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Tire Myths… There are quite a few

admin / February 28, 2012 / No comments

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So maybe one of the most common places to find car myths is tires. This maybe cause by several reasons but I think rumors or lack of knowledge may have started these. So I would like to assume that if your reading this you know what a tire is and if your not sure you can Google it, or wait about a week when we cover tires in full.

So Myth 1: Air Pressure

This is the stem of the most popular myths regarding tires. And I think it may come from the numbers molded into the side of the tires you buy. When looking at the tire side wall you will see all kinds of information regarding the tire and somewhere on there you will see a number like 45psi, or what have you. This my friend is not the recommended pressure. This is the maximum pressure that, that tire can be inflated to. So what is the recommended tire pressure? Well you can look in your cars manual, or inside the Driver’s door. Well what if I lost my manual and there isn’t a sticker in there. The best thing then is to call your local auto dealer (preferably one for your car make). This number, or pressure is what that car manufacturer has found to be the best tire pressure, not only for traction but overall handling.

So the truth, look for the cars tire pressure not that number on the side of the tire, well look at it but do fill to this pressure, unless perhaps it some how matches that sticker number.

Well Myth 2: Rotating

There are several myths just wrapped into rotating your tires. Like you can only move tires from the front to the back or what have you. Well, while this may have been true a couple decades or more ago, it no longer holds true. With standard radial, multi-directional tires you should actually rotate in a “Z” pattern. Meaning, starting with the front driver tire to the passenger side and that tire to the back driver side and the back driver side to the back passenger, and the last tire up to the front driver side. The moves the tires all over and promotes even wear.

But what id I have directional tires? Well then you are back to the old ways of back and forth rotations, unless you actually remove the tire from the wheel and then move the tires across to the other side of the car.

And finally what if you have 9.5 inch tires in the back and 8 inch tires in the front and they are directional tires? Well my friend you will not be rotating your tires every 6,000 – 8,000 miles.

We will be adding a couple more tire myths tomorrow so keep tuned.

Category: automotive / Tags: pressure, rotation, tire myths, tire pressure, tire rotating, tread

Myth: My Car Takes Premium But I Want To Get Regular

admin / February 27, 2012 / No comments

So everyone who drives a car and even some that don’t know how much it cost to fill up your cars. It costs way to much is how much. Especially when you drive a car that takes premium. So many get the inclination to buy the cheap stuff or you know 87 octane. Well if your car says that you can put no less 91 octane there may, just may be a reason for that. And well it all has to do with the way the cars timing is set up and the compression ratio. So when your car says its to run on 91 or higher octane and you put the cheap stuff in you will end up with pre-detonation and usually some knock. So you might have been reading and wonder to yourself what is octane and what does it do. Well octane in the simplest definition is the ability to resist detonation. And high compression engines, and turbo engines need the ability to resist detonation until the proper time. As the higher rate you compress air the hotter it gets and more likely to explode. So with a low octane gas you will detonate way to early and lose power, and fuel efficiency. And to top it all off lets do a little math here.

Cost…

So if gas averages over a year at 3.50 per gallon for regular and 3.70 per gallon for premium, and you drive the national average of 12,000 miles and you get 20 miles per gallon what will you spend. (these are by no means actual numbers just for comparison).

well you pay about $2049 for regular

and

you will pay $2166 for premium

That is in an average American year, so ask your self is the potential for engine damage, suffering performance and so worth less than 200 bucks a year.

Next time at the pump remember you aren’t really saving anything by buying the cheap stuff.

Category: automotive / Tags: gas, gas cost

Cleveland Auto Show

admin / February 25, 2012 / No comments

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We had the pleasure this weekend, well Friday really, to attend the Cleveland Auto Show on Dealer Appreciation night. There was a great turnout from all of the companies as well as the classic car show. The Dub guys where there as well as Monster Energy Drink, which anyone who knows me knows I loved that.

Well not to bore you on to the pictures.