| From positioning the car jack
on the jacking flan to keeping tabs on the spare tire, learn
how to jack up a car to change a car tire in this free car-maintenance
video.
Articles Below:
- Tire Longevity
- Check Your Tires
1. Tire Longevity
Tires have an enormous impact on the performance and safety
of your vehicle. Quality tires in good condition will give
you a smooth ride and allow you optimal vehicle control and
stopping ability. By taking proper care of your tires, you
can keep your car driving smoothly and avoid accidents while
saving money at the same time.
When your tires are new, take a diligent look at the tread
design and depth and make a mental note of their appearance.
Periodically check your tires for any drastic changes, such
as uneven wear, bald spots or exposed wire. Normal wear should
occur evenly across each tire, and should not happen quickly
or to only one tire. In the event that you have a flat tire,
have the tire examined by a professional to determine if a
repair is possible. Ensure that the tire is taken off of the
rim and checked for internal damage.
Maintaining the proper tire inflation level is extremely
important to the longevity and effectiveness of your tires.
Tires are manufactured with their own precise inflation requirement,
expressed in pounds per square inch, which is printed in the
owner’s manual and likely inside your vehicle’s
driver door panel or glove compartment. If you have replaced
your car’s tires with a different kind, make sure you
are inflating the tires to the recommended level for that
type.
Tires that are under inflated not only have a shorter life
span, but can also cause your vehicle to use more fuel, hurting
your gas mileage and generating excess pollution. Being inflated
below or above the recommended level can cause a tire to fail,
leaving you stranded. Maintain a regular schedule of checking
your tire pressure using a quality tire gauge, even if it
never seems to change. A puncture or leak can cause a tire
to dramatically lose air and become dangerously under inflated
in a short period of time.
Your driving habits also affect the progression of wear and
tear that your tires will endure. Common sense will tell you
that spinning your tires on pavement can harm the tread, but
you can also damage your tires by starting, stopping, and
turning quickly. To preserve your tread and get the optimum
use out of your tires, drive conservatively and avoid hitting
or scraping curbs.
Worn or damaged tires can cause your car to drive shakily,
unsafely and with more road noise, and ignoring these symptoms
will result in further tire damage. Do not postpone replacing
tires at the right time, and make sure you dispose of old
tires properly. An auto repair or tire retail store should
be able to dispose of or recycle your old tires for a minimal
fee.
About the Author: Greg Chapman, of Greg Chapman Motors, is
a leading provider of quality used trucks, used SUVs and for
more information please visit Greg Chapman Motors.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=G_Chapmanused
cars in Austin Texas and the surrounding areas.
2. Check Your
Tires
If there is one thing about cars that makes me paranoid, it's
the tires. With the last car that I owned, I must have had
to change a flat tire on it at least once every few months.
To this day, I have no idea what the problem was, but every
single time the culprit was a nail. After a while, I was convinced
that there was a criminal going around targeting Nissan Altimas
simply so they could hammer a nail into one of the tires at
random. But I digress.
Checking your tires is one of the basic safety checks that
you can (and should) do prior to stepping foot in your vehicle.
It only takes a few seconds to go around and check each tire
quick for any malfunctions or wear and tear, and it can end
up saving you a lot of headache down the line. One of the
first things that I learned how to do before I was even allowed
to sit down behind the wheel of my dad's company car was how
to change a flat tire. I still remember that summer where
I was crouched down beside him in our driveway as he guided
me through where to find the tire jack as well as instructions
on how to properly prop up the car and remove each of the
lug nuts from the affected wheel. It seemed relatively easy...on
that car.
What drivers need to remember is that with each car, the
instructions may be slightly different. Not all cars carry
their spare tire in the same place, and some vehicles have
an actual tire in place of a spare. For example, a Jeep carries
an actual, full-sized tire on the back of the vehicle where
it is easily accessible by the driver versus Ford Explorers,
which carry their full size spare tires on the underside of
the vehicle, making it more difficult to access (especially
if you find yourself stranded with a flat on the side of a
highway). Meanwhile, most four-door sedans carry their spare
tire in the trunk, hidden underneath a thin piece of the trunk
flooring.
Knowing how to check your tires for wear can actually save
your life. Know what the tread on your tires are supposed
to look like, this way you'll be aware of when it's time to
get new tires. Also, you'll want to be cautious about over
inflating or under inflating your tires, which may contribute
to you getting into an accident as it may reduce the amount
of traction that your vehicle has with the road surface (especially
during inclement weather). But there is yet another reason
why it is good to know how to change your own tires: it save
you both time and money. If you don't know how to change a
tire and don't have much luck finding a neighbor who is willing
to change it for you, you'll have to call up someone who does
know such as Triple A. However, companies like Triple A are
typically busy which means that you'll be stuck waiting and
paying in the end!Auto Transport Tucson Car Shipping Arizona
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brenda_Williams
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