Ottawa Tires

Posts Tagged ‘Car Tires’

Today as more and more non-renewable energy sources are getting exhausted across the world, people are veering towards ways of saving energy and using alternate energy resources. Hybrid cars that can run on two or more energy source for example, gasoline, electricity, hydrogen, etc. are an attempt towards saving energy. Hybrid cars as a result are generally designed to save energy from its engines to its tires. Most hybrid cars available today run on low-rolling resistance tires.
What are low-rolling resistance tires?
Low-rolling resistance tires in simple words are those tires that roll easily on the road thereby creating less friction in other words less resistance between the road and the tire. Today most of the hybrid cars run on these tires. These tires are easy on the engine and as a result save a lot of energy which in turn saves your gas expenses. Low-rolling resistance tires also help the driver in handling the car on the road, are more stable on the run and are durable.
How do these work?
As in all tires, even for low-rolling resistance tires generate heat at three different places the friction between the road and the tire, the heat generated within the walls of the tire and the heat generated between the rim and the tire. Now in a low-rolling resistance tire, the manufacturers try to reduce the amount of heat generated by the tires. This is achieved by a number of ways:
The tread of the tire is designed in a different way.
The material is used such that it generates less heat. Mostly strong but light material is used to help generate less heat.
The tires can run without air for at least fifty miles which means that even if you have a flat tire you can drive till your nearest mechanic without being stranded.
How can such tires save energy and money?
Statistics show that low-rolling resistance tires can improve the rolling resistance of your car by 25% which in turn can give an improved mileage by three to five percent. The material used reduces the heat generated which saves fuel. Although you may need to pay $40 extra on buying a set of low-rolling resistance tires, you may eventually save up to 6% of gasoline usage.
Although there is hardly any negative point about these tires, if you are a bit of a wild driver and go on long off-terrain drives, then may be the tread of low-rolling resistance tires will not be sufficient for you.
Apart from that consumers and authorities have both taken notice of the low-rolling resistance tires so much so that California has come up with the law where replacement tires are supposed to be of the same quality, performance and efficiency of the tires of a new car, which are mostly low-rolling resistance tires.
Most hybrid cars come with low-rolling resistance tires. However when it comes to getting replacement low-rolling resistance tires it gets a bit tough and contacting the manufacturers directly would probably be a safe bet.

We take our tires for granted until they fail us. Most of us forget that the most important part of any vehicle is its tires. Unless you are a professional driver, it is most likely that the tires on your vehicle have been neglected. So what can you do to maintain the tires on your vehicle? Here are some suggestions.1. Tire Pressure – The single most important aspect of tire maintenance is tire pressure. Always keep in mind that tires naturally lose air over time. If you hit a pothole, or strike a curb while parking, this can also result in tire pressure loss. Maintaining the correct pressure not only increases gasoline mileage, but helps the car handle and ride better. Correct tire pressure also increases the life of the tire. All tires have the correct tire pressure imprinted on the tire. Although car manufacturers advocate for a lower setting to improve the ride of the vehicle, it may not always be the best thing for your own personal driving style. The information on tire pressure and load limits is almost always posted on a placard on the vehicle door edge, door post, glove-box door, or inside of the trunk lid. You can also find the recommended tire pressure and load limit for your vehicle in the vehicle owner’s manual.It is a wise idea to buy a good tire pressure gauge, and check the pressure at the minimum of once a month – more often if you drive high mileage. You may also wish to consider a portable air compressor that runs off your cars electrical system as well. A small air compressor in the home garage will also suffice, and are not expensive if bought with maintaining air pressure in mind.Always check tire pressure when the vehicle has not been driven for at least three hours. This is called recommended cold inflation pressure. A tire that is hot will show a much different reading than a tire that is cold, because driving causes a tire to heat up, increasing the tire pressure and giving you an incorrect reading. 2. Check For Nicks, Cuts or Uneven Wear – Examine your tires on a regular basis for damage. Inspect the rim to see if it has been damaged as well. If you are constantly driving on poor roads with lots of potholes it is essential that you make tire inspection a part of your regular routine. A visual inspection can help you determine whether or not the tire is under or over inflated. Uneven wear on the outer edges of the tire is a very good indication that the tires are not carrying the proper tire pressure. If wear is evident in the center of the tire, then it has been continually over inflated. Be aware that these visual checks do not apply to radial tires, which have a different ground profile than regular tires.3. Rotate Your Tires – Experts report that the front tires of a vehicle wear the quickest, especially in front wheel drive cars. Each time the steering wheel is turned, the tire receives extra wear. Turning the wheel causes resistance, and the end product is heat, which is a real contributing factor to tire wear. As each individual vehicle is different, refer to your owner’s manual for instructions on tire rotation. Be sure to have your tires rotated on schedule as this is critical for maintaining your car’s balance.Front-end alignment is also highly recommended to reduce tire wear and handling. Your tires should be parallel to one another as well as perpendicular to the ground. Sophisticated equipment is used to determine the correct alignment for each vehicle so this will require you also taking your vehicle in on schedule for review.As far as visually checking your cars for wear, all tires have wear indicators built into them. Inspecting these small bumps or nubs can help you determine when the tire needs to be replaced. These numbs are located throughout the tread pattern, and especially on the ridge where tire tread meets the sidewall. If you spot this wear indicator, compare it to the height of the tread surrounding it. If the tread is of equal height as the wear indicator, it is time to purchase new tires. Proper tread depth is essential for proper tire performance. If you notice a loss or change in wet traction, you may not have enough tread left on your tires. Once the tread depth reaches 1/16th of an inch it must be replaced.Following a few simple guidelines will pay for itself in both cost of tire replacement and your own personal safety. Keep tire pressure correct, rotate tires on a regular basis, keep the front end aligned properly, and do a visual check of your vehicle’s tires. Doing so can save you a lot of grief down the road.

The iron chains hugged the tires as the cars drove over knee-deep snow in Rocky IV as Rocky went to Russia to avenge his friend’s death in the boxing ring. The chains cut through the snow giving the car the necessary grip to move forward.
We may not give much importance to the car tires while we spend a lot of time thinking about the mileage, safety features and the make, but the fact remains that the tires grip the road on which you vehicle runs and the type of car tire, its quality and the air pressure within it matters a lot in the safety of your vehicle.
They say no crash is an accident. Remember many accidents can be avoided if cars use the correct tire suitable for the particular vehicle. It is said that a number of car accidents caused these days are because of wrong tires and the compensation that one has to pay to the victim or the deductions that one gets from his or her insurance money is because of the wrong tires. A pair of wrong tire may lead to the skidding of your car, may affect the stability of your car on the road and can severely affect the safety of the vehicle in bad weather conditions.
The factors that you must consider while buying the tires of your car whether it is a new car or a pre-owned one are as follows:
The tires must match the make of the car.
The tires must be appropriate for the weather conditions, extreme snow, heat or rainfall.
The tires must be in good condition.
All signs of wear and tear in the tires of a pre-owned vehicle must be thoroughly examined.
You must always maintain the correct tire pressure. Wrong air pressure may lead to wobbling of your car or a flat tire in a freeway.
Remember appropriate car tires can bring down your insurance premium drastically. Accidents that are attributed to wrong tires lead to less insurance payments and the owner has to compensate. Choosing a tire that even if is in a higher price range, but if ends up saving the lives of people on the street or your own, is probably a wiser decision.
If in doubt discuss with your car manufacturer, with your garage people and with your insurance people and learn more about the kind of tire, the tread and the make that is suitable for your vehicle. The safety begins with the first contact that your vehicle has with the road and it is the only contact that it has with the road; the tires. The safer the tires are, the better their conditions are, greater is the safety of the vehicle on the road. It will also safe you a lot on insurance, payments, premiums and later on reimbursements, etc post an accident.
To ensure safety of your vehicle and your own choose the correct tire right away and you won’t regret that.

What is the least appreciated part of a vehicle? A good answer would be the tires.

Most people don’t give much thought to their tires until it’s too late– until they fail. And when tires fail, it could mean just two things: either you get a minor inconvenience that might involve getting stuck in traffic, missing work, while putting on your spare, or a scenario that could be much worse – a life-threatening accident.

If you own a vehicle, perhaps it’s a good idea to give more importance to your tires. Be sure to check the condition of the tires you are currently using and look out for any defects or faults. Check the spare, too.

Or better yet, continue reading this article. It will delve more deeply on safety issues concerning vehicle tires.

Looking out for serious defects in your car tires

This should serve as a warning for the driving public. There might be hidden defects in tires that could cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles on the road.

It is not enough for tires to look good, be properly inflated, and have a good amount of tread. It’s a good idea to check the age of your tires.

Because tires are the most underappreciated part of a vehicle, drivers often neglect how old their tires are as long as they still look good. This might be true especially for spare tires-some could be up to a decade old or more. A very old spare tire, believe it or not, could deteriorate to the point of having its interior rotted. One can just imagine the disastrous effects this could lead to when driving at extremely high speeds.

In tires, the rubber materials that hold the belts together will eventually degrade and lose its elasticity. It will get to the point where the tire can no longer hold together. Research shows that tires six years or older tend to break down. And it’s not just the spare tire in your trunk that can be dangerous. Even tires bought from the shop or the showroom can be just as dangerous – who knows, these might have been sitting in a shelf for more than a decade waiting to be sold.

Avoiding accidents brought about by old, faulty tires

Many vehicle makers now put warnings in their car manuals against using tires that are more than six years old. Some experts, however, advocate for expiration dates to be stamped on the tires not unlike other consumer products like milk.

The tire industry disagrees, stating that expiration dates will only give consumers a false sense of security. They stress that this might lead consumers to use the tires and wear them down to the nub as long as the products are still within the expiration date.

Tire makers say proper maintenance is the key to safe tires and that there is no reliable data that tires become dangerous after six years.

How to make sense of all these contradictory views by the experts? Here is an important tip for the consumer: on the outer wall of the tire, the side that faces away from the car, are a series of digits and letters. The last series of four numbers actually shows the tire’s date of manufacture. For instance, if it shows 1202, this means that the 12th week of 2002 is the tire’s date of manufacture. By checking the date of manufacture, you can determine on your own the age of the tire. You can then decide if it’s time to buy new ones.

The leading cause of tire failure is under inflation. Making sure that your tire pressure is up to factory specifications, will prolong the life of the tire as well as increase your safety while on the road. Under inflated tires are not always noticeable, and can also increase your fuel usage. As a general rule, you should check your owner’s manual to see how much pressure your tires should have, and then check them monthly, with an accurate tire pressure gage.

When to Buy Car Tires

Checking the tread wear will make it obvious as to whether or not it’s time to buy car tires. The first way to check the tread is by using the penny test. Insert a penny into the tire tread groove with Lincoln’s head upside down and facing you. If you see Lincoln’s entire head, then it’s time for a tire replacement. Another way to check the tread is by looking at the wear indicator bar that’s molded into the tire. When the bars are so visible that you can see the adjacent tread ribs, it’s time to buy car tires.

These tips will help you understand a little more about the signs of tire wear and tear:

• Wear in the center: Over-inflation

• Wear on both edges: Under-inflation

• Feathered or sawtooth edges: Misalignment

• Dips or cupping in the tread: Worn parts

Tips for Buying Passenger Car Tires

There are tons of options when it comes to passenger car tires: new car tires, cheap car tires, used car tires, discount car tires—the list goes on and on.

Many consumers worry whether or not cheap car tires, used car tires or discount car tires are safe. Your tires influence the way your car handles on the road, so this is a logical concern. With this said, as long as the tire meets the minimum safety standard, you can take your pick of whatever tire fits best into your budget.

If you choose to buy cheap car tires you must keep in mind that they might need replacing more frequently than more expensive brands. This doesn’t mean that they’re unsafe–it just means their life span isn’t as long. Keeping the pressure right and having them rotated regularly will prolong their life.

Buying used car tires isn’t necessarily the best option, but it can come in handy for a quick fix until you can afford a better set. The thing about used car tires is that it’s harder to tell how much life is in them. As a general rule, use caution when purchasing used car tires.

How to Buy Passenger Car Tires

When buying car tires, it’s best to think about how and where you drive. Manufacturers have multiple tire designs to give consumers multiple results such as durability, sport handling, traction and more. Your geographical location, as well as car make and model will help determine what you really need.

If possible, find a brand you’re happy with and stick with it. Become familiar with your current tire’s width, height and diameter. When searching through passenger car tires, look for the correct numbers, as well as ‘P’, for passenger vehicle and ‘R’ for radial. Match up the numbers and you’re good to go.

It’s always best to have a tire dealer or mechanic replace your tires. It requires special equipment to slip new tires over the car’s wheels, so having a professional take care of it is a great way to ensure your safety while on the road.

Keep the wear on your tires even by having them rotated regularly. Even tire wear means that all four tires will need to be replaced at the same time, so budget accordingly. Take care of your car tires and they’ll take care of you.

To find more automotive articles , visit MechanicAdvisor.com

The tire is known as one of the most important parts of a car. Investing in tires is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Buying the most affordable tire is not always appropriate, as tires are subjected to a lot of wear and tear, with durability based on on the maintenance and quality of the tire.If you do plan to acquire the most affordabletires for your cars, a trusted source to ask would be the dealer from whom you acquired your vehicle, or your mechanic. Neither stands to gain from the car tire you buy. You may also look up information in tire guides, magazine reviews and sites to find out if it is worth paying so much for those tires.When acquiring cheaper car tires, learn the best brand for your tire choice by looking at the tires being used by other car owners. The most frequently used tire would be the best choice for you. You could also check up what tire your user guide recommends, and buy the perfect tire for your auto. When buying the cheapest car tire, check its performance level, wet grip ability, load carrying capacity, and amount of tread left in it.If any of this is not up to standards, then there is no use acquiring the cheapest car tires. There is no point in buying the cheapest car tires if you will later have to spend money on repairs. Price may be a deciding factor when purchasing car tires. However, there are many financing options available nowadays that can be used to buy new tires while lightening the financial burden. So look at these tips before acquiring those cheap car tires.

Anything you can do to make your car tires last longer will cut down the cost of driving your car.  Sure, you’ve heard so much about driving habits that can increase your miles per gallon that you’re tired of hearing it, but what about increasing your miles per tire change?  The way you drive, and the way you take care of your tires can go a long way toward saving you money.  And as a bonus, most of the ways to make your tires last longer will also make your car safer to drive, and improve your fuel economy!

Here are three tips to help you get the most life out of your car tires:

Each of these things will make your tires last longer, and I’ll tell you why.

Proper Inflation

Maintaining correct air pressure in your tires has been discussed as a way to improve gas mileage, so much that it almost sounds ridiculous.  Overemphasized or not, it is still true, and it also improves the life of your tires.

Check your tire pressure at least once a week, and add air when the pressure is below the manufacturer’s recommendations.  Check the owner’s manual for your car for the correct pressure.

If you find that one or more tires need air often, have your local repair garage check it for slow leaks, and fix them.  A slow leak might be a warning sign that the tire will suddenly go flat, so spare yourself the trouble.  Fix it before it gets worse.

And don’t overinflate the tires.  There is a school of thought that if a little pressure is good, more pressure must be better, but this is not the case.  An overinflated tire will bulge along the tread surface, so that only a small strip down the center of the tire is actually in contact with the road.  This will cause the tire to wear prematurely down the center, and it also reduces traction because you have less rubber on the road.

If a tire is overinflated, which can happen when the weather gets warm or if you move from a low altitude to higher altitude, let some air out.  Make sure your tires are inflated to the correct pressure, neither too low nor too high.

Alignment and Balance

You usually get your tires balanced and your wheels aligned whenever you buy new tires, and that’s good.  However, if anything happens to unbalance your tires or to misalign the wheels in between tire changes, you should have it corrected right away.

Misaligned or unbalanced tires will wear unevenly, and that always means that they will wear out faster.  They will last much longer if they are always properly balanced and aligned.

If you have a flat tire repaired, or even just a slow leak, make sure the tire is rebalanced before the mechanic puts it back on your car.  They may charge extra for this service, but it will save you money in the long run.  The tire will last longer, and you will get better gas mileage than you would get with an unbalanced tire.

Your wheel alignment should stay correct between tire changes, but if you drive on rough roads, you should have it checked regularly.  You should also have the alignment checked if you had some unusual shock to your car’s suspension, such as if you hit a curb or a large piece of debris in the road.

With proper wheel alignment, your tires will last much longer.  You will get bonus benefits of better, safer handling, improved fuel economy, and longer life of your car’s suspension and steering components such as tie rod ends and ball joints.  The extra strain on the system from misaligned wheels also causes undue wear and tear on these parts as well as your tires.

Steer Only While Moving

Back in the days before power steering became commonplace, everyone knew this:  It’s much easier to turn the steering wheel while the car is moving than while it’s stopped.  In case you’ve never had the pleasure of driving without power steering, it’s worth the trouble to demonstrate this for yourself.

With the car parked on a slope, such as a driveway, and the engine off, turn the key to the “on” position without starting the engine.  This will unlock the steering column.  Turn the steering wheel all the way to the left.  It’s hard, but a person of average strength can do it with a little effort.  Now, release the brake a bit to let the car roll slowly, and turn the steering wheel all the way to the right.  It’s still difficult without the engine running, but much, much easier than it was when the car was not moving.

The difference is friction.  When you turn the steering wheel and the car is not moving at all, you are rubbing the front tires sideways across the pavement.  This rubs the tread off the tires and onto the pavement.  No, you won’t see a flat spot on the tire after one bout of parallel parking, but the cumulative effect of doing this day after day is taking thousands of miles off the life of your tires.

Whenever you have to maneuver at low speed, such as getting in or out of a small parking space, make sure the car is moving – at least a little bit – while you turn the steering wheel.  Even if the car moves as little as half a foot while you turn the steering wheel from one extreme to the other, you will save a great deal of wear on your tires.

And there’s a bonus here, too.  If you turn the steering wheel while the car is stopped, where does the power to turn the wheels come from?  Right!  From the engine, and from the gasoline that you paid too much for.  Steering only while moving will save you gas, as well as saving wear on your tires.

Conclusion

Much of the cost of owning and driving a car is related to your choices in how you drive it.  Yes, you must replace your tires every so often.  But you can make it a little less often, and make your expensive tires serve you a good deal longer, if you take proper care of them.

Breaking down in the middle of nowhere only to discover that the cause is a flat Tire is quite possibly one of the most frustrating roadside scenarios. While not a major complication, flat Tires are easily avoided if you replace them when required. How do you know when it’s time to change your Tires? Being aware of the signs that they are running low on tread is a good start.
Is it time to change your Tires? Checklist:
• It is actually a legal requirement to have sufficient Tire tread depth. The minimum in Australia is 1.5 millimetres. If your tread depth is at this level or any less, it is time to immediately change your Tires.
• You don’t need a measuring tape to test the tread – just have a look at the tread pattern. If the tread has worn down to the level of any of the bars running across the Tires they need changing.
• Remember to check various parts of the Tire, as they usually wear down in different areas.
• Tire performance is another sign to look out for. If you find that your car is taking longer to break or is not handling well in wet weather, it may be a sign that you need your Tires replaced.
• Still unsure? Getting your car serviced regularly by a mechanic is a good idea and guarantees you an expert opinion.
The end of a Tire’s life can generally be attributed to normal wear and tear; however, some other factors include sudden or emergency breaking and over or under inflation. Avoiding wearing out your Tires too fast can be as simple as ensuring that they are properly inflated. In most cases, front Tires will wear out before the back Tires. Rotating the front Tires to the rear is another way to give them a longer life.
If the time has come to replace your Tires, there is the option of second-hand Tires, retreads and new Tires. Second-hand Tires are typically not recommended as their history and lifespan are unknown. Retreads are an alternative to replacing a whole Tire, where the Tire base instead receives a new tread layer. This is cheaper than buying new Tires and is suitable for intact Tire bases. There has been much debate, however, that retreads cannot cope at high speeds and have tendencies to separate from the Tire when put under pressure. New Tires offer the most security, but obviously at a higher cost.
Popular and trusted Tire brands operating within Australia include Bridgestone, Goodyear, Dunlop, Michelin, Pirelli, BF Goodrich, Hankook and Falken.

Michelin is one of the world wide leaders in tire manufacturing. They have a renowned name in the field by manufacturing tires for all kind of vehicles like trucks, SUVs and cars. The research and development facility at Michelin manufacturing unit is simply spectacular coming out with new designs for all the model of vehicles. The tires have the capacity to with stand all kinds of load that a truck carries, maintaining the strength and power of the engine capacity. They are very durable. It is the most bought tire in the European continent.
As we all know that a tire also plays an important role in the fuel consumption and economy of the car. It is most responsible object in the vehicle for controlling the speeds. Michelin tires are used in sports vehicles such as the rally cars, formula one car, motor sports in biking and other racing actions. These tires suits all the conditions of the racing track and many varieties are being made for better performance in the given condition of the track. They have two broad categories of tires according to the climatic condition they are summer tires and winter tires or cold weather tires.
Let us have a look at the summer tires at first. The Energy Saver model tire is used in cars. The tests have confirmed that it makes the fuel consumption less and the tire has a good longevity and braking excellence. Michelin Pilot Exalto is the type that has provides risk less turnings in the wet roads. It holds the road conditions good. Michelin Pilot sport is used in cars like the Porsche and it is the fastest tire of the company. Michelin Agilis are used in the vans and Michelin Latitude is used in the 4 x 4 vehicles.
Driving in winter weather condition must definitely have a good range of tires for risk free journey. Michelin Pilot Alpin is used in fast cars for good driving experience in cold and snowy conditions. Primacy Alpin is mainly used in the Saloon model cars for extra comfort and to reduce slippery in wet roads and snows. For great braking system the Michelin Alpin is used in which the braking distance is very much short. Latitude Alpinas are used in cold weather for 4 x 4 cars with Agilis snow ice is used in bigger vans for good brakes and engine performance increase.
As you can see just from these frew examples, Michelin has a strong group of quality tires that can meet anyone’s needs.

Winter driving can be much more difficult and even dangerous than driving on roads where the conditions are normal. This is why it is important that you choose a set of tires that will do well even in the worst winter conditions, including blizzards, freezing ran, snow and situations where both ice and snow are on the road. If you do not know where you can begin for finding the right set of winter-based tires, read on as this article will provide a step-by-step guide on how you can best go about doing such things.
First, you will need to find your vehicle’s owner manual. Why is this important when finding an appropriate set of winter tires? It is because it will offer specific advice from your car’s manufacturer on which tire design and size will work best for your vehicle. Once you have determined what you need, go to a tire shop and give the clerk your specifications. They will provide further assistance in picking out the right winter tires. If you do not know how to put the tires on the car yourself, consider getting them put on professionally. This is a service that is offered through most top-notch tire shops.
When you do go about buying your snow tires, make sure they use metal studs, as these type work well when there are icy conditions on the road. However, do not use metal stud tires during times in which you are not experiencing wintry weather. Otherwise, there could be damage caused to the roads. Additionally, you could risk getting in legal trouble, since metal studs are only allowed during the winter season. Some states have even banned their use altogether. So, save your existing tires so you can put them back on your vehicle when the winter season ends.
Additionally, you will want to make sure your snow tires are all the same when it comes to their design, their size and their tread. You need to especially be on alert for such things if you have a vehicle using front wheel drive. This is because with front wheel drive vehicles, if you use rear wheels that are mismatched, you could risk losing traction ability when you are trying to brake during wintry conditions.
If you want even more protection when driving in wintry weather, consider getting tire chains. These are special chains that can help increase the traction ability of your car up to 200 percent. This is provided that the tire chains are the appropriate size for your tires. If the tire chains are too large or too small for your tires, they will not do their job very well, if at all.
In conclusion, getting the right set of winter tires could help prevent you from getting in a serious accident during the winter. Yet, keep in mind that winter tires aren’t a cure-all, despite being a good back-up if you do happen to get caught in bad weather. If you have an option to stay at home during extreme weather conditions, this will provide you the most protection against a snow-related accident. Don’t take the risk if you don’t have to.