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Store Your Car

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Jackie

As Americans we have mastered the art of storage. There are self-storage facilities on nearly every corner and whether you are looking for long-term or short-term storage there is a package for you. While most of our belongings only require being wrapped in bubble wrap and packed in cardboard or Rubbermaid box cars are a little bit different. When it comes to storing your car it is important that you take the necessary steps to ensure that it will be in same condition when you come back for it.

Knowing the location of where your car will be stored is an important part of preparation process. Cars that will be stored outside will require more care and car maintenance prior to storage than a car that will be stored in a garage. It is also important to keep in mind how long you will be storing your vehicle.

Before storing your car it’s a good idea to fill your gas tank full with premium gas. This will help prevent moisture from developing in the gas tank and causing rust. If you are going to be storing your vehicle for several months you can purchase an additive that will help prevent the gas from becoming too thick.

Changing the oil and replacing the air filter before you store your vehicle will help prevent corrosion. For vehicles that will be stored for years you can use an oil that is free of additives. While you are under the hood, it’s a good idea to check the coolant levels and spray the spark plugs with oil to prevent them from sticking. You can also purchase a regulator to attach to your battery and help prolong its life.

On the outside of the vehicle giving your car a good washing and waxing can help prevent build up. Especially if your vehicle is going to be stored outside you can remove the windshield wiper blades to prevent them from sticking to the windshield or rotting off.

If you are going to storing your car for an extended period of time it’s important that you properly prepare your tires. Make sure that they are fully inflated according to the tire specifications ; the information can be found on the driver side door panel. To prevent flat spots from developing you can jack your car up so that the tires are just off the ground.

It’s important to keep a list of what steps you take to prepare your vehicle so that when you come back to it you can undo them. Taking the steps to prepare your vehicle ahead of time should help guarantee that whether you are leaving your vehicle for a few weeks, months, or years it will still be in same condition when you come back.

Who Makes Tires

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Jackie

We have all heard the sayings about the cavemen who invented the wheel so it’s not a stretch to say that wheels are an invention going back millennia. However, they have undergone some changes over the years. No longer do we use chiseled stone or wooden hubs and spokes to create the required round shape. The process of making tires is also more complex. Instead of using just one material there are a variety of materials that are used to create strong efficient tires that will withstand thousands of miles on rough roads. There is also a lot of research and development that goes into creating the optimum tread for different driving conditions so that we stay while out on the road.

Most of us are familiar with modern tire manufacturers like Bridgestone, Dunlop, and Goodyear; however to fully appreciate the science and technology that goes into modern tires we first have to look at the history of tire making .

It is easy to take for granted our rubber, air-filled tires but it is actually a fairly recent invention. Charles Goodyear did not invent vulcanized rubber until the 1840′s and it would be some time before it was used for car tires. John Dunlop didn’t invent air-filled tires until the 1880′s and then they were used for bicycles, not cars. In the early 1900′s the first successful air filled tires with an inner tube were invented and patented and many manufacturers begin experimenting and developing techniques for adding tread and prolonging the life of rubber tires.

Like any new invention there was a lot of trial and error, success and failure. Commercialized rubber tires have only been on the market for about the last 50 years. But it was through this process that many of the current tire manufacturers were created.

The tires that we know and use today are a far cry from those original rubber tires. But by knowing the history we can appreciate the dedication of tire manufacturers to provide quality tires that get us where we need to go safely and efficiently.

To understand the tire-making process better, check out this video:

California Tire Dealers

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Jackie

When it comes to making major purchases there is a lot to keep in mind besides just the price. Everyone these days is on a budget so we want to get the best deal that we can; however we also want support businesses that are giving back to and supporting the community around them.

Purchasing new tires is no small expense. And if you live in California you know that there is no end to the number of California tire dealers and it can be hard to choose which one to buy from. While you are shopping around for the right set of tires at the right price you can also do some investigating into how involved they are with the community. Many local businesses support youth sports programs or sponsor a community fundraiser . For many this is their way to saying thanks to the community that has supported them.

Many businesses and individuals are still recovering from the effects of the most recent recession. While consumers are still a little hesitant about making large purchases, many stores are grateful for any business that comes their way. When it comes to purchasing new tires shopping at a local tire dealer is a great way to invest that money back into the local economy instead of a large national chain.

Every purchase that we make is casting a vote for the businesses that we want to stay open; especially larger purchases like tires. We are helping our friends and neighbors keep their jobs and supporting one another through this challenging time. Even if it isn’t the absolute lowest price knowing that our money is being put back into programs to help the community not just sustain but thrive then it is money well spent.

Car Maintenance Checklist

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Jackie

It’s hard to believe when many are still experiencing cold weather and snow that spring break is here again. Whether you are planning an awesome road trip with your friends to a far-off, warmer, destination or just plan to stay at home and relax now is a great time to go through that car maintenance checklist. We rely on our vehicles so much to get us where we need to go, the best automotive advice we can follow is to stay on top of routine maintenance. This way we can usually avoid major fixes down the road.

One of the first things that you should check is the tires. It may seem inconsequential now, but tires suffer a lot of wear and tear on the roads so it’s important to check for proper tire pressure and signs of excessive wear . By doing this on a weekly or bi-weekly basis you can dramatically extend the life of your tires and improve your fuel efficiency. If you begin to notice your vehicle pulling to one side or the other you can also look into aligning your tires and/or getting them rotated.

Next you can move under the hood . There are many important components under the hood but don’t feel overwhelmed. Checking the levels for the power steering fluid, engine coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, and windshield wiper fluid will keep your vehicle running smoothly and help prevent bigger problems down the road. It is also important to check oil level and every 3 months or 3000 miles take your vehicle in for an oil change. If you take your vehicle in to a mechanic for an oil change it’s also a good idea to have them check the belts and fans for signs of wear. Also, this is a good time to check your windshield wiper blades. Especially if you live in an area that is sunny and doesn’t receive much rain, they can become rotted and quite ineffective when you need them. The video below shows you how to do an oil change yourself.

Your vehicle’s owner’s manual is a great guide for routine maintenance. In it you can usually find a list of recommended items for your specific item and can help you identify potential problem areas before they become big problems.

Vehicle ownership can at times be expensive and time consuming but maintaining a routine maintenance schedule and doing what you can to take care of your vehicle now can save you a lot of money and hassle down the road.

Compare Tire Prices

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Jackie

If there is one thing that we have learned in the last few years it’s the importance of living on a budget. Whether it is groceries, bills, or non-essentials keeping a tight budget is how many of us have survived this most recent recession. Try as we might, if there is one thing that can blow our budgets out of the water it’s vehicle expenses. As if high gas prices weren’t enough routine car maintenance can very quickly add up. Although they typically don’t need to be purchased more than every few years, new tires are usually high on the list of expensive car items. When it comes to shopping for new car tires it is in your best interest to shop around and compare tire prices.

The key to shopping around for tires is knowing what type of tires you need; the size and type. You can easily determine the size of tire for your vehicle by looking either on your current tires sidewall or in the vehicle’s owner’s manual. If you are unable to find the information you can also contact the car dealership for the recommended size or look it up online.

Equally important is knowing what type of tires your vehicle needs. The type of tires depends largely on where you live and where you drive. Regions that receive a lot of rain or snow would require either rain or snow tires (also known as winter tires ). On the other hand, regions that generally dry and receive little rain can utilize all weather tires. For those people that enjoy sport driving, for example off-roading or racing, there are specialized tires for each sport.

It takes long when you are looking for tires to realize that there are many different tire brands at a variety of different prices. All are rated using the same standard set by the Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance , a division of the Department of Transportation. Using this as a guide you can compare brands versus quality and price.

One of the easiest places to compare tire prices is on the Internet. There are many tire dealers that operate online and can usually offer lower prices that what is offered in traditional brick and mortar stores. But there is more to compare than just the price of the tires. Many retailers offer specials for buying 2 or 4 tires instead of just one or they have special sales around popular holidays or when the old tire styles are being phased out. To find the best deal on the right tires that won’t completely break the bank the key is shopping around.

Old Car Tires

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Jackie

We have all seen the pictures of old car tires stacked up at the landfill or seen the scrapes left littering the sides of the highway. It’s a hard thing to look and not wonder if there isn’t something better that could be done with them or some other purpose they could serve. Fortunately, there is! Recycling. While the practice of recycling rubber has been in existence for more than one hundred years, it has only been since the early 1990′s that a real effort has been made toward recycling tires . It is a practice that really benefits everyone; it is a great way to bring new life to those old tires and help the environment at the same time.

There are many uses for old recycled tires. Some that aren’t as worn can be retread into new tires . Most often this is done on large semi or tractor-trailer tires because the expense of new tires is much higher; however this is an option for passenger vehicles as well. It is something to look into if you are shopping for new tires but are looking for a more affordable way to get those BF Goodrich tires. Unfortunately, retread tires generally only last about half as long as new tires and sometimes have a lower speed rating.

For tires that are worn beyond repair there are many uses as well, some that you may come into contact with everyday and not even know it. Some tires are recycled into hot melt asphalt and are used to help pave roads and highways. There is also a process called pyrolsis that thermo chemically breaks the tires down to become gas, oil, and rubber for new tires.

You can also use recycled tires around your house; shredded rubber tires can become rubber mulch in a children’s play area, an old tire can make a perfect tire swing, or an old tire flipped on it’s side and filled with dirt could become a nice planter in the backyard.

The possibilities for old tires are endless and we benefit the environment as well. For one they take up a considerable amount of space in landfills because of their size and the shear number of tires used each year. Secondly, due to the heavy materials and pollutants used to create tires, they are hazard to the ground water and surrounding soil when they begin to break down.

Recycled tires provide us with new material that we need to improve our communities and homes and they reduce waste in landfills and toxins in the soil and groundwater; it’s a winning situation for everyone.

Tire Maintenance Tips

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Jackie

We all like saving money , right? In this type of economy that has become more important than ever. Every dollar counts and every dime earned is carefully tracked in a budget that doesn’t allow much wiggle room. It is during times like this that expenses like new Cooper tires are even more difficult to swallow. Fortunately there are some things that you can do to extend the life of your tires and save yourself the expense of purchasing new tires for down the road.

As convenient as vehicles can be they often require a good deal of maintenance to keep them running safely and smoothly. Tires are second only to brakes when it comes to maintaining a safe vehicle so it makes sense that proper tire maintenance is key to avoiding a blowout, an accident, or worse.

One of the most important elements of tire maintenance, yet often one of the most forgotten, is the tire pressure. Using a tire pressure gauge you can check tire pressure in under 15 minutes. Properly inflated tires perform better when braking and accelerating, wear more evenly, and even improve fuel efficiency; saving you money at the gas pump. The tire pressure should be checked on a weekly or bi-weekly basis and filled as needed.

While you are doing your check of the tire pressure, it’s also a good time to check your tires for signs of wear , bald spots or areas where the inner tire is visible. These are indications that your tires need to be replaced and could result in a blown tire if not changed. You can also use this time to do the penny test to check the tread depth. Place a Lincoln penny upside down between the tread and if Lincoln’s head is visible it’s time for some new tires. Tires with low tread are more likely to loose traction in wet or slippery conditions as well as during fast braking.

Part of your routine vehicle maintenance should be frequent oil changes. While this will do a lot for your vehicle’s engine and transmission it won’t do much for your tires. But this is a great time to get the tires rotated . It doesn’t cost much but will help your tires wear more evenly and prolong the necessity of new tires.

The number one priority for all of us when it comes to our vehicles should be safety; getting our most precious cargo, our families, from one place to another in the safest way possible. Our second priority is saving money. Properly maintained tires accomplish both of these. They are less likely to have a blow out and the life of your tires is extended.

How to Read Tire Size

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Jackie

If you are in the market for a new set of tires there has never been a better time to learn how to read tire sizes . Fortunately it is based on a standardized system developed by the Department of Transportation so every tire uses the same formula to identify the size and ratings.

The tire size can be located on the sidewall of the tire. If the tire is older and been well worn it may be harder to read but it should still be there. You should see a series of numbers and letters that look something like this: P225/55 R17 95H.

The first letter, P, indicates the type of vehicle the tires are rated for. “P” for passenger, “T” for temporary spare, “LT” for light truck, “C” for commercial, and “ST” for special trailer.

The first set of numbers, 225, represents the width of the tire in millimeters. This is from the widest point of the outer sidewall to the widest point of the inner sidewall when the tire is mounted on the rim.

The second set of numbers, 55, identifies the sidewall aspect ratio. This is the ratio of the sidewall height (tread to rim) compared to the section width. In this case the sidewall height is 55% of the total width.

The second letter, R, refers to the tire’s internal construction. “R” for radial is the most common; however some tires have a diagonal, “D”, construction and some have a belted, “B”, construction.

The third set of numbers, 17, indicates the tire and rim diameter that should be matched together. Most passenger vehicles have a diameter expressed in full inches, sometimes called “inch rims”, while larger trailers and trucks will sometimes have diameters expressed in “half inches”.

The final set, 95H, expresses the recommend load index and speed rating for the tires.