Summer Car Maintenance
June 28th, 2010
Summer is here, of this everyone can be sure. It is now the time for road trips and fun in the pool. However, before you get out on the road, there are a few things you might want to check under the hood to make sure that you are safe when you head out on an adventure.
This is a great time to flush your radiator. The fluid inside the radiator will eventually start to break down and can corrode the radiator if it is not flushed regularly. Most recommendations say that you should flush it between every nine to twelve months depending on the car manuals recommendations. Setting a month each year that you will do it usually gives enough leeway to be able to find the time to do it.
Check your tires. In many area summer weather is also rainy weather and that means that you could be driving in the rain. Make sure that your tread is good enough for driving on wet roads. You will also want to make sure that you have enough air in your tires. As it heats up outside, sometimes the pressure inside the tire drops some. If you are road tripping, make sure you check your tires at least once a day because elevation will also affect tire pressure .
Brakes should be inspected twice a year. Most people do it in the winter and the summer. You want to replace these before they get too bad because if you let the brake pads go on too long you will have a much more costly repair on your hands, or worse. This doesn’t just count for the brake pads though. The brake fluid should be checked twice a year as well. To figure out how to do this, look in your repair manuals . This is basic maintenance that few people remember to do.
Check your headlights. Again, summer is rainy season in many places. Summer is also for many people a good time to be out later hanging with friends. If one or both headlights are out that could mean the end of a fun time before you want it to end.
Stay safe this summer and have fun on the road.
Truck Tire Size and Gas Mileage
March 24th, 2010
This is a question that comes up again and again, on whether or not the size of the tire will actually affect the fuel economy of the vehicle. The short answer seems to be a general no, but this has to be qualified by a number of different factors. The question comes up when people are considering putting larger customized truck wheels on their vehicle. In terms of general cosmetics, these can give a pretty dramatic effect, giving the truck a very distinctive look, and making it somewhat unavoidable to notice. There are many who really like the look, and there’s no doubt that customized wheels in general are a great way to give your truck a face lift.
There are also many different possibilities for your wheels, from black rims, to spinning rims, to 20” rims , and all of these can add very different, and very exciting looks. However, the question about mileage here is an interesting one. There are lots of people who will remember a grandfather’s advice on how a larger tire size can actually increase the gas mileage. From all the arguments about tires and efficiency that are out there, it appears that the tire size won’t, in fact, increase the mileage.
If anything, they might actually hinder it, because a larger size means that the vehicle has to work harder to get it to move. The difference in fuel economy here actually seems to be fairly negligible, however, which means that a cool new look to your truck won’t cost you much at the gas tank. There are plenty of other factors that go into mileage, however, and it seems pretty clear that tires that are properly inflated will perform better overall. The one caveat to all of these arguments, however, concerns those whose driving patterns take them on the freeway for long and constant stretches. If you usually drive long distances at the highway speed limit, then bigger tires won’t work harder once they’re moving, and they need less revolutions to get further. If this is your case, then it will benefit you in terms of economy and efficiency, so grandpa might be right after all!
Car Tires for Specific Road Use and Terrains
September 30th, 2009
Car tires are an extremely important aspect of all vehicles and oftentimes account for much of its safety standards. For many sports car enthusiasts, this is also one of the important visual and speed functional tools. For car and truck lovers there is no limit to accessories which are often incorporated into the standard needs, such as custom truck wheels, or car wheels and 20 rims.
Great car tires are available from different companies, such as Michelin, Nitto and Firestone among many others. Often choosing the perfect tire is dependent not only on a reputable producer but also the type of car you have and how you intend to use. Weather, amount of use, vehicle weights altered by cargo or towing and expected speeds can all affect the performance of a tire and direct the consumer to one brand, size or weight or another. There are also tires that are intended for stronger seasonal use, as well as those that are built for high performance in any season. In addition to the aesthetic value of particular tires and wheels, these factors are essential considerations of safety and maintenance features.
In addition, for off road driving enthusiasts, there are tires that are built specifically for this activity. These are also built and perfected by various tire companies, there are specific considerations to be made with these purchases as well. Some off road paths require extra traction on the tires, while others are intended to perform well in all terrains. Most of the staff at tire selling businesses are extremely eager to discuss these and other factors when choosing a tire. This makes it extremely convenient for those individuals who want a great tire, but do not have the necessary knowledge or experience to decide on their own. They are also eager to help and to make suggestions, so do not hesitate to go in and order new tires for your car, truck or off road vehicle today.