You will find that Moto Metal skull rims are increasingly popular today as an aftermarket accessory for those motor vehicle owners looking for a great deal of style and class and at a nice price. And though the lineup is wide and varied — and from many different makers — each wheel is suffused with durability and reliability in addition to its good looks.

One of Moto’s strongest selling points is they come in a large variety of styles and applications, which is something that can’t be disputed. Chances are excellent that one will be sure to find a wheel or rim setup for just about any SUV, truck or car out there, and these aftermarket products are also sure to be in the right size, as they come in 15 inch all the way up to 20 inches.

“As far as SUV and lifted truck — and regular truck — applications, Moto’s got a wheel ready to go. Even “”dually”" trucks (they have four wheels on the back) are covered, with different polished metal or chrome plated models offered for just about any style or type of truck or SUV on the market these days. These wheels can be a quick way to add any one of several nice styles to any vehicle, for a fact.”

Moto metal wheels come in different prices, as well, with the typical price range being about 220 to 350 dollars per such wheel. This cost is actually quite reasonable, especially when one considers the quality and durability that one is getting when purchasing a wheel offered by this company. Almost all of them will appeal to the desire to have a unique design or look on one’s vehicle.

Usually, there are a number of different finishes that Moto offers their various wheel styles in. Many such enthusiasts of these kinds of Moto Metal skull wheels today prefer glossy finishes (there are a lot of them in the catalog), while others opt for a more subdued matte-type finish. Certainly, any number of colors and finishes can found which also feature good-looking machine wheel lips, as well.

Wheel buyers today are looking to protect their investment (which can be significant, in many cases), which can be significant in many cases. Moto doesn’t disappoint, as it offers and extremely comprehensive lifetime warrant against any structural failure. Additionally, a full one-year guarantee is offered and which protects the original purchaser of the wheels against any problems with material, finish or workmanship, which is quite generous in its coverage levels.

These particular wheels and rims are offered by one of the industry’s stronger dealer networks, with many of the dealers having received special training that allows them to quickly and easily match up a prospective customer’s vehicle with the right wheel application. Such a large network means that no matter where a customer lives, chances are excellent there’ll be a Moto dealer in the vicinity.

It’s easy enough to appreciate Moto Metal wheel and tire packages once one takes a good look at all that this manufacturer of quality aftermarket car wheels offers.

Cheap or low priced ATV tires are not hard to find. If you need to buy cheap ATV tires all you need is an internet connection to buy the tires that suit your need. However, and this may not come as a surprise, that when you opt for cheap tires, you can not expect to attain high quality. To give more value to your money you can go for the slightly higher priced tires that are available in the market. This way you would not have to completely compromise on quality of the tires. To be able to buy the best ATV tires for the best price is more important than buying tires that come in the cheapest.

To get cheap tires with better quality, one should be very clear about what they need for their vehicle. As a rule, the tread does affect the performance of the wheel. If you need mud tires then go for the one with wide flat spaces between the tread patterns. The best buy when it comes to cheap ATV tires would be the All Terrains as it works well in all sorts of terrestrial drives. Also, they come in cheap as compared to the more specific types like the mud tires or the trail tires. All Terrains can be purchased for as low as US $30. But as stated earlier, you can not expect lower priced tires to give the same durability.

Just finding cheap tires is not enough; other things need to be considered as well. Check the sizing on the tires. It is usually imprinted on the sides of the tire and if you plan on altering the size of your new tires, it is best to ask trained professionals about it. Tires taller than the original will decrease power and the possibility of a roll over will increase. Though, these tires would increase the over all quad speed. Thus there are more criterions to consider when it comes to buying tires. All sorts of varieties are available even in the cheap range of the ATV tires.

One thing that is very important, when you are buying cheap ATV tires, is to get a warranty from your dealer. Also, buy tires from a manufacturer that would give you the best possible quality for the price charged and would not leave you unattended when you need their help with the tires.

It is not necessary that the new company would not give you the quality you require for your product. The case can rather be on the contrary. However it is wise to make the most reasonable choice of tires for your vehicle rather than going along with the cheapest. This does not mean that the cheaper ATV tires might not be what you are looking for.

You can obtain cheap ATV tires fairly easily from the stores that offer discounts on the famous brands or on their older stocks. The best buys are those that suit your requirements perfectly rather than those that cost you the least money. It is a good measure to search locally and try to compare prices on the spot. Cheap tires are not always the best choice. Also, do not choose based on the price tag on the tire alone. Compare and search for the best buy. Cheap ATV tires may do more harm than good. But as always, there is a chance they may turn out be as good as any other.

For tips and information on mud tires for ATV visit ATV Tires Wheels

Maxxis International is one of the leading tire manufacturers in the world. With a distribution network in more than 100 countries and more than 20000 employees around the world, it is one of the largest and most respected tire companies in the world.

Maxxis is well known for supplying high quality tires for cars, light trucks, bicycles, motorcycles, ATVs, trailers, karts, and lawn and garden care. Their wide variety of products has made them outstanding in the tire industry. As a result of hard work and by supplying good quality products, the company has won the hearts of many of their customers. Their quick and good service has given the company a great feedback from their customers who now trust Maxxis for their products. The trust of the customers is increasing on a daily basis. The complete range of reliable products from Maxxis brings its customers to them even if it is a bi-cycle tire that they need.

The All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) tires are one of the most popular products of this company. ATV tires are distinctively designed tires with big, chunky treads and a large profile to encounter off-road conditions. Maxxis recently launched their new range of tires that are to be used on muddy, hilly and snowy terrains.

The new Bighorn 2.0 is a new version of Maxxis ATV Tires based on the previous best selling tire The Bighorn. It is a lightweight version that has the same design as the original, but with a slimmer profile. Its special designing provides better shock absorption-allowing for a smoother ride. The random tread pattern provides better cornering and claws up roots and rocks for easy climbing.

The Maxxis Mud Bug features extra deep lugs to provide maximum traction with comfort in muddy terrain. It is based on the new Reinforced Carcass Ridge (RCR) technology which gives it strength and reduces its weight. In addition, angled tread bars sweep the mud away from the tire for improved grip in extreme riding conditions. It is puncture resistant and is available in larger sizes to provide sufficient ground clearance.

The Mudzilla is yet another product. It is the ultimate mud tire that has pyramid shaped tread blocks, again to give maximum traction in mud and a smooth ride on hard surfaces. The tire also has a rim guard for maximum wheel protection and is puncture resistant as well.

The Zilla is light, fast and gives a smooth ride on rough trails. It is a combination of superb mud traction and an outstanding trail ride. It allows the vehicle to quickly accelerate along with a great braking force.

Maxxis has a lot of competitors in the market including Dunlop and Michelin. All three of them produce excellent quality tires in the world but Maxxis ATV tires is a step up as it has that are durable and have a lower price range, affordable by all.

For tips and information on ATVmudtires and Maxxis big horn atv tires visit ATVTires blog.

All-terrain vehicle tires or ATV tires are specially manufactured to encounter all types of off-road conditions e.g. muddy areas or hilly regions. They are designed for ATVs, four-wheeled motorcycles and Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs). These tires are used on vehicles to provide them with good road grip especially in areas with difficult terrain.

The tires are manufactured for various purposes. Some are designed to encounter the problems of mud, sand and even snow. They are a replacement to general purpose tires which do not perform well when exposed to various physical conditions. They are large, chunky and wide profiled tires, which are made to perform well in off-road conditions.

There are two types of ATV tires; ATV mud tires and ATV snow tires. ATV mud tires have wide spaced irregular-treads for maximum grip in all sorts of muddy conditions whether the mud is wet or dry. The wide flat gaps between the treads allow the tire to sink into the top most layer of the surface giving it better grip. The tires also increase the efficiency of the traction control system on board.

Mud tires can be easily distinguished by their large tread pattern. It is one of their most obvious characteristics. The tread on the tire is similar to a caterpillar track. It does not allow the tire to loose grip on the soft mud. The design of the treads consists of straight or jagged lines which get a deep grip on the ground. On a mud tire, these treads are much thicker than standard tires which help to bore the ground. This allows them to hold more mud for a tight grip. The big chunky motif sinks easily into the mud and clears away quickly, thus maintaining the stability of the car.

These high profile mud tires are usually seen fitted on four wheel drive trucks and specialized vehicles such as buggies, carts etc. They are more common in racing and off-road vehicles and also come as a special characteristic in military vehicles. A disadvantage of their large size is that due to limited the small size of the fender they can’t be used in standard sedan-sized vehicles.

Mud tires can be seen with mud flaps. They are special protectors made of hard plastic or rubber that hang from a car behind the tires. They absorb the mud from the tires and keep the rest of the car clean including the inside of the wheels.

The disadvantage of using mud tires is that they do not perform well on carpeted or cemented roads. They do not deliver the quality of balance and stability necessary for high speed driving on stable roads because of the large, square openings in their treads. As a result of limited surface area which touches the ground, there is less traction between the tires and the road. They are also noise producing because of the whistling of air through the irregular treads.

For tips and information on cheap atv tires visit ATV Tires

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Nearly 50% of the population of United States in the second half of 20th-century lived in Rural America. Street racing was not known at that time. In the past racing started on back roads and tracks and definitely not on city roads. A new racing method was discovered on West Coast. In this type of race you how to drive within urban environment. All this gave birth to American Racing rims.

One of the first types of racing wheels that were created in the early fifties was known as the mag wheel. Soon after that came the development of magnesium wheels that had spokes instead of molded materials. In 1956, American Racing Equipment was constructed and they started manufacturing some of the most popular and top selling racing wheels. This company grew in popularity because they often sponsored racing events, but in the early sixties, a company called Torque Thrust bought them out.

Torque Thrust created the five spoke tapered parabolic design. Drivers, even those that didn’t want to race, ordered racing wheels for their car. With American racing wheels even normal car looks like muscle car. American racing wheels suddenly became symbol for high lifestyle.

Collectors priced some American racing wheels in the early 60s. American Racing Wheel’s Broken Vector model was the most valuable and efficient model owned by collectors in California and Symler as per American racing website. American racing fans are loyal and the sport penetrated into the pop culture.

Hopster or British-American racing wheels are very famous. It is very good option for classic vehicles and it’s been around from long-time. Hopster wheels are termed as the most beautiful racing wheels available for your classic vehicles. Generally people like oversized wheels. Aluminum custom wheels give you that of awesome look required for your vehicle. These low-profile tires give high performance.

Whenever you think of American Racing rims, racing wheels can really come up to your expectations. The price starts from $200 for 15 inch wheels and 420 inch wheels it is $400. Racing fans expect that their cars should perform like rally Racing car. These activities, like rally heels, are offered by manufacturers to consumers. Generally still wheels comprise five different Oval slots. Trim rings as well as centre caps are also included.

Heavy gauge steel is used to make racing wheels. It increases their weight and also the structural integrity. Chrome wheel symbolize the old style of rally wheels. Baby moon hub cap is provided to chrome plated steel alloy wheels. It also complements other white wall tires. There width varies from 6 to 10 inches. There rim size varies from 14 to 16 inches. You can also choose back spacing and various offsets. You can also opt for bolt circle patterns for your wheel.

So try American Racing Torq thrust wheels for that old school look. To find more choices that the local cars tires retailer doesn’t offer, do a little shopping on the Internet.

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All the avid ATV drivers would know the importance of perfectly suited tires when it comes to achieve the best drive their vehicle can provide them with. ATV tires come in various types. They can be the huge mud tires, the wide race tires, the O.E type tires, the sand tires or the much patterned trail tires. Famous brand manufacturers of ATV tires include Goodyear, Maxxis, Gator and ITP etc.

The main purpose of the specifically designed ATV tires is to provide good functioning both on the road and off it. They should be so manufactured that they are able to cope with all the roughness of the uneven terrain and along with that provide a smooth drive on the road. The different tread patterns on the tires are so designed to fulfill the requirements as per specific terrains. The tread patterns on the mud tires are a little distant as compared to those on the All Terrains. This allows the All Terrains to give a smoother ride on the road.

The following things need to be kept in mind regarding ATV tires. The ply rating of your ATV tire is essentially determined by the conditions in which you are taking your vehicle. Therefore, while riding through rocky terrain it would be advisable to use tires with higher ply ratings as this would substantially lessen the chance of puncture. The ply rating can be determined by checking the number of stars imprinted on the sidewall of your ATV tire. Each star refers to 2-ply. So, three stars imprinted on the sidewalls of the tire mean that the tire has a rating of 6-ply.

Taking in account the air pressure inside the tires is necessary if you want a smooth drive. Go for the pressure value as stated by your manufacturer rather than running the maximum air pressure which is given on the sidewall of the tire. To attain good mileage, optimal air pressure is important. Check for punctures or cracks or impact damage if you are experiencing air loss in your ATV tires. An old valve stem or an unfastened valve core can also be the causes of air loss in your tires. Therefore, valve stem and valve core should be checked for leakage.

AT25 x 10-12 is the sizing format for the ATV tires. The alphabet “R” may be used instead of the dash to show the radial construction. The numbers represent the sizing parameters where the first number gives the overall diameter, the second gives the section width and the thirds represents the wheel diameter. All measurements are done in inches. However, these numbers vary in individual tires as the calculated figures are mere approximations.

To save the tires from premature wear and tear and sidewall cracking, the air pressure must be kept within optimal limits. Visual inspections must be carried out regularly to remove any foreign body from the tire tread. The appropriate measures would allow your ATV tires to give a high class performance while letting them last longer.

For tips and information on cheap atv tires visit ATV Tires

With more constructions works and economic growth and development going on throughout the country, the requirement of more firms coming up in the construction business is felt, and clearly the numbers of firms are in the run have gone up too. However , not always that you see these companies get the requisite work they desire. So almost all of them have now, come up with alternate and parallel sources of revenue, which is good. One of the sources is backhoe rentals. Most of the companies these days give rentals to people for community works, and sell machinery parts like backhoe tires, backhoe buckets and other attachments to the clients.

Backhoe tires.If you chance to own a backhoe or a tractor for your specific roles, you need to know about the details relating to the maintenance of the machinery too. Machinery in particular include the backhoe tires, backhoe buckets, other precise attachments. Purchasing a backhoe means, you have to buy the backhoe tires too.

The numerous kinds of backhoe tires available in the market include the following types. Front farm tires. Narrow row crop tires. Implement farm tires. Specialty farm tires. These are the major six sorts of tires available in the market. All the six separately have their own desires and domains of work, and therefore need to be selected with expertise. Backhoe tires are most critical as it provides the necessary push and traction for the backhoe to work efficiently.

Not just the push to move the machine, correct stability of the heavy equipments while loading in the front bucket and keeping the balance of the automobile as a whole fully relies on the backhoe tires, and this way, it is one of the most important machine the first part should look into while buying a backhoe.

Details of the tires. Necessarily, by the engineering principle of the backhoe, the rear tires are much bigger than the front ones. They’re separately called the rear farm tires and front farm tires. Because of the larger size of the rear farm tires, the backhoes are balanced and pressed while the works are being done. Purchasing a backhoe tire is also a job one should well study about.

It is kind of standard for people who aren’t into these things much to get confused and take faulty calls while purchasing the backhoe tires. Taking a faulty decision while purchasing can essentially mean that the backhoe won’t work as efficiently it may have done, and so, slow down the entire process of traction. Regularly community works can need specialized backhoe tires for their works. Nowadays, many tire firms have come up with designing efficient backhoe tires and selling them to the possible clients and to the other backhoe rental companies. Taking advises from these backhoe tire companies while buying one can be of serious help. Even one can order them for supplying with the same in a stipulated time. If this can be done, 1 can be guaranteed of the efficient work to be done with the backhoe.

Go to Backhoe Tires to get free information on this product. This website will give you all of the information you need on Backhoe Tires along with a lot of other free information. Don’t miss out on this new website if you are looking for a new machine.

If you are thinking of driving on your holiday or vacation to save some money instead of taking an expensive flight, cruise, or train then these travel tips will be kind to your pocketbook.

Not only can you save money on gasoline by replacing the air in your vehicle’s and RV’s tires with nitrogen gas, you can save money on your every day driving as well. Research shows that drivers can improve their gas mileage by over three percent when they use nitrogen in their motor vehicle’s tires.

This is not new technology as it has been used for a number of years by commercial airlines as well as in NASCAR cars. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandates that nitrogen be used in all commercial aircraft tires to eliminate the possibility of water vapor freezing at high altitudes which happens with air filled tires. And NASCAR teams use nitrogen gas in the tires of their racing cars because the tire pressure varies less than it does with air.

How can using nitrogen gas in your vehicle’s tires save you a serious amount of money over time?

First of all, you do not have to buy new tires to make the change, your present tires will be fine. When using nitrogen gas in the tires you can improve your vehicle’s fuel efficiency and save a lot of money in the process. Nitrogen in your tires will also improve your vehicle’s handling and extend the life of your tires so you will have to replace them less often. There is no question that in this era of record high gas prices you will reap substantial savings on all of your driving for years to come.

How can using nitrogen gas, in your vehicle’s tires also improve our environment?

If you use nitrogen gas instead of air in you vehicle’s tires, that will help to maintain a proper tire air pressure. This optimizes tire road contact and therefore reduces tire/road resistance. This will increase your fuel economy and put less exhaust emissions into the atmosphere. You might say that by going green you are saving a lot of green, greenbacks, that is.

How can you do your part to help America’s economy reduce its dependence on foreign oil?

Current research shows that if every driver in the United States replaced the air in each of their vehicle’s tires with nitrogen gas, they would improve their gas mileage by over three percent. This translates into a whopping saving of almost four trillion gallons of gasoline per year!

For more information and research data on the growing use of nitrogen gas in motor vehicles’ tires including those of commercial carriers, visit Get Nitrogen at their website, GetNitrogen.org. In addition to the research, you will find a growing list of registered dealers located in the United States and Canada that can replace the air in your tires with nitrogen.

These are some important points on how you can save gasoline and reduce green house gas emissions at the same time by not driving on under inflated tires, whether you use air or nitrogen gas in them.

Firstly, check your vehicle owner’s manual for the optimum tire pressure.

Measure tire pressure accurately with a tire gauge as a visual tire inspection is not reliable.

It’s best to measure tire air pressure when they’re cold. You should wait approximately three hours for the air inside your tires to cool down before measuring the tire pressure.

Lastly, and probably the most important, check the air pressure in your vehicle’s tires at least once a month.

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Bridgestone is one of the biggest and most prestigious tire manufacturing companies in the world. On August 9, 2000, the officials of Bridgestone ordered a recall of the tires. The recall requested for a massive return of over 6.5 million tires. All these tires were of 15 inches and their make and type was as following:

1. ATX

2. ATX II

3. Wilderness AT

The recall was voluntary and the basis of the recall was some sad incidents. The NHTSA had started the inquiry and scrutiny of the tires after they resulted in some vehicle accidents and caused damage to life and property. The number of accidents due to these tires was around 62. The recall compelled the company to increase the tire production to meet the demands for replacement. For the very purpose, the company plants in the US increased the daily production of tires by 7000 tires. Moreover, thousands of tires are being transported by air from the company plants in Japan. The company is also using tires of other companies to meet the requirements of their clients. These tires were extensively used by Ford trucks and by sports model vehicles, like the Explorer.

The company says that the Bridgestone Tire Recall was requested because the company’s prime concern is the safety of its customers and the step was only taken in public interest. The vehicle owners using the tires were notified by e-mail about the replacement. The notification also stated that all the defective tires will be replaced by the new Wilderness AT tires or other tires made by the company. If the company was unable to replace the tire with its own tire, then the company would get the tire replaced by the tire of some other company. The recall was ordered after the company found out that the tire had the tendency to catch up defects ad cracks early n its life and there were also cases of accidents which caused deaths and injuries. On finding the fault the company ordered the recall of all such tires. The figure included 3.8 million tires of Radial ATX and ATX II tires and 2.7 million Wilderness AT tires. This brought the total to 6.5 million tires.

It was ordered by the company’s Executive Vice president, Gary Crigger. The recall requested the return of all the tires irrespective of the number of miles it had already been run for and no matter how old the tire was. This brought immense consumer confidence for the company and earned the company a good reputation.

The company carried out its own investigations regarding the accidents and for this purpose it worked closely with the Ford Motor Company. It was found out that the most of the accidents resulted from the tires made in the Decatur, Illinois plant. Heat also proved to be one of the major share holders in causing tire failure. Irrespective of the damage done the recall was a bold and extraordinary step taken by the company and it ensured that no mishap should occur because of bad tire quality.

buy Bridgestone tires online at discounted prices from the Bridgestone Tire retailer

In this article we will look at some general service hints that apply to any car whether you buy it new or used. In most cases, these maintenance costs are not covered by your factory and extended warranty, but are important considerations in getting the best and most reliable service from your car.

The first consideration is where you take it for service. Many people simply take it back to the dealer where they bought it. The advantage there is that if they discover anything that needs fixing under the warranty, they will fix it for you when you take it in for service. But be aware that you pay a premium for dealer service in most things, and you can often cut the cost of that routine maintenance by 30% or more by using a good independent repair shop. And the independent shop may be a bit more observant in pointing out other problems with your car that you can have fixed under warranty back at the dealership.

Check with friends or business associates to see where they get their car serviced. Many shops offer free shuttle transportation when you drop off or pick up your car. If you have a more exotic car, be sure they specialize in that kind of car. Since the cost of parts can often be more than the cost of labor, you should realize that OEM parts from a dealer usually cost 50% more than the same parts from a good after market supplier, when available. But your dealer always uses OEM factory parts. And items like tires, brakes, filters and routine maintenance parts are inevitably a good bit more expensive from the dealership.

Once you decide where you want to have your car serviced, stick with them if they do a good job for you. There’s no substitute for a good relationship with a repair shop when it comes time for major work or diagnostics. And many a shop will take a one time customer for a “ride”, and take the easy route to fixing your problem rather than the most cost effective one. A little story…

I had a girlfriend once with an old Ford Mustang. Her turn signals were not working and she took it into the Ford dealership for repair. They wanted to charge her $220 to replace the whole turn sign mechanism and wiring harness, a big job as it involves dismantling the whole steering column. She couldn’t afford it and came to me asking what she should do.

I had a hunch and picked up a new blinker relay from the auto parts store for $3. I reached under the dash, popped out the old one and stuck the new one in there.

Presto… the problem was fixed. I was outraged that the dealer was going to charge her $220 when a simple $3 part fixed the problem. I went down there and complained bitterly and they refunded her diagnostic charges anyhow.

In general, car repair shops are notorious for fixing things that don’t need fixing, and not always because they are completely dishonest… but because it’s faster than trying to figure out where the exact cause of the problem really lies. It’s the old analogy of fixing a loose nail with a sledgehammer. So finding a good reliable service shop can save you a lot of money over the years.

I recommend you keep a log of your maintenance. It will help you do it regularly and that will prolong the life of your car. And it also looks good when it comes time to sell the car.

Here are some service issues that are critical and some hints that not everyone is aware of.

Oil Changes

The average new car recommends an oil change every 7500 miles. I like to change mine twice during that period. Motor oil is cheap and nothing wears an engine out faster than dirty motor oil. The simple process of combustion produces a lot of by-products, acid, carbon, and contamination from the air. And that contaminates your motor oil pretty quickly. I change it at 4000 but not the oil filter, and then again at 7500 and change the oil filter at that time. I maintain the same schedule through 7500, 15,000, 22,500, 30,000 and so on.

I use a high grade of motor oil… I have always liked Valvoline. But Quaker State, Pennzoil and other top brands are probably equally good. Stay away from the bargain brands. Quality lubrication is essential to your engine’s longevity. In general you want it to look clear and green on the oil dipstick… when it starts getting dark, it’s time to change it, and when it gets black it’s way overdue.

The exception to this rule is that some synthetic oils which are black in appearance when new. And unlike foods, where “synthetic” is a dirty word, in motor oils, the synthetic variety offers better lubrication than the petroleum based “natural” oils and costs a good bit more as well. If you have an expensive car, it’s probably well worth the extra cost for the higher quality motor oil.

People who ignore things like routine oil changes because they are too busy are very foolish. Dirty motor oil wears out an engine very quickly and failure to keep it clean may very likely void your warranty.

Transmission oil is another item. Factory service often doesn’t require it be changed more than every 30,000 miles. But depending on how and where you drive it can get dirty and worn a lot quicker than than that. In general you want the fluid to appear cherry red and have almost no smell when you pull the transmission oil dipstick. When it is reddish brown and has a burnt smell, then your transmission is suffering. Many cars do not allow an easy change of the transmission fluid. It is often necessary to drop the pan of transmission to drain it, and then that usually holds 3-4 quarts and does not change the majority of the fluid which is in the torque converter.

Some cars like my Mercury Mountaineer, have a separate drain plug for the torque converter and allow a change of fluid to be relatively complete. But many others do not. My old Ford Explorer was that way. Changing the fluid by dropping the pan only changed 1/3 the transmission fluid, so if I waited til it was brown and burnt, one change did not do it. I installed a drain plug in my transmission pan, and changed it 5 times running it a few miles after each change, until I figured I had diluted the old burnt fluid adequately enough. So keep an eye on that fluid and change it often.

Manual transmissions don’t use transmission fluid… they use a 90W gear oil which generally doesn’t need to be changed very often. But keep your clutch adjusted properly with a little bit of freeplay at the top, and don’t “ride the clutch”. Be very careful about resting your foot on the clutch pedal as the weight of the foot can partially depress the pedal, and start to reach the edge of engagement, and this will wear out your clutch’s throw-out bearing very quickly.

Older cars all used carburetors to mix gas and air and squirt it into the engine for combustion. Newer cars mostly use fuel injection, and while this often works really well and controls emissions, you need to keep those fuel injectors clean. Your local auto parts shop sells a number of brands of fuel injector cleaner and I recommend adding it to a full tank of gas at least with every oil change. It’s a lot cheaper than having your fuel injection system overhauled. And change that air filter regularly or whenever it starts to appear dirty. Nothing slows performance more quickly and gunks up your carburetor or fuel injectors than a dirty air filter.

Tires, Brakes and Shock Absorbers

Other items like tires, brakes and shock absorbers are generally not covered by warranties… they are considered routine maintenance items. Choose your tires carefully… there are a wide range of tire grades, priced accordingly. Invariably those bargain prices you see advertised are junk tires and not worth your time unless you are just fixing the car up to sell. Many tires will offer long mileage warranties, but read the fine print… often that’s “pro-rated” and applied to the “list” price of a new one, not the highly discounted price you bought them for. This is an old scam. Put 20,000 miles on those 50,000 mile tires and you may find the adjusted price of a new pair under warranty is higher than what you can buy them or a comparable set for outright.

In general, always buy tires at least in pairs. Never put one new tire on one wheel when the other has considerable wear. Generally, it’s best to put your new tires on the front to take advantage of better steering and handling with a new tire. But if your car is rear wheel drive, be aware that badly worn tires in the back will cause your car to skid and lose control quickly in wet or slippery conditions. If you rotate your tires regularly, say every 7500 or 10,000 miles at least, then your tires should all wear out around the same time and it’s best to replace all four as a set.

When putting on new tires, you should have them balanced and the front end aligned. Bad alignment or balance will wear out new tires much more quickly and can severely impact the handling and ride quality. Often, balancing tries when they are new, does not mean they will still be in balance after 5-10,000 miles. I like to buy my tires from a tire dealer that offers free rotation and rebalancing for the life of the tire. I look for tires which handle well in wet conditions and avoid aquaplaning. Those are usually high end steel belted all-weather radials which also work pretty well in snow as well.

Remember you life and that of your family is riding on your tires. Invest in good quality tires… it’s a sound investment. And one more thing, these new “low profile” tires that look so cool on these sport sedans. The low profile means a short sidewall, which means little give and flex there which, while it can contribute to better handling, also means a stiffer less comfortable ride, and more wear on your suspension, since the tires are not absorbing the road irregularities as well, leaving it all up to the more expensive suspension parts.

Shock absorbers are another important and often overlooked component. Worn shocks mean faster tire and suspension wear, particularly the ball joints in the front end. It’s relatively easy to check a shock’s performance. Push down swiftly on the fender of your car over each of the four wheels. New shocks should be pretty stiff and recover from a hard shove with only a single rebound. If the car bounces up and down several times above the wheel, the shocks are worn and should be replaced. These are not expensive and a good tire dealer can stick in a quality set like Monroe Shocks for little more than $100 for all four on many models of cars.

Also not covered by most warranties, the brakes should be checked regularly (whenever you rotate your tires and replaced when they get low. Driving with worn brakes (typically they squeal badly when you come to a stop) will quickly score your brake rotors or drums and make replacing them essential as well as brake pads or brake shoes. Front brakes usually wear out first, and again depending on how you drive, you can probably expect to replace them every 30,000 miles or so. A good brake shop will turn the rotors or drums, replace the pads or brake shoes, and rebuilt the calipers or wheel cylinders as needed. If you replace them often and the rotors/drums look good, sometimes you can get away with just a new pair of shoes or pads.

Also keep an eye on your brake fluid under the hood. As the brakes pads or shoes wear, the fluid level will drop. That is normal, and you will need to add a bit of brake fluid from time to time. Be casrely not to spill any on the car’s paint as it is highly corrosive and will eat through the paint in a matter of moments.

Car Paint and Interior

In order to preserve the value of your investment, you also want to maintain your car’s finish and interior. Keep the car washed and clean. Be careful about automatic car washes. Many news ones do a fine job, but some of the older ones with stiff brushes can scratch your paint badly. If you can keep your car in a garage or under cover, do it. That old junk you have piled up in the garage while your $35,000 car sits out in weather is a poor investment decision. Remove bird droppings and tree

sap as quickly as you possibly can. I keep a plastic bottle with water and a soft rag in my trunk and wipe off bird droppings as soon as I notice them. The acid in there will eat into your paint very quickly and cause a blemish to that paint job. But blot don’t rub. Bird droppings typically have sand in them and that can easily scratch your paint.

You can remove tree sap and road tar with turpentine or paint thinner from your hardware store. It won’t hurt the paint and will quickly dissolve the sap or tar. But is also removes car wax so use it sparingly, and if you do it often, treat your car to a fresh turtle wax a few times a year. A freshly waxed car will cause water to bead up in little round beads on the surface. When those beads start to disappear it’s time for another coat of wax. Wax will protect your car’s paint, keep it from becoming porous and weathered and making the removal of things like bird droppings and sap much easier.

Remember factory paints are baked on and are in general much more durable than repaints. So it pays to keep up that factory paint job.

I like to use Armorall on the car’s interior vinyl… it keeps it soft and pliable and prevents cracking and it looks sharp. I also highly recommend using some kind of a windshield protection screen in hot weather if you park out in the sun all day. It will keep the car’s interior cooler and also protect the car’s dash from cracking. And if your car has leather seats, treat them to a quality leather preservative on a regular basis. Nothing makes a car harder to sell than cracked worn leather seats.

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