April 30th, 2010
Many people like to get chrome on their wheels not just because it makes them look really good, but because it makes them rust resistant. This means that if you have ended up with rust on your chrome wheels there is a major problem. The first thing you may want to do is go back to the person you bought the wheels from if it is a dealership. Bring your receipt and tell them what conditions your car has been in lately. Unless it has been sitting in your swimming pool, if your wheels really do have chrome on them, they should not have rusted. This means that you were ripped off and you might want to use that fact to your advantage. If there is rust it means one of two things, they did not actually apply chromium, but rather applied steel, which a lot of these cheaper wheels will have. Steel will rust and it will rust fast, so this is a possibility. The other thing that may have happened is that they may have applied the chromium very thin, not enough to really protect the wheels. This is also a rip off and you should make sure you report it right away.
Now that your wheels do have rust on them, there are two things you should do. If you can’t exchange them out for a set that has real chrome on them as you paid for, make sure you scrub the wheels really well and get as much of the rust off of the rims as possible. After that keep the rims covered in car wax. This will keep the water off of them and will make them even shinier than they were before. It should also prevent more rust from forming. You should try to get another set of rims as soon as possible. If there is any rust left on the rims it will continue to spread even without additional water. This will eat away at the structural integrity of the vehicle.
Tags: chrome, chrome wheels
Posted in Automotive Maintenance, Car Accessories, Tire Maintenance | No Comments »
April 29th, 2010
Having a great new car means that you probably want to trick it out, and you want to do it as soon as possible. If you are a drag racer this will mean new wheels, rims, and a number of other things. While there are a lot of things that you can do on your own, there are also other things that you can’t do on your own and you should probably take it to a professional to get some help with your modifications.
Tubbing a car is a time honored tradition from the early sixties with the purpose of putting into the car wider tires without having them stick out anywhere. This can also be used to get larger tires, if you are looking to make the vehicle sit higher than it does now. This is not a job you should try to take on by yourself for a number of reasons. You should probably find a good mechanic in town you can help you with this task. In any town there is usually at least one mechanic who loves to work on cars to make them cooler. He is usually the one who owns one or two muscle car s he built himself from scraps. This is definitely the person you want to talk to about tubbing your car for wider tires. If you are resistant to this idea, think of this, you are going to need to talk to him unless you have the ability to weld . You are going to need to be able to take metal apart and put it back together. If only for this reason, this is usually not a project you can take on by yourself.
In order to tub your car you are going to need a mini tubbing kit . This will come with a lot of metal that will need to be cut down to the specific dimensions that you want it to be. The essence of what you will need to do is take apart the wheel walls plus some so that you will go deeper into the car, and then you will need to rebuild the tire walls so as to allow the new wider tires to fit.
Tags: mini tubbing kit, professional, weld
Posted in How To, Tires | No Comments »
April 28th, 2010
If you have ever watched a dirt race, whether it was professional or amateur you will notice that there is a large difference between a race on a paved track and a race on a dirt track. It should come as no surprise that there are therefore specially made products just for this type of racing. Tires are just one aspect of this, but they are probably the most important part for the car you are racing.
If you are racing on a dirt track, there is a specific type of tire that could help you. These are sometimes called race car dirt tires, mostly because it is a straight forward type of name for a straight forward sport. What are is the difference between normal race track tires and these special ones made for the dirt? They have a special tread that makes it easier for them to drift on the dirt while still maintaining some control of the vehicle. What this means is that they need to have grip, but not too much grip. They also have to be wider so they can grip the dirt easier, and so that there is a larger surface to slide across when the car makes the turns. There are also elements in the tires specially for the dirt to prevent as much wear and tear as is possible.
Because they are drag tires there are some things about them that are different from regular tires. They can only go on a car in one direction because otherwise it goes against the way the tires are made. If installed correctly, the tires will still wear evenly, instead of wearing on the inside tires quicker. The tread is notched so as to keep from being feathered by the elements. This cannot be fully prevented, but can be slowed down. There are wide grooves in the tires that are meant to promote self cleaning. There is also a specially designed side wall inside to help prevent popping. This is one of the main hazards of racing because if a tire pops it could make the car flip and it could mean death for the driver.
Tags: drag tires, products
Posted in Tires | No Comments »
April 26th, 2010
Most car enthusiasts don’t like to change their car unless they know it is going to make it a lot better. People have posted on forums questions of which set of rims would look better on a car, but it can be hard to make a decision based on something like that. Over the years many people have wondered why there is not a tool to get a good visual of things like what a car would look like with a new set of rims, or a paint job. It turns out however that there is a great tool for this, few people seem to know about it however.
There are over fifty makes , and far more models, ranging from older cars to newer cars. You can change the color of the car, like with some other tools, but much cooler than many tools you can also change the tint color and shade on the windows, the tire size, change out the rims, even raise the car and play with the way these integral things make a car look. Some of it will look better, but the important part is that you will be able to easily see if something is not going to look good at all. The virtual wheels can even move if you want to see how the rims look when the car is in motion.
One of the great things about this tool is that when you have finished playing with the car, you can buy the tires and the rims that look best on your car. All the information is part of the program and there are places you can click on to check that information out for when you go to make the purchase. Unfortunately there is not a link to the company that is sponsoring the website, but that does leave it a little more open to being able to choose to buy from your favorite tire company.
Tags: makes, questions, virtual wheels
Posted in Car Accessories | No Comments »
April 22nd, 2010
You may have looked at your tires occasionally and noticed that beyond just tread, there are also numbers on your tires. They may look something like 285/50R 20 89V and seem like they might be secret technical markings. These are not secret markings , even if you may not understand them right now, this article will help you understand what it is that the manufacturer is saying with the numbers and help you next time you go to buy new car tires .
Take the example above, 285/50R 20 89V and break it apart. Each of these parts have a specific meaning.
First number 285
This is the distance in millimeters from the sidewall edge to the sidewall edge or else considered the width. The larger this number is, the wider the tire will be.
Second Number 50
This is the tire’s aspect ratio. It tells how tall the tires are in comparison to how wide they are. This can tell you what the tire is used for. If it is a lower number like 50 it is better for steering and maneuvering.
Letter “R”
There are two things that could go here. Usually it will be an R which means that it is a radial tire. If there is a B it is for Bias, which is a older way of making tires and is not used very often anymore.
Third Number 20
This is the rim diameter in inches. Pay particular attention to this number because it needs to match the size of your rims. If you change rims, you may need to buy new tires that will fit your rims.
Fourth Number 89
This number indicated the amount of weight allowed on each tire. This is a little more cryptic because 89 has no real world significance. An tire with an 89 can actually carry 1,260 pounds of pressure, and that is just on that one tire. If you want to know how much the whole car and passengers can weigh you will have to multiply by four as long as all of your tires are the same as they should be.
Letter “V”
This is the speed that the tires can run at for an extended period of time. Meaning that while you may be able to go above the max speed for a few seconds, it is not recommended to do so for a few minutes. V is a fairly common number and it means no more than 149 mph. Other letters you may see here include S which means 112, T which means 118, U which means 124, and sometimes you may see W which is 168, or Y which is 186. If you see a ZR it strictly means that the speed is over 149, but does not say anything for what the exact speed is.
Tags: car tires, secret markings
Posted in How To | No Comments »
April 19th, 2010
Recycling used tires not only keeps them out of trash dumps but it also can make some really neat things for you or for other people. If you are going to take it to a tire recycling company, make sure that they are reputable and will put the tires back into production once they have been recycled.
If you want to make something with your tires at home, there are a number of things you can do with them.
If you have smaller tires you can cut them up and make them into flower pots. You will need a saw that can cut through steel, this will take a while, but the effect in the end comes out really nicely. If you get good at it, there is also a market for these sorts of items, and you may be able to get paid for it. You will want to cut the tire into strips and bend them back into a circle. Secure the tire to itself with solid wires. You can make them any size you want. You will then want to cut out circles from the remaining parts of the tire to put in the bottom. If you cut these out right, they should sit inside without you needing to secure them down, but if you want to be safe you should secure the bottom to the rest of the flower pot. You can make these in all kinds of sizes from small enough to fit in your hand, to using large truck tires as outdoor planters to raise plants above flooding levels. Other people get very creative with how they make these tire planters.
If you want something a little more playful to make from your antique tires , try making a tire swing. It is an icon of youth and is a lot of fun for kids. There are two main types of tire swings. If you want a simple tire swing you can just tie a rope around the tire and around the tree and you have a tire swing . These are best if they are made from larger tires so that you can sit inside the hole, but with a smaller tire, the kid can sit on top of the tire. A variation on this way of making a tire swing is to tie several ropes to the tire around the edges and keep them at even lengths. Tie all of these ropes to the tree, keeping the tire in a horizontal position. This will give the kid or adult a place to sit on the swing. This can be fun to make from a tire of any size.
Tags: antique tires, creative, tire swing
Posted in How To | No Comments »
April 16th, 2010
Installing rims on your car is very easy as long as you have the necessary items. Make sure you have ready a jack to lift your car up on, socket wrenches of various sizes, a tire lever or a crowbar, and an air compressor. It won’t have to be a large air compressor, and you may be able to rent one if you don’t own one. It isn’t much harder than changing a flat tire, but you will have to make the tires flat yourself.
If you don’t have a hydraulic lift, you will want to use your car jack to lift each tire up in turn as you work on it. Once there is no longer any pressure on the tire you will want to release all the air pressure in the tire so that you can get the old rim out, and install the new rim easily. You will now need to use the socket wrenches to undo the rim from the tire. The size you will need will depend on the rims you are taking off.
When you are done with this you will need to pry the old rim off the tire. This is why you had to let the air out of the tire, because it would be a lot harder to do this with all the air still in the tire. As it is it will still be hard, so make sure you pry evenly, moving around often so as not to bend the rim. If the rims remain in good condition you can either resell them, or you can put them on your car later, but if they are bent you can not do anything with them. Cheap rims will bend easier than better quality rims.
Now you just need to get the new rims on, and make sure they are safely attached to your car. You will want to use the bolts that came with the new rims to attach the rims to the tires. This will ensure that they will fit snugly. Re-inflate the tire and move on to the next one.
When you are done with this, you will want to drive around for a while at low speeds to make sure that the rims are installed correctly and aren’t going to pop off damaging the car. You have now installed your own rims.
Tags: cheap rims, lift each tire, socket wrenches
Posted in How To | No Comments »
April 13th, 2010
Chrome plated sportbike rims can add an extra level of personalization to something that really is an extension of a person’s personality. It can also add a lot to a bike in terms of easier maintenance. Chrome plating, as long as it is done with chrome and is not being called that, will have a higher corrosion resistance, be harder, easier to clean, and many women find it very attractive. Unfortunately, chrome plating can cost a lot of money. With prices ranging from the low $300s to the high $900s for just two wheels, the price of chroming sportbike wheels is variable.
One of the variables is the type of bike.
Depending on the type of bike you will need different rims, and the cost of custom rims for each type is different, just like the cost of the rims themselves will range.
Another variable is the type of chrome.
There are different colors that the chrome will come in, and that depends on the process by which the chrome is plated to the rims. Different processes cost different amounts of money. While the silver chrome is the most common of the colors, black is also often seen on sportbikes.
Last variable is Workmanship
Workmanship comes in a lot of forms, and you will want to be on the look out for bad workmanship especially when they are working on this. If a workman is saying he will plate your rims in chrome and plates them with any other metal mixture it will be lacking in the protective qualities that make chrome so attractive. If the chrome process was done wrong, the chrome may also start to peel off of the rims. This will cost you a lot of money. If you can, spring for a better made chrome plating with real chrome instead of steel and make sure you check around before you let anyone put chrome plating on your rims.
If you find a place that will do your rims for cheap, you may want to question them on what goes into their estimate for the chroming process and what the exact metal mixture is that they will be coating your rims with, it could save you a lot of money in the long run.
Tags: custom rims, proces, steel
Posted in Tires | No Comments »
April 2nd, 2010
The biggest factor on wear for any tire is use. The way that you use them and the frequency of that use can either add to or take away from the number of miles you will get out of them. This is true for all types of tires from all-terrain tires to street drag radials.
Owners of drag racing cars estimate that they get anywhere from 15,000-30,000 miles on their street drag radials. Street drag radials are constructed differently than typical tires. They have a slightly smaller sidewall width and thinner tread. This helps them achieve higher speeds while maintaining a smooth ride. Also because of the radial construction , they will get better fuel economy than non-radial tires, though that is probably the last thought going through your mind as your speeding down the track.
If you want to conserve your street drag radials you need to, like any tires, take care of them. Racing them at the track is a sure fire to shorten the life of your tires. Peeling out of the street or in parking lots will also add unnecessary wear to your tires. While these things are fun to do, and often the purpose of having a drag racing car and tires, they will not prolong the life of your tires. In the past, street drag radials were notorious for loosing traction on wet surfaces when the tread became low; however many companies are developing ways to combat that, such as the flame design on the tread of mickey thompson tires that will help improve that traction.
Tires can be an expensive investment as well as being an important safety feature on your car. Good driving and regular maintenance will ensure that you get as much out of your tires as you paid for. On the other hand, if you like buying new tires and enjoy racing at the track — have fun and be safe.
Tags: mickey thompson tires, radial construction
Posted in Auto industry news, Tire Maintenance, Tires | No Comments »
March 31st, 2010
One of the most important safety aspects of any vehicle is the car tires. Poorly maintained car tires can lead to a loss of traction , blowouts , and a potentially dangerous or life- threatening situation to yourself, the occupants of your vehicle and others on the road. The best way to avoid these types of fateful events is pay very close attention to the tires and car rims .Cars tires can last anywhere from 20,000-80,000 miles, though it depends greatly on the quality of tire and the way that they driven.
Like most high quality products, high quality tires tend to last longer than lower quality because of the way they made and the material that is used. One of the biggest factors in tire wear is the way that they driven. Tires that peeled out after red light or frequently taken off-roads and into rough terrain are going to wear out much faster than tires that are driven reasonably on nicely paved roads. Because there is such a difference it is important that you check the tire wear often. Most tires have wear lines inside the tread that indicate when it is time for new tires; however, not all do. If your tires don’t have these lines you can conduct the Lincoln penny test. If you put a penny upside between the tread of your tires and you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, it is time for some new tires.
When it does come time to buy new tires, it is important to take the purchase seriously. A good set of tires, when properly maintained can last you several years. On the other hand, if you ride them and your vehicle hard they will need to be replaced much more frequently, and you will be paying a lot more to maintain the safety of your vehicle.
Tags: blowouts, car rims, loss of traction
Posted in Automotive Maintenance, Tire Maintenance, Tires | No Comments »
