Internet Provides Wealth of Information on Car Maintenance
(ARA) - A thorough check of your vehicle's major systems is a good idea before the snow flies, and checking your tires, brakes and battery is a good start. But if you're like many drivers, you may not know enough to recognize a problem when you see one. For instance, do you know the telltale signs of a weakening battery? Do you know the difference between all-season tires and performance tires, or which one is right for your vehicle? The Internet can provide a wealth of information for the car maintenance novice who is looking for tips on how to winterize a vehicle or make a specific purchase. Online resources, such as motorist.org and some manufacturer Web sites, can provide basic information on how systems such as brakes, shock absorbers and batteries work, why they're important, and what car owners should be aware of when preparing their vehicles for winter conditions. For example, if your car cranks slowly when you try to start it, has trouble starting in cold weather, or if your headlights dim when the car is idling, have that battery checked.
And if you're buying tires, all season radials are designed to handle dry and wet surfaces as well as some snow, while performance tires provide more grip and a sportier feel. A new Web site, sears.com/auto, lets drivers compare features and prices of batteries and tires, gather information about automotive maintenance, and find answers to commonly asked questions and definitions for useful terms related to vehicle maintenance. On the site, car owners can enter the year, make and model of their car to receive a list of tires and batteries designed to fit their vehicle. Items can be sorted by price, brand or product name, and car owners can compare as many as four similar items side by side. By entering their ZIP code, car owners can then find the nearest Sears Auto Center, where they can discuss questions and options with the experts on staff.
"With the information they gather online, car owners gain a better understanding of what they need and why, before they even begin comparison shopping," says Bill White, president of Sears Automotive. "Savvy consumers frequently come into their local Sears store with their printout of side-by-side comparisons when they are looking to purchase major appliances, lawn tractors, home theatre and other big-dollar items," he says. "Now, automotive tires and batteries are two more areas where sears.com can help consumers make fact-based decisions for major purchases." The "Automotive Advisor" section of the site offers information on buying, maintenance, safety and more -- ideal as owners prepare their vehicles for winter driving. Common questions, ranging from how and when to check tire pressure to why "cold cranking amps" in your car battery are important, are answered in this section of the site. The site also provides information on services Sears Auto Centers offer, such as alignments, brake service and wheel balancing, as well as a list of what is included with each service.
All information from the site can be printed for quick reference. Because the products offered on the site must be installed on a vehicle, they are not available for online purchase, but can be obtained at Sears Auto Centers nationwide. "On the Internet, auto owners can research the advantages of various products, compare prices and make decisions in the comfort of their own home," says White. Sears also offers a wide variety of merchandise and services through its Web site, www.sears.com..
Courtesy ARA Content, www.ARAcontent.com; e-mail: info@ARAcontent.com EDITOR'S NOTE: Sears, Roebuck and Co. is a leading U.S. retailer of apparel, home and automotive products and services, with annual revenue of more than $40 billion. The company serves families through 860 full-line stores nationwide.Chopper Parts
Few road vehicles look as unique and stunning as Choppers. These customized bikes epitomize all things wild and creative in the bike world. In simple terms, a chopper is a bike, usually a Harley Davidson or Indian, which has several of its parts ?chopped off'. This is done in order to make the vehicle lighter, easier to maneuver and more eye-catching.
Choppers started appearing around World War II, when soldiers returning home desired lighter bikes, like the ones they had used in Europe.
In order to get the desired effect, they began removing unwanted parts from their bikes back home, which resulted in the " birth" of choppers. Over the years, the concept of choppers evolved and was not restricted to only chopping off parts from the vehicle. Several people started customizing their bikes in order to suit their personal tastes. Customized chopper parts soon became a craze and took the market by storm.
The most popular chopper parts that bike enthusiasts...
Toyo tires > Chopper Parts
How to Check the Tire Pressure
Over-inflated or under-inflated tires could actually cause you and your GM vehicle trouble that you may not be quite prepared for. The truth behind these tires is that too little or too much air in it could make your vehicle run more on gas. It could also make some of your GM vehicle's parts run askew. That is why it is important that air inside the tires is just right.
The ideal timeframe as per checking your vehicle's tire pressure should be around once a month.
However, it would be much better if you could check the tire pressure any time within the month. If you are preparing for a long trip and you need your vehicle to do the task of transporting you to your destination, do not forget to check your tire pressure.
What do you need to check your tire pressure? A tire pressure gauge of course. This tire pressure gauge is available in most car parts stores like Auto Parts Information. Or you can also try using tire pressure gauges in gas...
Toyo tires > How to Check the Tire Pressure
Michelin Tires - Ramblings From a Fan
It was in 2002 that Edouard Michelin articulated the mission of the North American tire manufacturing company with impressive eloquence, while truly encapsulating the driving force behind the company for so many years.
Mr. Michelin stated, "We have one profession and one mission: contribute to long-term progress in the field of mobility."
The statement itself could at first glance appear slightly overly dramatic, until one considers, not only the importance of the field that Michelin Tires works within, but also the work and the advances the company has made.
Michelin Tires does research and development, production and sales in the different areas of: motorcycles, trucks, heavy-duty construction equipment, agricultural machines, aircrafts and, of course, cars.
This is quite a list for a company that has more public awareness dedicated to a plump albino than for putting years of innovation to ensure that airplanes can land safely...
Toyo tires > Michelin Tires - Ramblings From a Fan
Jeep Compass Chooses Goodyear Tires
Jeep has selected Goodyear Wrangler to be its tire provider for the upcoming lineup. Goodyear Wrangler SR-A tires in size P215/65R17 was incorporated to establish Jeep parts to produce more efficient vehicles. Said tire will serve as original equipment for the 2007 version of Jeep Compass. The latter is the new compact SUV from the automaker which is based on Dodge Caliber and GS platform. Said model is now available for dealership.
It can be recalled that Compass was introduced at the 2006 North American International Auto Show last January.
Four months after, the first Compass was produced. The latest from Jeep along with Patriot (both based on the DaimlerChrysler/Mitsubishi GS platform), replaced Liberty as the automaker's entry level SUV. Compass is designed as a sporty hot hatch crossover while Patriot is intended to take the traditional wagon appeal.
Compass is the first crossover...
Toyo tires > Jeep Compass Chooses Goodyear Tires
2006 Real World Snow Tire Tests – On-Line
Fairport, NY (ContentDesk) February 5, 2006 - In an innovative move, The Snow Tire FAQ (http://www.snowtire.info) announced the availability of on-line, real-time snow tire reviews from its 2006 edition of The Real World Snow Tire Tests.In 2001, John Werner, the editor of the Snow Tire FAQ, introduced the The Real World Snow Tire Tests.
The 2006 Real World Snow Tire Tests are the 4th set of tests to be run.
The Tests provide both quantitative and qualitative evaluations of snow tires in the conditions they are likely to see on real worlds, with real weather in the real world.The Real World Snow Tire Tests are just one way The Snow Tire FAQ seeks to help consumers.
Another is the on-line Snow Tire FAQ Forums (http://www.snowtire.info/forum).
The Forums provide a place where people can interact together and discuss questions about snow tires and winter driving.
Some folks may consider me the expert in all things snow tires, I freely...
Toyo tires > 2006 Real World Snow Tire Tests – On-Line