How Long Do Tires Last?

Tires are important. They are your car’s connection to the road, and it’s crucial that tires stay in good shape to keep your car running smoothly. But how long do tires really last? This article from Cars.com will tell you how:

We would expect at least 50,000 miles from the tires that come with any new vehicle, but tire life depends on so many factors that it's impossible to give anything other than broad guidelines.

Among the factors are the quality of the tire, the treadwear rating, whether it is a performance summer tire or an all-season tire, the type of vehicle it is mounted on and how it is driven. Performance tires may grip like leeches on dry pavement, but they tend to wear out faster than tires with less rolling resistance. If you drive your vehicle like you just stole it that also will wear tires faster. The Tires 101 information in the Cars.com Advice section, found here, will help you sort out the different types of tires and which is best for your driving style.

Driving for extended periods on underinflated tires shortens their lifespan, as will driving a vehicle whose wheels are out of alignment. If you never or seldom have your tires rotated, that also can accelerate wear, especially the tires mounted in front on a front-wheel-drive vehicle. They not only carry most of the vehicle's weight but also carry most of the load in braking, cornering and jackrabbit starts.

Though we would expect at least 50,000 miles from original-equipment (and quality replacement) tires, the reality can be quite different. Owners of late-model Honda CR-Vs have complained to us, for example, that they had to replace all four tires around 20,000 miles. We also hear complaints from people who bought replacement tires that were supposed to last 50,000 miles or more but were good for only 30,000 miles. In other words, there are no promises.

Here are some additional guidelines: You don't have to spend lavishly on tires, but don't automatically buy the cheapest ones either. Tires are the only part of your vehicle that are supposed to touch the ground, so make sure they're up to the task. Choose tires that have high treadwear and traction ratings, and bear in mind that performance tires with higher speed ratings may not last long. A balanced combination of wet traction, ride comfort, low noise levels and a high treadwear rating will probably be your best bet.

Article courtesy of: http://bit.ly/13x3aNS

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Common Car Maintenance Mistakes

A part of owning a car is coming to terms with the fact that things are going to go wrong. Parts are going to fail, bulbs will burn out, engine lights will come on, and belts will need to be replaced. Maintenance is inevitable whether you choose to do it yourself or take your car to a professional. There are a number of big mistakes do-it-your-selfers and sometimes even professional mechanics can make when “fixing” vehicle. This article (http://auto.howstuffworks.com/under-the-hood/vehicle-maintenance/10-serious-mistakes-car-maintenance.htm#page=0) tells you some of the most common mistakes to watch for. Here are some of the highlights:

·        Roaming around with burned out lights – Headlights and high beams are easy to spot
when they burn out, but tail lights, brake lights, and running lights burn out
too. This is one of the cheapest and easiest car maintenance tasks, so don’t
put it off!

·        Attempting a jump start without really knowing how – Sending electricity to places it
isn’t supposed to be can fry your car…or you! Don’t let that happen. Learn how
to jump start a car before you actually have to do it.

·        Assuming bald tires will last a bit longer – Tires give a car the proper contact
with road it needs to drive safely. If your tires are bald the car’s contact
with the road isn’t so good anymore. Get a new set when the tires go bald, even
if the tread looks decent.

·        Forgetting to torque the lug nuts – After changing or rotating wheels you need to make
sure there is a proper amount of force applied to the lug nuts. If there’s not,
eventually the pressure of driving will force the lug nuts off, which could
cause your tire to leave your car while driving. No one wants that.

·        Forgetting to replace drained fluids – Gasoline isn’t the only important fluid in your
car. Oil and transmission fluid keep your engine running smoothly. Brake fluid
helps maintain proper pressure in your brakes. Coolant keeps things from
getting too hot or too cold. These things are all important in keeping your car
from having serious issues, so always triple-check that the fluids have been
refilled after being drained.

·       Ignoring warning lights – Warning lights come on for one reason only, something
isn’t functioning right. The longer you let it go, the more serious the issue
can become. Even if you think it’s something simple like your gas cap not being
tight enough, get those warning lights checked!

 

Read all ten maintenance mistakes here: http://bit.ly/18YoBa2.

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How to Remove a Sticker from Your Car

Regretting that bumper sticker you put on your car a few years ago? Learn how to get it off clean and simple with this blog post!

Stickers on cars can symbolize just about anything under the sun. They can show support for a certain political candidate, identify you as a proud parent of an honor student or the fact that you just love that one special dog breed. Others are required by local laws, like city stickers. Some even come attached to your new car straight from the dealer.

But political campaigns and straight A's end at some point, and those city stickers need to be replaced every year.

While removing stickers isn't as easy as putting them on, we have some advice that should make the job a little less sticky.

What you need:

·         Hair dryer with hot air settings

·         Razor blade or a box cutter (if removing from glass)

·         Sturdy plastic card — could be a library card, credit card, frequent shopper card or ID

·         Two clean rags or detailing towels

·         Glass cleaning solution (if removing from glass)

·         Tree sap remover solution

·         Quick detailing spray

What to do:

1. Ensure that the sticker and the surrounding area are free of dirt. Doing this removal process works best after a car wash.

2. Plug in the hair dryer, turn the heat setting to hot and hold the hair dryer just a few inches above the sticker. Do not place the hair dryer directly on top of the sticker and the car's paint.

3. Keep the hair dryer over the center area for a few seconds, making sure the air coming out is hot and then slowly begin to move it around the rest of the sticker. You want to heat the edges of the sticker last so you can prep for the next step.

4. After you've let the sticker heat up, use the plastic card at an angle to gently scrape up under the sticker. You can also try using your fingertips. If the surface area is hot enough, you will be able to slide the card under the sticker's edge and begin to peel it away.

Repeating steps 2-3 a few more times may make a cumbersome presidential campaign sticker that's been on your bumper since the last time your party won easier to remove. You can also try moving the plastic card or razor blade back and forth while you slide it under the sticker's surface.

If you're removing a sticker from your car's glass, use the box cutter or razor blade at a slight angle. Do not use a box cutter or razor blade on your car's paint; it will cause damage. On glass you will be able to apply a bit heavier pressure, if needed, to remove the sticker.

5. Continue to push the plastic card — or razor blade — underneath the sticker until it completely breaks away from the car's surface. It is completely normal for the sticker to break apart during this removal process.

6. Once the sticker is removed, you can repeat steps 1-4 to remove any sticky residue or remnants. Tree sap remover also works great. Just apply a few drops onto a clean rag or detailing cloth and scrub away. If there’s sticky residue on your car’s glass, use the razor blade to gently scrape it away.

7. When that part of the car is completely clear of any sticker and its residue, polish it off with some glass cleaner or quick detailing spray

Article courtesy of: http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2013/04/how-to-remove-stickers-from-your-car.html

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Keep Your Car from Overheating this Summer

Use these easy maintenance tips this summer to avoid breaking down from your car overheating. 

This summer is one of the hottest in recent memory, and is already creating a flurry of awful news stories about people leaving their dogs and even their children in hot cars to overheat, and even die.

While we hope readers are using common sense about dogs and children, we know that car care in extreme heat is not always obvious, even when you consult that phone book in your glove box known as the owner's manual.

So here are some basic things you should know about caring for your car and avoiding unnecessary catastrophes or repairs.

1. If you battery is three years old, consider replacing it as a matter of preventive maintenance. Batteries get stressed in extreme temperatures, and the older they get, the more stressed they get.

2. Have your cooling service checked by a mechanic or the dealer if it has not been looked at in two years. This system is critical to keeping the engine cool and the air conditioning system working right. Let it break for lack of simple maintenance, and it is not cheap to fix or replace.

3. If you are driving, and especially if you are stuck in traffic, and the temperature light goes on and you are in the danger zone, turn off the air conditioner immediately and open the windows. If the light stays on, turn the temperature selector on the system to the hottest setting. This will redirect some of the heat that is trapped in the cooling system. If the light stays on, pull over and call road-side assistance. Stop driving. If the light goes off, you should be okay to drive the car to a mechanic.

4. Make sure you have fresh coolant in your radiator to start the summer, not just water. Have the radiator checked specifically for corrosion.

5. Look at your tires. If you have worn or cracked tires, you are asking for big trouble in very hot weather. Not only could you blow the tires, but a blow-out at high speeds could cause you to crash, rollover and possibly hit another vehicle.

6. If you drive long stretches of road on a summer road trip or business trip, keep a gallon jug of water somewhere in the car. It could come in handy if you have a radiator leak, or you get stuck waiting for help.

Article courtesy of http://aol.it/YZGLnz.

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Car Spring Cleaning

Now that the weather is getting warmer it’s time to get your car into springtime shape after the wear-and –tear of winter. Learn how with these tips!

As the sun warms up, you may feel the need to roll up your sleeves and to tackle the big task of cleaning and tuning up your car. Getting rid of the winter mess inside and on the outside of your car is critical. The following are the 10 most important things you should do:

1.     Carpeting and Upholstery: Focus first on the interior carpeting and upholstery. Using a damp towel, wash down the seats. Get rid of any rock salt debris, mud or dry dirt on the carpeting using a carpet-cleaning machine, if possible.

2.     The Console: Wash the consoles carefully. Avoid getting electrical connections wet, but do wipe them down appropriately. Clean out cup holders, too. Use a wet cloth to get the top of the dashboard, but be careful to dry it thoroughly

3.     Organize: Clean out the compartments. In your rush to get inside and out of the cold during the winter, you may have debris, trash or just too much stuff in the car. Get the compartments cleaned out and organized.

4.     The Windows: Shine the windows. After all that winter driving, the windows will need a bit of extra attention. Clean the inside and outside using a window cleaner. Shine them with a dry towel. Do the mirrors of the vehicle in the same way.

5.     The Trunk: Check the trunk of the vehicle next. Clean out the wintertime mess. This is also a good time to make sure the spare tire is in good repair. Be sure your emergency kit is in order too. Vacuum the trunk out.

6.     The Exterior Body: Look at the exterior of the car. A good car washing is often in order. Make sure the first spring car wash is a thorough one that gets the winter grime out of cracks and under the edges. Use a soft towel and a mild detergent to wash the vehicle down.

7.     The Wheels: Pay some extra attention to the wheels. Remove the hubcaps and wash them down. Scrub the tires and wheel wells thoroughly. This is also a good time to check the tire pressure and to tighten up any loose lug nuts.

8.     Under the Hood: Look under the hood next. Leaves, debris and even dirt can get into the engine area. In some cases, just wiping down the edges is enough. In other cases, you may need to consider having the engine wiped off or professionally cleaned.

9.     Waxing: Waxing the exterior of the car is a good idea, as long as you do so out of direct sunlight. Choose a spray or liquid wax for the best results. If you are using a new product, test it on a hidden portion of the car's body to ensure it works properly.

10.   Replace Wipers: After a harsh winter, many vehicles require new windshield wipers. Having wipers in good working order is necessary, especially during intense spring showers.

Maintenance Considerations

While these ten tips for spring cleaning are important, springtime also brings the need for maintenance and tune ups. Focus on the following areas:

·         Get the oil changed as needed.

·         Tune up the engine to ensure it is working at its best. This includes having belts checked.

·         Have the air conditioning tested.

·         Be sure all lighting systems, both on the exterior and interior of the car, are working properly.

·         Replace tires if they no longer hold air properly.

These tips will enhance the function of your vehicle. These, along with the spring car cleaning tips above, will ensure your car is working and looking its best throughout the spring and well beyond

Article courtesy of : http://cars.lovetoknow.com/about-cars/10-most-important-spring-car-cleaning-tips

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Child Safety Tips from the NHSTA

Use these tips from the NHTSA to ensure that your children are as safe as can be in your vehicle.

Did you know 3 out of every 4 car seats are used incorrectly? According tosafercar.gov, parents haven't been doing enough to keep their kids safe on the road, which has resulted in vehicle crashes becoming one of the leading causes of death for children between 1 and 13 years old.

In order to combat these sobering statistics, NHTSA provides an informative booklet aimed at getting parents prepared for life on the road with their children. Available online in PDF form here, the information equips parents with useful knowledge such as what features you should look for in buying a car, which types of car seats you should use and how to properly do so and child safety scores for nearly every vehicle available today.

We highly recommend that every driver who has children, or is planning on having children, give this booklet a read and keep it handy for future reference. Here are some highlights from the publication:

Car safety features

NHTSA advises that you should ensure that a car has the following safety features if it is on your shopping list. Each one serves a specific purpose in making sure accidents, both minor and major, don't occur and, if they do, injury is minimized.

- Automatic door locks: Auto door locks, which engage when a vehicle reaches a certain speed (usually 10 or 20 mph), can prevent accidental door openings in a moving vehicle and the can lower the risk of ejection in the event of a crash.

- Push down/pull-up window switches: These minimize accidental window closure and prevent injury in the car. Older, rocker-type window can shut windows inadvertently if leaned on  trapping fingers and limbs.

- Advanced frontal air bags: These new types of air bags can sense the presence of a child and will shut off in the event of a crash or mitigate their release to minimize harm. NHTSA advises that kids should always sit in the back, but in the event that the front seat is the only one available, these air bags will keep your child as safe as possible.

- Side impact air bags: These air bags deploy during side impact crashes and when they do, they deploy very quickly. So while they can be helpful in preventing injury, they can also cause injury to smaller children. NHTSA says you shouldn't allow your kids to lean against the area where these air bags are stored.

- Anti-pinch/auto-reverse windows: These windows are designed to reverse direction if they're closing and sense something is in the way, eliminating the risk of body parts getting pinched or trapped.

- Trunk release levers: Most vehicles have this equipped. It allows someone to get out if they become trapped in the trunk.

- Rearview cameras: These will likely become mandated by law in the near future, but until then, they're an important safety option available on many cars or from aftermarket companies. They allow you to see a wide field of view while backing up.

Car seat 101

Given that three out of four car seats are being used incorrectly, according to NHTSA, the booklet focuses a good deal on getting that practice correct. From installation to daily use, car seats require proper attention and care in order to work correctly and safely.

Here are some tips to get you started:

- Read the car seat manual and your vehicle's owner's manual. Every vehicle and car seat is different, so it's very important that you familiarize yourself with their installation and use instructions before you do anything at all.

- Place the car seat in the back seat.

- Secure it very tightly to the vehicle. It shouldn't move side-to-side or front-to-back more than 1 inch when pulled at the belt path.

- If you have a forward-facing seat with a top tether trap, connect it to the tether anchor and tighten. It's imperative that you do so, as it limits head movement in a crash.

- If you have a rear-facing sear, make sure it's installed at the correct recline angle. Most seats have angle indicators or adjustors that help you do so.

- Make sure your child is fitting correctly in the car seat after you've done proper installation. To do so, ensure that the harness is properly placed (lying flat, not twisted), the harness is buckled and tightened and the chest clip is at armpit level.

For more tips on child safety, head over to safercar.gov and get the full download. The site also has information on everything from combating distracted driving to driving in bad weather. Take some time out of your day and help make yourself a safer driver. You, your passengers and your fellow drivers will all benefit.

Article courtesy of: http://autos.aol.com/article/car-seat-installation-NHTSA-kids-children/

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Summer Gas Prices Expected to be Lowest in Three Years

Good news if you're travelling this summer! Gas prices are supposed to be the lowest they have been in three years!

The average retail price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas is expected to be $3.63 this summer, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That price is slightly below the averages from the past two years.

The administration's Short-Term Energy Outlook forecasts a decline in crude oil prices and gas consumption along with an increase in gasoline inventory levels. Cheaper crude oil will have the biggest impact, as it accounts for two-thirds of the overall price of gas. Crude oil is expected to be down about $1.50 per barrel.

The Administration also looked different regions of the country, projecting what residents can expect to pay at the pump in the East Coast, Midwest, Gulf Coast, Rocky Mountain and West Coast areas. Drivers on the West Coast will be faced with gas prices as much as 26 cents per gallon higher than the national average. Conversely, residents of the Gulf Coast states may enjoy prices of 16 cents per gallon lower than the national average.

The chart below shows the price projections for each of these regions as well as the averages from one year ago.

Article courtesy of: http://autos.aol.com/article/summer-gas-prices-2013/

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