tiresandwheelsdirect.com Blog

Safety Should Be Top Priority This Holiday Season

2006-11-29T19:31-05:00

Date: November 29, 2006

With the holiday traveling season upon us, Discount Tire, America's largest independent tire company, want to remind motorists that tire care should top their list of priorities. Especially since the temperatures can drop and the road conditions can change dramatically depending on the weather.

More than 38 million Americans will be traveling this holiday season according to AAA. Most will be traveling at least 50 miles from home. An estimated 83 % of that will be going by motor vehicle.

Since most are unaware of the impact that simple maintenance has on tire life, fuel economy and road safety, and estimated 33,000 injuries will occur on US Highways due to under-inflated tires.

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Choosing Tires For Winter Driving

2006-02-06T16:49-05:00

Choosing the right tires is one of the most important decisions we have to make in regards to our personal transportation. It is of utmost importance during the winter, when in many areas the presence of ice and snow on roadways creates a deadly hazard. It is not a difficult process if you have the necessary information.

The very first thing you should do is check your vehicle owner’s manual to find the manufacturer specifications for the types and sizes of tires recommended by them.

Next, mount the appropriate mud and snow tires on your vehicle to help guard against the slickness of winter roads, these tires can be used anywhere as long as they do not have metal studs on them.

If you live in an area where ice is common in the winter, be sure to use the metal-stud tires that are available and keep your other tires(if they are in good condition) for the end of winter season as these metal stud tires are only allowed during the winter season and are banned in 10 states.

Another key to remember is to make sure that all of the snow tires you equip your vehicle with are of the same size, type and tread. This is particularly important if your vehicle is front wheel drive where using mismatched rear wheels may result in a loss of traction when braking on the icy roads of winter.

When choosing tires be aware that equipping your vehicle with oversized tires that are larger than those recommended by the manufacturer make result in difficulty steering and can rub the fender wells or suspension underneath.

As a rule, snow tires are manufactured with large empty areas in their tread so that they will have more traction on snow than normal tires where regular all season type tires are more concerned with marrying a quiet ride with a modicum of traction.

Another time tested method that can be used when conditions warrant is the use of tire chains. Installing tire chains can increase traction as much as 200%. Again, make sure that these chains are of the right size and type for your particular tire as the wrong chains can cause the tires to fail.

Following the preceding tips will help you to safeguard you and your family in the upcoming winter season.

Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for several online and offline businesses. Get great selection and pricing on tires and wheels at http://www.tiresandwheelsdirect.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregg_Hall

Tips on Buying a New Car

2006-01-30T01:49-05:00

by Brad Beckham

Buying a new car, whether its new or previously owned, is oftentimes as big a deal as buying one’s first house and thus, needs to be done with care. The car buyer who goes into the dealership after doing her homework will drive out the winner.

First and foremost, you need to know what exactly you want in a vehicle; type of car, color, trim, and, of course, the “extras”, for example: a/c, CD/DVD players, 4 wheel drive or extended warranties. Research on the particular car that you want will benefit you, the buyer, when it comes time to haggle with the salesperson. Find out what the car sells for with the extras that you want then find out what the wholesale price of that vehicle will be. Aiming for a price that is about $500 over the wholesale cost or 20% off the sticker price can be a win-win deal for you and the salesperson. If you have a vehicle for trade-in, check the Blue Book value of your vehicle as well. But don’t talk to the salesperson about trade-ins or their values until AFTER you have locked in the purchase price. You don’t want them making up the difference by tacking in “hidden fees.” Know your facts before entering the dealership!

This information is not all that you need before you begin car shopping; the right attitude is just as important. You need to go into the dealership prepared to walk out without the car if the salesperson is not willing to strike a fair deal. If you, the buyer, are in dire need of a vehicle, this will come across to the salesperson and the advantage will be lost. If having a vehicle immediately is necessary, then your best bet is to rent one until you are prepared to buy. If you can rent the particular make and model that you want to purchase, that’s even better. This gives you a “real-life” test drive to decide if this is what you really want and if it works with your lifestyle and your needs.

You are almost ready to go shopping now! Timing is the next thing to consider. When you shop for the car, cycles can affect your pricing too. The end of the month is typically the best time to buy a car and the end of the model year is even better. The dealerships are looking to move out inventory to make room for newer models and are often more willing to lower their prices. Use this to your advantage!

Be mentally prepared for the after-market pitches. You can usually get a much better deal on everything from warrantees to the surface treatments and tire systems available on the open market.

A great example of one such treatment is http://www.tiresandwheelsdirect.com/ where you install them yourself and save hundreds over the dealer systems.

One more caveat before signing on the dotted line: be sure to read the fine print! Do not get caught with unnecessary warranties or contracts or get surprised with “hidden” fees. Take all the time you need to read over the paperwork, even taking it home overnight if you have to.

Don't forget http://www.tiresandwheelsdirect.com/

NOW, you're ready to go shopping!