Duro Tires

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High performance tires from companies like Duro Tires, Sumitomo Tire, and Falken Tire can give you vehicle the ability to perform at its peak condition. Without durable tires that cling to road surfaces well, even the best could lose control of a well designed car. Understanding your driving conditions and vehicle, though, could help you choose the passenger tires that are right for your truck, car, or SUV. Knowing your options will also help you choose performance tires for cars that are designed for high speeds and tight turns.

Choosing Duro Tires

Duro Tires offers a wide assortment of tires for vehicles such as SUVs, passenger cars, ATVs, motorcycles, light truck, and even trailers. If you are interested in purchasing passenger tires for a commuter vehicle, then you might consider their DP-3000, DP-3050 Impulse, or DW-9100 Snow Hawk. These tires are designed to work with passenger vehicles under circumstances that commuters often encounter on surface roads and interstates. If you are not sure what kind of passenger tires or SUV tires are right for your vehicle, then you should consider contacting a reliable dealership to help you determine which ones will work well for you.

Choosing Sumitomo Tire

Sumitromo Tire is another manufacturer of reliable tires. They have an assortment of performance tires for racing, passenger tires for your daily commute, and SUV tires for larger commuter vehicles. One of Sumitomo Tires top performance tires is the HTR Z III. This performance tire has lateral grooves that whisk water away, siped tie-bars to offer maximum control and safety, and a rib tread pattern that will keep vehicles on course.

Purchasing New Tires for Vehicles

Whether you are looking for performance tires, SUV tires, or passenger tires, you should always make sure that the dealer can offer you good customer services as well as reliable products. You know that Sumitomo Tire and Duro Tires make great products that are used by many experienced drivers because they give them the control that they need on a variety of surfaces.

Regardless of how careful a tire manufacturer is, though, mistakes are made. Small defects in SUV tires could wear them down quickly or cause slow leaks. Choosing a tire dealer that offers you guarantees on the products you buy understand that nothing is perfect all the time. Having a warranty from the dealership as well as the manufacturer could make it significantly easier for you to get the customer services that you need for your Sumitomo or Duro tires.

Car Battery Trickle Charger

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You want to store your car, or RV, but you know that when you go to start your vehicle after it’s been sitting for a few weeks or months, that your battery will be dead.

The car battery trickle charger is specifically designed for the maintenance of 12 Volt batteries that are used periodically or kept in storage for extended periods.

The normal self-discharge of a battery is prevented when using a car battery trickle charger. In addition, the life of rechargeable 12 volt batteries is extended by providing a minimum current, regulated output.

Low quality chargers will produce a strong, rapid charge that often will decay electrodes and boil out liquids. We strongly recommend purchasing a charger that; once your battery has been fully charged, it will automatically shut-off and then resume charging as your battery level drops. Also, check to make sure the charger you buy is specifically designed for longterm use. You want to be able to safely leave it connected to your battery for days, weeks, months, even years!

More important tips for vehicle storage:

Gas up

Air carries moisture with it and that will result in condensation in the tank. To reduce this as much as possible make sure the tank is as full as it can be. This will reduce the condensation and considerably lessen the amount of water in the gas and the injection system. Get a gasoline stabilizer such as Stabil and put this in before filling the tank. You will need to run the engine for a while to ensure that the stabilized gas has penetrated the entire injection system.

Change the oil filter and the oil

The contaminants in old oil will corrode the insides of your engine so it’s important to put fresh oil and a new filter in the car.

Over-inflate Tires

Inflate automobile tire to approximately 40 or 45 psi. Modern radial tires aren’t known to have problems with flat spotting from storage. Still, some people suggest that you roll the car a little every 2 weeks or so. It is strongly recommended that you don’t jack the vehicle up and rotate the tires because when you lower the car the suspension will be loaded up. Try and check the pressure of the tires every few weeks or so and watch for slow leaks.

Some say that the suspension will sag by putting the car up on jacks. Letting it sit on the ground for the few months shouldn’t lead to any problems.

Clean the vehicles interior

When it comes time to take your vehicle out of storage you won’t clean it. You may not want to clean it before you put it in storage but when you take it out you simply won’t do it. So, take some time and get everything really clean. Clean the carpets. Clean the glass, inside and out. Clean behind the pedal cluster. Clean and condition the leather. You’ll be surprised at the dirt you’ll find. Clean all the nooks and crannies. Also, don’t forget to also clean the trunk, etc. There is a full season of dirt and junk in the vehicle that you’re not going to want to carry into the next season. Moth balls and a bag or two of the silica gel inside the car (which absorbs any moisture in the air) are excellent preventative measures.

Wash the vehicle

Dust and dirt are corrosive to any paint job so to ensure a longer life it’s important when storing to not leave those elements on the vehicle, but take care not to put it away wet. This can be challenging if you want to use the vehicle right up to wet or snow season. You should never put your car away wet because rust will form everywhere the water collects. You’ll want to try anticipating the weather and cleaning the car and driving it a little to dry it out before storage. Then it will be necessary to get the dust off before storing it with a wipe down with wet/damp towels followed drying it with towels. Another option is one of the “quick detailer sprays” available at many auto parts stores.

Wax car

This is recommended but it may be difficult to get in a good waxing of the car depending on the temperature when you are preparing to store it. A good quality of wax will be too difficult to apply in low temperatures.

Condition the rubber parts

Many of the brand name products for treating rubber put on greasy coatings of silicon (Silicon isn’t good for paint) or tend to build up over time and actually make the trim look worse. Use a good rubber conditioner to preserve all the trim.

Clean the wheels

Brake dust is highly corrosive and it’s not good to have it sitting on your wheels for weeks or months at a time. To do the most thorough job remove the wheels from the car, clean them on the outside and inside.

Cover Openings

Sealing up the exhaust tips will help to prevent rust inside the exhaust system. Close the heater vents and any other openings. Every 2 weeks or so, it’s probably a good idea to make a periodic inspection. Check if any leaks developed or if any mice are nesting.

Engine Storage

Spray WD 40 into cylinders
Take out spark plugs
Spray WD 40 into air intakes
Turn over the engine by hand with wrench a couple of times
Every three months repeat this (except the spark plugs which will no longer be in the engine)
To change the wheel bearing position, every three months turn wheels, or move car into different location
And for manual transmissions shift into one gear and move gear box internal around
Every six months drive the vehicle.

Starting the vehicle

There are differing views on whether starting a vehicle periodically while it is in storage is a good idea. Starting the engine puts considerable thermal stress on parts which are often in cold temperatures. The majority of engine wear occurs in the first few minutes when a car has been started because the oil is still in the oil pan and not lubricating the engine. In cold weather the engine may not get hot enough to burn off the moisture, acids, etc. the car is creating while running. This contaminates the clean oil. If you are going to store your car for a really long time then it needs to be run periodically to keep it operable.

Classic Car Restoration What to do with a Basketcase Car

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Deciding what to do with a basketcase car is one of the toughest decisions for people who’ve already invested time, money, and love into their classic car restorations. At the same time, there are plenty of vintage car veterans who are always ready to finish a difficult project. Whether you want to put the final touches on a half-finished car or you just can’t find the time to complete your own, you need to know how to save yourself time, frustration, and money. Here are a few things to consider before you buy, finish, or sell a basketcase car.

When You Want to Buy a Basketcase

Restoring a basketcase can be a challenging but rewarding experience. However, there are often good reasons why other enthusiasts are eager to get their incomplete hotrods and muscle cars off their hands. Before you invest in an old project, you’ll need to make these important considerations:

*Safety comes first. If the car you’re considering doesn’t even have breaks, an engine, or a steering wheel yet, then you may not have much to worry about. Otherwise, you should test the car in a safe, empty area. You need to make sure the owner is being honest about the car’s reliability and safety – or lack thereof.

*Check the frame and body. Cars that look like they’re on their last legs can sometimes be restored to their previous luster – but only if they still have solid foundations. If a classic car’s frame and body are in decent shape, then there’s good chance you’ll be able to make some headway on its restoration. If not, you’re looking at a bottomless money pit.

*Look for cover-ups. Some restorers and shops will cover large patches of rust and even holes with sheet metal. They don’t always do so maliciously, but unnoticed rust is extremely dangerous. It’s especially important to check for defects in places where larger parts have been replaced.

Sourcing Your Parts

When you’re restoring a barely-finished basketcase, you’ll need to find the best places to get your parts. If a previous owner didn’t get the project finished, it may have been because the necessary components were hard to find, too expensive, or both. Before you even make the purchase, it’s important that you find out how you’re going to get what you need – and what it’s all going to cost.

Once you’ve figured out what parts are necessary, you can check the online inventories of specialty shops across the country. There are also junkyards full of classic cars with parts for the taking, though you’ll need to go in person to see what’s available. Ultimately, you’re going to incur the greatest costs if you need foreign parts or shipping for large items.

When to Call it Quits

Even if you’ve lovingly labored over a classic car for years, there may come a time when you have to move on. A project will sometimes seem too good to be true when you first start – yet it becomes nothing but a financial drain further down the road. Your priorities and interests might also change, leaving you with an immobile heap in your garage or driveway.

Whatever the case may be, you can still get back some of your hard-earned money. Contact a professional classic car restorer now and inquire if they purchase or are interested in purchasing a basketcase project from you.

Symptoms Of A Bad Drive Shaft

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The reason anyone gets a car is to be able to get from point A to point B with as little hassle as possible. Sure, people could carpool or take the bus, but it’s so much more convenient to drive their own car. Well, it’s convenient when the car works, anyway. Cars have a way of breaking down at the most unexpected and inconvenient times. That’s why it’s important for drivers to recognize when there is something wrong with any part of their car. People need to realize when something is not right and take care of it right away. Read further to learn what the symptoms are when a drive shaft goes bad.

First, it’s important to know what a drive shaft is. It’s the rotating object or shaft that carries the power from the engine to the point of impact. Basically, it’s what helps your car to go from a stopped position to a go position. Without a proper functioning drive shaft, a car with its driver would not be able to go. Although, it usually doesn’t break all at once. Usually there are signs leading up to its complete and utter malfunction. These signs or symptoms, if caught early enough, can reduce the chances of a vehicle breaking down at the most inopportune time.

One of the first symptoms one might notice if their drive shaft is going bad might be the fact that there will be new vibrations when the car is in drive. These vibrations will be more noticeable than the regular hum of an engine. Every car vibrates, after all. It’s impossible not to with a running motor. The difference, though, is that it will feel significantly different than when it was working properly. These vibrations will be completely noticeable which means when anyone notices higher vibrations, they should check their universal joints and driveshafts to make certain they are in proper order.

The time when the symptoms will be the most noticeable is when one is accelerating in the first two gears. Typically, the vibrations will come from the rear end of the car as opposed to the front end. Many people reading this may be wondering how someone can possibly tell if the vibrations are coming from the front end or the back end. Basically, the vibrations will be so noticeable that it will not be hard to guess which direction they are coming from. Another symptom is often the passenger side especially will feel like it is continuously spinning out on gravel. Typically, these symptoms are most prevalent in the first and second gears. Be sure to get it checked out and taken care of as soon as possible to prevent any further damage.

Company Car Or Company Car Allowance – Which Should I Choose

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If you have the choice of a Company Car or Company Car Allowance, you should check out how much Company Car Tax (or Benefit In Kind Tax as it is also known) that you would pay if you accept a company vehicle, and then decide whether to go for the Company Car or cash. You could be better off taking the car allowance and leasing a car yourself, even though the allowance is taxable.

The Cash for Car scheme has become increasingly popular with both employers and employees in recent years. Employers save time and money in not having to source, maintain and administer a fleet, although they must always be aware of their Duty of Care and Health & Safety responsibilities. And as an employee, you have more freedom to choose the car you drive, and you could even be better off if you dont spend all of the company car allowance you receive. However, some employers do stipulate the type and age of vehicle that is acceptable, according to the job you are doing.

If you choose to accept a Company Car Allowance, its worth considering Car Leasing vs Buying. Car Leasing (also known as Contract Hire) is simply the hiring of a vehicle for an agreed period of time for a fixed monthly rental. Unlike Short Term Rental or daily rental, a car lease is usually for 2-5 years, after which you can simply hand the car back with no further commitment or, in some case, you may be able to purchase the vehicle if you wish. Car Leasing is a convenient, cost-effective and hassle-free way of financing a new vehicle, and there are many benefits of leasing a car. It enables easy budgeting of your motoring costs, and the fixed monthly payments can even include servicing and maintenance. Also, theres no need to worry about depreciation or disposing of the vehicle at the end of the contract.

Dont forget that if you choose the company car instead of the company car allowance, all your motoring costs (except private fuel) will be taken care of by your employer including insurance, road tax, servicing and repairs. If you choose the company car allowance, you will have to pay for these things yourself.

If you choose a company car allowance and lease a vehicle which you use in the course of your job, youre entitled to claim from your employer a mileage allowance for each business mile travelled. H.M. Revenue & Customs approves certain mileage rates that employees can claim for business travel, and the current rate is 40p per mile. Check the HMRC website for the latest information.

Part way between the company car and a company car allowance is something called Employee Car Ownership. This is where your employer gives you a car allowance, but the company organizes the finance deal and takes care of insurance and running costs. This may also be worth considering if your employer offers such a scheme.