Oct

25

Brake Repair

October 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment


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Author: Arslan Hassan

Article:
Brake repair is really just one form of car maintenance. Brakes
should operate quietly when at their best, but since brakes have
to wear down in order to work properly, those telltale sounds
that signal the need for brake repair are actually letting you
know that your brakes have done their job and need a bit of a
tune up. Your brakes have a few ways of alerting you. A brake
light that goes on when the parking brake is disengaged
indicates that your brake fluid level is too low. A brake fluid
leak manifests itself by sight (a light amber color) and a smell
that is distinctive. Rotor surface issues cause vibrations of
the brake pedal or wheel. Brakes that need repair may squeal
until you come to a full stop or when you release the brake
pedal. When that happens, that means that the brake wear
indicators may be scraping against the rotors. A grinding and
growling sound of metal on metal means that the brake pads are
completely gone.

It is advisable to have a certified brake repair technician
inspect your brakes on an annual basis, twice a year if you
regularly do heavy hauling and towing work. Your brake repair
technician should check all metal to metal contact points for
proper lubrication, which maintains an effective barrier between
the different contact points, and inspect brake fluid for metal
flake or moisture contamination. Fluid contamination can cause
damage to essential braking components. And speaking of fluids,
it is recommended that you not top your brake fluid off whenever
the level goes down. Too much fluid prevents the brakes built in
alert system from working when the pads wear down.

Tires should also be rotated every 5,000 to 7,000 miles to keep
them from wearing unevenly. Brakes need tires to be in optimal
condition in order to do their job. While the brakes stop the
wheels, it is the friction created when rubber meets the road
that actually stops the whole car. Uneven tires prevent the
brakes from working properly.

About the author:
Arslan writes about brake repair.For more information on brake repair see http://PrecisionTune.com.






Aug

15

Choosing All Season Tires When Buying New Tires

August 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment


Author: discount tire Town

Article:
When buying new tires for your vehicle, you might want to opt
for all season tires. They come in all sizes and can fit the
smallest cars as well as light trucks, SUVs and pickups.

New tires, especially all season tires, are definitely not cheap
tires. This is all the more reason to go for the more cost
effective choice. All season tires are more cost effective
because you need not get different sets of tires for different
times of the year. They perform better for various road and
weather conditions with year-round traction. They are also known
for giving a more comfortable ride and having long tread lives.
No wonder they are considered standard for almost all new cars
and new light trucks. They are also the choice of the majority
for replacement tires.

The new all season tires have to be well taken care of, though.
Tire installation should not be something you would do on your
own. This requires expertise and special equipment for proper
alignment and balancing. Leave your tire installation to the
experts for your own safety.

The new all season tires should always be kept properly
inflated. The four tires need to be rotated according to the
manufacturer’s instructions to ensure even wear. This will also
make the new tires last longer.

When driving, keep away from rough roads, unfinished roads and
rocky roads to keep your new all season tires fresh longer. Do
not run into curbs. Neither should you speed through curves nor
take corners sharply. Also avoid jackrabbit starts, quick stops
and hard stops. If you do not take this advice to heart, your
new all season tires will show tread wear much earlier and you
will have to replace them sooner.

When buying new all season tires, check the Uniform Tire Quality
(UTQG) tread-wear grades on their sidewalls. These are supposed
to state how long the new tires should last. Some tests have
shown, however, that tire manufacturers sometimes overstate or
underestimate these numbers. They should, therefore, be
considered only as loose guidelines. The tread-wear warranty is
a better gauge. Make sure it states that the manufacturer will
reimburse the price you paid for the new tires if they do not
meet the tire life claims. On the average tread wear warranties
range from 65,000 to 100,000 miles.

No matter how high the quality of new all season tires, you must
remember that rubber will inevitably deteriorate with time.
Several car manufacturers, including Ford, BMW, Mazda,
DaimlerChrysler and Volkswagen recommend not keeping your tires
for more than six years. Longer than that, they could be safety
risks. The maximum life of tires should be ten years. Even
before that, your all season tires should be regularly checked
for bulges, cuts and overall wear.

All season tires are always being developed and improved,
though, and new releases of tires are more responsive to vehicle
owners’ needs.

You may also actually get all season used truck tires in Tampa
FL. These are not very cheap tires but they are definitely
cheaper than new tires. Used tires are only a good choice for
trucks, though, because only truck tires can be retread. And for
used tires, only retreads are really reliable. Car tires are not
cost effective to retread, though. Luckily, retread used all
season truck tires can be found in Tampa FL.

It could be pointed out that winter tires still have the best
grip on snow and ice in severe winter conditions. Once the roads
have been cleared, though, all season tires have better grip.
All season tires are still the better choice overall except in
extreme weather.

So for new car tires, new truck tires or even used truck tires,
choose all season tires in Tampa FL.

About the author:
discount tire Town
Monty Kaspi
701 W Hillsborough Ave
Tampa, FL 33603
Phone: 813-237-2577
Email: mkaspi@hotmail.com

Dealer of used tires, used truck tires, new and cheap tires.






Aug

12

RV Tires: Why Is It That These Tires Suffer From Sidewall Cracking!

August 12, 2009 | Leave a Comment


By Jim Reeves

It’s not the RV tire we ride on… it’s the pocket of air inside… it holds us up and gets us down the road.
What is the science behind our RV tires? Why is it that these tires suffer from sidewall cracking, and rot? Is there anything we can do to prevent this premature degrading of our RV tires? Why is it that we do not suffer the same issues with the tires we put on our automobiles… the ones that we drive every day? When we understand the answers to these questions, I believe we will then get better service life out of our RV tires.

I am thinking that the solution to the above questions has to do with two things:

1. Understanding how a tire is made.

Every modern RV tire will contain emollients such as carbon black and specific waxes that are designed to protect their sidewalls against the effects of UV (ultra violet) light, and ozone.

The manufacturers of all modern tires realized as early as 1910 that adding carbon black to the rubber compound that makes up the RV tire will protect this tire from the effects of UV… what may not be known by the general public, is that this carbon black material must be reapplied periodically to prevent UV damage.

Blocking the tire from the sun using a good tire cover is also recommended. It is just like sunscreen for our bodies if you must be in the sun, sunscreen works up to a point. However being in the shade will give a better protection.

RV Tire manufactures also use wax to help keep ozone from drying out and cracking a tire. This wax does not need to be re-applied periodically like carbon black. It will work its way to the surface by the process of using the tire in a normal fashion. This brings us to the 2nd reason for the premature degradation of a tire.

2. Understanding how individual working conditions effect the longevity of a tire.

Our RV tires are designed to roll down the road. If they are used in this manner and kept clean, sidewall deterioration becomes less of a concern. This motion, of rolling down the road, allows the wax to work its way up to the surface of the tire, and offers protection against ozone contamination.

To sum this up, there are three things to do that will prevent early tire damage to your RV.

1. Keep the tire clean.

Heavy buildup of mud and dirt will act as an abrasive that prevents a proper waxing process. Using a mild soap and water solution along with a soft bristle brush will, if applied on a regular bases, remove a fair amount of ozone buildup.

2. Flexing, or using the tire.

It is the flexing of a tire while driving down the road that will work the waxes to the surface of your sidewalls… this flexing results in an expansion and contraction motion of the tire. As long as new wax works its way to the surface, you will have good protection against the effects of ozone oxidation.

3. Apply a carbon black component to your tires.

After you have your RV tires clean, you will want to apply a carbon black product like 303 Aerospace Protectant. As far as I know, this is the only product that will work as advertised in combating UV.

It matters what you put on your tire:

Another thing to consider is the fact that any tire dressing that contains petroleum products, alcohol, and/or silicone materials may further damage the tire due to a possible chemical reaction with the antioxidant material in the tire.

Bottom line, these two additives, carbon black and wax, will protect an RV tire from premature drying and cracking.

However, as I stated above, when a tire is not used, this wax additive will lose its effectiveness. This is why we don’t see the same type of premature weathering on our automobiles. We simply use them enough to keep everything in balance. Unfortunately, RVs can sit for prolonged periods of time. So, we must take the above additional steps to protect our recreational investment.

About the Author
My name is Jim, I’m a retired Engineering Tech. Currently, I am developing a site about Class C Motorhomes specifically, and RVs in general. If you would like more information about RV Tires, you can go to my web site: http://www.class-c-motorhome-info-made-simple.com/RV_tires.html









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