crooked steering wheel. If the steering-wheel in your car is tilted from the normal position when the car is traveling in a straight line, there is a wheel alignment problem in your car. Also, if your car tends to steer in either direction instead of traveling in a straight line, it is time for a wheel alignment.
Timely alignment of wheels can save the tires from uneven wear out and at the same time save you from a lot of hassle on the road and off it.
Practice Tire Rotation - There is no doubt that the tires in your car will eventually wear out but with certain techniques, you can definitely prolong their life-span. Tire rotation is one such effective technique mentioned in most service manuals across the globe.
The four tires of the car need to be periodically rotated in a manner that each tire is moved from its current position and mounted at the opposite end in a crisscross manner. Hence, the driver's side front-wheel is fitted in place of passenger's side rear-wheel. This way, tires wear out evenly and hence last longer.
By following these simple guidelines, you can maximize the lifespan of your car tires and definitely avoid a replacement tire for a long time. This way you also make sure that you are safe on the road knowing your car tires will do their job effectively.
James Rodham
Quality Auto Parts
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Saturday, April 28, 2012

Do It Yourself Car Maintenance: Spring Maintenance Auto Checklist

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Spring is a time of fresh starts and renewals. Extend the "spring cleanup" you give your house and yard to your vehicle. You'll not only improve its performance and lengthen its life, but you'll spare yourself time, money and aggravation.
Spring Checklist #1: Items You Can Perform On Your Own
Whether you do the work yourself or depend on a professional technician, getting your vehicle in shape now will undo any damage caused by winter driving and keep you safe on the road this season.
    1. Remove clutter from your car. Vacuum the carpeting; Windex the windows; wipe the headlights with a soft, damp rag. Wash and wax your vehicle to remove winter salt and grime and protect the finish. 2. Cooling system (radiator): flush and refill according to the service manual's instructions. The level, condition, and concentration of the coolant should be checked periodically. Important: first let the engine cool down before removing the radiator cap. 3. Skipping oil changes can greatly reduce your vehicle's life. Change the oil and oil filter as specified in your owner's manual. Be sure to properly dispose of used oil. Replace other filters (air, fuel, PCV, etc.) as recommended in your service manual. 4. Check your tires, including the spare. Let them cool down before checking their pressure. Uneven wear, cupping, vibrations, or pulling to one side indicates problems with your tires or suspension system. 5. For safety and convenience, inspect all lights and bulbs, and replace any that are burned out. 6. Replace worn wiper blades and always have plenty of washer solvent on-hand to combat summer's dust and insects. Read your owner's manual and follow the recommended service schedules.
Don't miss Part 2 of this series: RK Auto Group Spring Checklist of Services to schedule with your Qualified Auto Technician.
© 2006 RK Auto Group
Tom Kline is Controller of RKAutoGroup.net (RK Buick, RK Chevrolet, RK Subaru, RK Scion and RK Toyota).
During his 15-year tenure Kline has worked in the Sales Department of RK Auto Group, Parts, Service and Body Shop, Leasing, Collections, and Management Information Services. RK Auto Group, located in Southeast Virginia, has been recognized as one of the top 100 Chevrolet dealerships in the nation. Founded in 1964, this award-winning dealership sells approximately 9,000 vehicles per year.
RK Chevrolet is the recipient of Chevrolet Motor Division’s coveted Service Supremacy Award four years in a row. This is an award which less than 400 of the nation's 5,000 Chevrolet dealers have won. The dedication of each employee made these awards possible.
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Cheap Car Tires

The Easy Way to Buy a Car With Bad Credit

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A Step-By-Step Tutorial: How to buy a car with bad credit without it turning into a nightmare.
Are you tired of hearing the word 'No' when it comes to a car loan? I set up 'How to buy a car with bad credit' specifically so that you could hear the words 'yes'. Who am I, you ask?
I spent 14 years in the automobile business as a Finance Manager so I believe it's fair to say that I know a thing or two about getting a loan financed, irregardless of your past credit history.
Remember, regardless of your past credit history, you still need a car, want a car and most of all, you deserve a car. You should also be treated with respect and given choices. I'm going to teach you how to have a choice with auto bad credit financing loan.
First of all, all lenders now purchase deals based on what is called a beacon score, which is the same as your credit score. There are three credit bureaus that make up the package. Each lender will choose whichever credit bureau(s) they prefer when looking at your credit or a combination of bureaus.
I highly advise everyone to have all three credit bureaus pulled when checking your credit and to pay for the credit score. If you only look at one bureau, you're only seeing part of the whole picture.
With the exception of a few minor things, beacon score will play a large part in your approval. Staying within your financial means is another, so be realistic. If you make $2500 per month and have $1200 going out, don't walk in all high-and-mighty and tell the Finance Manager that you will only have an Expedition or nothing. You'll end up with nothing.
In order to effectively use auto bad credit financing, you are going to have to know what your credit looks like and what your credit score actually is. Otherwise, you are working in the dark.
Pay for the credit score or it's just almost useless. With the credit score, you will know whether or not you qualify for a lender such as Ford. Also, the higher the score, the lower the interest rate. Got it? With an auto bad credit loan, the higher the beacon score, the better.
Let me explain websites like cars.com and the such: They collect applications for car loans online. They then have a network of dealerships that PAY them for the leads. These are generally dealerships that have departments that specialize in getting you financed, regardless of your credit. These departments pay for these leads, so most take them very seriously, as they are their bread-and-butter, so to speak.
If you have a lower than usual credit score, a current repo or just plain, all-around bad credit, this might be the way to go. If your credit is really that bad, remember that you are going to need some cash or a paid-for trade in that's actually worth something.
O.K., now for the step-by-step system that I promised. First, take control of your car deal! You need to be in the driver's seat, if at all possible. Go online and run a copy of a tri-merge, which is all three credit bureaus, plus pay for your credit score. You can get a FREE copy of your credit report once per year HERE:
http://www.annualcreditreport.com
This is the new Federal law that actually entitles you to receive a FREE copy of your credit bureau once per year and with some other exceptions. This is not a credit monitoring site. You have to run each bureau separately; Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Then, you have to pay for the credit score.
So as to hold down on confusion, here's the scoop: Each credit score for each separate bureau will be different. That's why a Tri-Merge is called what it is called. You can run a specific bureau called a Tri-Merge from one company (there are many-just do a Google search) and you actually get one bureau (it's actually all three combined but the credit score is also one credit score). It's more expensive and generally runs around $34.00 but it just depends on your preference.
Now, with your credit score in hand and a copy(s) of your credit bureau, look at your credit. Do you have anything strange on there that is not yours? If so, it's time to fix it. You should review your credit bureau at least every 6 months to a year. Plus, if your identity has been stolen, you will know quickly. P.S. you can also have a liner placed on the bottom of your bureau that simply states "Do not extend any credit on my behalf without contacting me first. Work # (111)222-3333 Home#(222)333-4444 Cell# (333)444-5555." Call or write the credit bureaus and request that this is done. You can now do this online for free. Again, do a Google search for all three bureaus listed above.
How do you fix your credit, you ask? I give away a totally FREE book that I wrote on the subject simply for the asking. Email me with Free Credit Repair Book in the headline and I'll email it to you.
Next in line: Know what you want to buy BEFORE you even go out shopping! Let me make this very clear. Car dealer's jobs are to sell you a car on your very first visit. A salesman/woman and their sales manager believe that if you walk into their dealership and do not leave with a car, you will never come back again. They are going to hammer on you until they either A) Make you mad and you get up and leave or B) Sell you a car. It's the nature of the beast. Accept it ahead of time.
What do you want to buy? Where can you get unbiased information on the auto? Again, Google for Kelley Blue Book or NADA and you can get cost, warranty repairs, recalls, and information on problems and tons of info beforehand. Limit your shopping to three models. Keep it simple. Those will be the ones that you will shop for.
Can you afford the car? You may think you can afford the car, but the bank may think otherwise! I have seen this so many times in my career. Automobile economics 101: Take your gross income (what you make per year BEFORE Uncle Sam taxes you) and remember, this income needs to be provable-tax returns, check stubs with taxes taken out or a W-2. If you are self-employed, you will need two years of tax returns with Schedule C's. This is the income that you actually paid taxes on. Being self-employed can be tough. You may need to combine a spouse's income if you are self-employed.
Now with your gross income figured out, find out what all of your debts are that are going out each month. Include everything...it's listed on your credit bureau's. Example: Car note=$450.00 + House note= $560.00 + Credit card debt= $425.00
Boat note= $310.00 Charge-offs=$1200.00 (yes, charge-offs; these are bills that you never paid and they were written off). Add all of your debts up. With just your obvious debts (including the charge-offs), you have $1805.00 per month going out. I arrived at that figure by adding up all the monthly notes and taking 5% of the charge-offs. 5% of $1200.00 = $60.00. We're not through, though. Now we have to figure in cost of living-utilities. Each lender has their own algorithm for utilities but a good range to estimate would be to add $300.00. Now we have a total outgo of $2105.00. This is what you have to have to pay your current bills before you take on any other debt.
Almost all lenders will not allow your new car note to exceed 20% of your current income. For our example, let's assume that your gross income is $5300.00 per month. Let's take $5300.00 and subtract your debts, which are $2105.00. That leaves you with $3195.00. To make it easy, take $2105.00 and double it. That would be $4210.00. That would leave you with disposable income of $1090.00. What the lender is looking at here is referred to as debt-to-income. They want to know if you have more going out than you can handle. This is strictly a case of numbers and provable numbers. If your gross income was $4500.00 and you had $2105.00 in debts each month, you need to be prepared for one of two things; add your spouse's income and your spouse to the deal or trade in the other auto. If your debt-to-income is running too close to 50%, you're going to have a hard time getting a loan for anything. Make sense? The way the bank looks at it is this: you can't afford both cars so they assume that you are going to let the other (older) car go back to the lender-repossession. That's their take. Debt-to-income is a HUGE deal.
In this case, your disposable leftover income is $1090.00. 20% of that would be $1060.00. Whoa! Let me be the first to inform you that you are NOT getting a car payment of $1060.00! Why? Well, you only have $1090.00 left over for starters. Let's be realistic here. Most lenders will slice that in half which will equal $530.00. Your payment call should be around that figure, give or take a few dollars.
How expensive of a car can I buy on a $530.00 payment? Good question and one that you absolutely need to know so that you can pick out the correct car. One answer depends on the term of the loan. You can finance for 36, 48, 60 or 72 months, as a for-instance. That equates to 3 years, 4 years, 5 years and 6 years. I will tell you this: the worst thing you can do is extend the note out the longest amount of time in order to get the payment where you can afford it. That creates a syndrome that now affects over 75% of car owners called being "Upside Down." It means that you owe more on your car than it's worth. It also means that you need more money down when you go to trade it in. The only way around that is a lot of money down or a short-term loan.
You can again do a Google search for a 'car loan calculator'. You will punch in the loan amount you want to borrow, the term (48,60, etc.) and the interest rate. If you have not gotten approved already and know the rate, you will have to guesstimate. Here's a rule of thumb for you-it's not an exact science without knowing your credit, but it is a guide you can follow to get you close. Let's base the rate on your beacon score: that's what most of the lenders are going to look at.
If your beacon (credit score) is in the 400 or lower range, you will need to figure your interest rate on a new car at 21% (state maximums differ-it could be 18%). If you are looking at a used car, figure on 33%. If your beacon score is in the low 500 range, figure your new car loan as you would for the above-mentioned 400 beacon. If your beacon score is in the mid to high 500-range, figure a new car at 18% and a used car at 27%. If you have a beacon of 600 to 649, figure a new car at 16% and a used car at 20%. If you have a beacon score of 650 to 699, figure a new car rate at 12% and a used car rate at 16%. I may be hitting too high on a few of these, but I live in a state that has the highest rates in the nation. Better safe than sorry.
Get Pre-Approved BEFORE you start shopping. This is the easy part, in a way. Remember I told you at the beginning of this article to take charge of your car deal instead of letting the dealer lead you by the hand. It all boils down to financing. If you can walk in with a check in your hand, you are in control. I will recommend a few companies that are reputable, have a proven track record in sub prime loans and all mail the check to you at home. You then go into a dealership and pick out your vehicle, negotiate and buy like a cash buyer! These companies are Household Finance, Capital One Finance, Americredit and E-Loan. You can do a Google search for all four, apply online, and get either an instant approval or one really quickly. When you are approved, they mail the contract to you and then the check. It's that easy.
On the final decision for the car-work smart here. There is nothing more valuable than time and nothing more rewarding than piece of mind. Please don't go running from dealership to dealership. Wrong. Pick out the 3 models of auto that you can afford. If you are looking for a program car (rental), call dealerships and inquire as to whether or not they have any. If you want a new, ask other people that are driving that model where they bought theirs and would they purchase there again. If you start hearing a lot of "I'll never buy from them again", move on. Something is wrong. Your new car is only as good as the service you will get AFTER the sale.
Negotiating-Most people hate this. I have only met 2 people in 14 years that enjoyed it; they were both retired and had nothing better to do. One did it for the fun of it and never even bought if you agreed to his price. Don't waste other people's time. If you don't like the car, don't negotiate on it. When you do find a car that you would own, tell the salesman you'd buy it right then if the price was right and if they provided you with a Car Fax. The keyword here is: 'If the price is right'. How do you know what a good price is? Well...glad you asked. If it's a new car, Kelley Blue Book will have dealer cost. Go to: http://www.kbb.com
If it's a used car, compare used car figures at http://www.kbb.com
And
[http://www.nadaguides.com]
What's the difference? Most dealers (with the exception of the West coast) will use NADA as their guide.
Here's what's transpired so far:
Before you ever drove the car, you went by the dealership on Sunday, when there are no salespeople and you got the Vin# of the car and the equipment, year model and had a good look at it. You already know if you like the car when you drive it, that you would buy it. The list price is in your pre-approved check category, to boot. You've already gone online and gotten wholesale, trade-in and retail values for the car.
Retail is what the dealer should ask for the car. This will help you to know whether or not the salesman is trying to add money to the car, or if the dealership is. Trade-in is a figure to gauge approximately what the dealership traded for the car for. It will give you an idea of what the dealer paid for the car, before reconditioning fees and any ticket from service. Now, not every make of car will bring trade-in value. Two that will at this time are a Honda and a Toyota. Those cars will bring trade-in value. Domestic cars generally will not bring trade-in value, with the exception of new, hot models. Other models will only bring wholesale. As an example, Kia makes a great car, but most will not bring close to trade-in value. Mitsubishi is going through changes and also won't bring close to trade-in value. There are exceptions to the rule: Katrina and Rita-two hurricanes that created a short supply of used cars. If you live in the south, that will be the case for a while. With the exception of a Honda and a Toyota, you can probably be safe offering less than trade-in. Not thousands, mind you, but less.
Take into consideration the other costs of trading for a car. Also, ask the salesperson how long they've had the car. If the salesperson slips up and tells you they've had it a while, your negotiating should be easier. The reason behind that is that the dealer is paying interest on the car every month it does not sell. The book value is also dropping every month so it needs to go.
Throughout the car deal, make sure they know you are paying cash. Don't mention that you have a check from Americredit or whoever. That's none of their business. When you make a deal, insist on the Used Car Manager running a Car Fax before you sign any paperwork. A Car Fax will show if the vehicle has been involved in a serious wreck, was bought back from the original customer or is salvaged. This will put your mind at ease. If you don't like the Car Fax, don't buy the car.
Throughout your shopping, I can't stress this enough-Do NOT fill out credit applications at each dealership. Every time you sign a credit application, the dealer pulls your credit report and your beacon score goes DOWN. That's why I advise on getting approved ahead of time. There are numerous advantages to getting approved ahead of time. The main advantage is that you are in control, not the dealership. That's worth a fortune in itself. Their job is to take control of you from the start of every meeting. Believe me; I know what I'm telling you. I lived that life for a long time.
For some reason, should you not be able to get pre-approved because your credit is extremely bad (a discharged bankruptcy is an instant-approval, by the way), and you have to go through an online clearinghouse like cars.com, don't despair. Continue to follow my previous steps and advice and negotiate and insist on a Car Fax report.
When you do decide on a car and go into the Finance Office to sign the papers, I would like for everyone to know that you do not have to purchase any products in order to get the loan. If anyone in Finance tells you that you have to purchase a warranty and credit life to get the loan, which is a bold-faced lie. Why would a Finance Manager do that? Because they work on commission, also. Surprised? Don't be. That's the way dealers set up Finance Offices from the start when they realized how much money could be made. The Finance Manager makes money off of the rate they quote you, the warranty they sell you, the gap insurance and the credit life and disability you buy. That's how they make a living.
I'm not saying that any of these products are bad, though. I believe in extended warranties. I'm just telling you to shop around first. If you find a cheap warranty, check out the company and make sure they will give the dealer a credit card over the phone immediately when in need of repairs in any state. All in all, I will say this-A manufacturers warranty is always better than an after-market warranty. Always. Just negotiate on it if you want it.
The only reason why you would not want gap insurance would be if you literally paid cash for the car. Otherwise, gap is cheap (should retail around $495) and will pay the portion that insurance won't pay if it's totaled. Just remember what I said about the book dropping on a car every month. It will never be worth what you owe unless you put down a lot of money at the time of purchase.
Credit life and Disability insurance are a personal matter. If you have a life insurance policy, it can be used to pay off the car in the event of your death. If you are single, why do you need Credit Life? The only benefit would be if you are married with a family, it cuts down the payout time. In this situation, your spouse would not lose the car.
Disability Insurance pays out for a specified amount of time. It will not pay out for the entirety of the loan. It also has a specified start date from the time you are disabled. It doesn't just kick in immediately.
This is a lengthy article, but the gist of it is this: do your homework at home first. Then get approved online. Then shop on Sunday. Then go get your car and negotiate on everything. It will be the easiest car-buying experience you have ever had.
Regardless of your credit situation, if you follow my steps, you'll have a car in no time and you'll be an educated and informed customer during the process. Good luck!
Alicia Guidry spent 14 years in the retail automobile industry as a finance manager, sales manager and general sales manager.
For additional sources, see:
Bad Credit Car Loan [http://bad-credit-card-applications.com/auto-bad-credit-financing-loan.html]
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alicia_Guidry

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