Posts Tagged wheels
Top 7 Tips for Tyre Care and Maintenance
Posted by in Uncategorized on November 18, 2009
Car tyres play an integral role in the performance and fuel-efficiency of any car. Most of the time car owners take good care of their car exteriors, interiors, and even car engine but they forget the significance of car tyres. Care and maintenance of car tyres ensures safer and longer journey.
Here are top 7 tips for tyre care and maintenance:
1. Car tyres should be replaced after 10 years or based on driving and weather condition. Replace them when you see a crack on the side walls. It is believed that the rubber compounds used in tyres consist of anti-oxidizing chemicals that help in slowing down the natural aging process of untreated rubber. All tyres deteriorate with age and blocking the natural aging process increases the risk of failure.
2. Use the proper size wheel bolts when replacing the tyres. If these are either too short or too long, the chances of wheels jumping out increases or an even damage the suspension. They should also be well-balanced to avoid shaking of the car.
3. Rotation of tyre positions is very essential to achieve uniform wear on each tyre. Check the rotation period mentioned in the car owner manual and if no specification is given, rotate after every 5000 km. You need to rotate the tyre position even if there is an irregular wear found on the tyre.
4. Proper wheel alignment is also important as it ensures that all car wheels are pointed in the best direction to the road and each other. It also ensures maximum tyre life by reducing the possibilities of wear and tear. Wheel alignment should be done after every 5000 km or whenever you find any irregular wear on the tyre.
5. Check air pressure of the tyre. All the tyres should be inflated with the correct air pressure as both under-inflation and over-inflation leads to premature tyre failure, eventually leading to a car accident. Perfect air pressure in tyres also ensures maximum tyre life, and delivers best ride and handling experiences.
6. Driving style and habits also puts an impact on the life of tyres. Drive smoothly at a constant pace. Applying frequent brakes or driving rashly results in skidding and eventually tyre loses its tread.
7. Last but not the least, keeping the tyres clean by removing all foreign substances from the surface helps improve performance. Dirt and grime deposits on the surface of the tyre and can degrade them. So, it’s very important to clean car tyres at regular intervals of time.
Car Rim Sizes And Wheel Materials
Posted by in Uncategorized on November 17, 2009
Car rims have been on the market for some time now but their popularity continues to increase. Through movements such as hip hop culture, as well as their appearance in mainstream music videos and Hollywood movies custom wheels have definitely taken a spotlight in terms off “the” car accessory of choice for when you want to make your car stand out and claim king on the streets.
Just like other car accessories when it comes to picking out car rims you’ll have a wide array of options to look at including wheel materials and rim sizes.
Car rim sizes are not to be overlooked as not all sizes and models will fit properly with your car and current tire size. Before you even get into shopping for your wheels you need to either go visit a mechanic or take your car into a specialist to find out exactly what size and style will be able to work with your model of car as well as what would suit your driving patterns and goals.
Wheels sizes for compact vehicles will be about 13inches and that number will just continue to grow for larger cars like SUVs where 24 or 25 inch wheels will be a bit more commonplace.
Another term you’ll start to hear about as you look into getting the right size rims for your car or truck is “Plus Sizing”. This just refers to when the rims are actually getting bigger in relation to the current tire size. It can provide and amazing look and now even major automobile companies can be found offering plus sizing on their stock vehicles. Plus sizing not only gives your wheels a bigger visual impact but it can help you out when it comes to handling and control of your car.
So what about rim materials? There are also different materials to choose from when it comes to materials. Not only will different materials demand higher or lower prices but they will also affect car performance.
Chrome and Alloy wheels are probably the most popular materials being used to make car rims on the market at the moment. Alloy is the material that most are made of when you buy them at the dealership. They are light, fairly easy to keep clean, and aren’t usually too expensive. They are a good all around rim for doing your daily driving and getting around with ease.
Then you have the heavier and flashier chrome rims. Many specialized wheels are made out of chrome because of the beautiful shine and luster they give off. Chrome will really help your vehicle stand out. If you are thinking about buying custom chrome rims you will need to think about price because a nice set of chromes will cost you a pretty penny.
