It doesn't matter if you have a regular passenger car , a light truck or SUV or even a sports car, having properly sized tires on your vehicle is the key to getting the best performance out of it. Poorly fitted tires will make the car harder to handle and can potential damage things like the suspension system or brakes. The easiest way to know what size tires your car takes is to look at the number on your existing tires. This works great if you bought the car new as the factory should have ins [...more]

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 [...more]

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 [...more]

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 putt [...more]

Most car enthusiasts don't like to change their car rims 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 peo [...more]

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 [...more]

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 [...more]

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 $9 [...more]

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 [...more]

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 [...more]

There is little debate that the Ford Model T is a classic car. From the vintage tires to the handbrake and throttle, the Model T was revolutionary for it's time. Over the years car collectors have debated the definition of the classic car, and while they haven't come up with a concrete definition yet they have reached a consensus on a few key factors. One of the key factors that most everyone can agree on is the age. Traditionally 15-20 years old if the car is no longer in production and 25 yea [...more]

If there is anything that American sports car collectors take pride in it is our long-standing history of muscle cars. From the shiny chrome grill to the antique wheels , these cars were quite a spectacle to behold. One of the first American muscle cars was the Pontiac GTO. With a 400 horsepower engine and bucket seats, it is easily one of the most recognizable and popular muscle cars even today. The Chevy Chevelle is also a muscle car that stands out from the crowd. It is most well known for [...more]

One of the most popular accessories that people get for their cars are new rims. They add style and personality to even the most basic vehicle. Unfortunately they can also be a rather costly invest. When it comes to choosing the right rims for your classic Ford or modern Scion , you want to make sure it is an investment that you can enjoy for years to come. Sometimes the only way to really tell what will look good on your vehicle is by seeing installed, but there aren't too many dealers that wil [...more]

Changing the wheels on any vehicle is a somewhat simple process when you have the right tools. This is also true of changing dual wheels; however there are a few more things that you need to pay close attention to or you could cause some very costly damage. Paying attention to the details is an important part of the process. Before you begin changing your custom truck wheels , make sure that you have all of the proper tools. This includes a floor jack, two heavy duty jack stands, 24-inch ½-inch [...more]

Staying on top of tire maintenance is an important part of car ownership. Poorly maintained tires can lead to tire blowouts, loss of control, and other serious problems that could hurt you as well as other drivers on the road. However when the time comes to replace your tires there are a few things that you are going to want to know, such as your tire size. The easiest way to find out your current tire size is by looking at your tires. On the sidewall you will find a set of three numbers. The f [...more]

One fact that many people may not be aware of, is that airplane tires and race car tires are not filled with air. They are filled with nitrogen. This is fast becoming a common practice in passenger cars and commercial vehicles for a couple of reasons. One of the aspects of maintaining optimum gas mileage is the maintenance of the air pressure of car tires. Tires leak air, this is normal. It is best to check the air pressure once a month, as this will not only ensure that your car is getting the [...more]

Building your own "hot rod" car is easier than it may seem. Many companies offer complete kits, all that you need to "do it yourself". Building a hot rod, especially out of an older model car, can be a rewarding and an extremely fun experience. One of the easiest packages to understand and to work on yourself, is the Easy Ford. The older Ford pick-ups used the Model A chassis through the 1950's. These are engines that are easy to understand, small, and easy to work on. The first decision to mak [...more]

Just a few months ago, a fire broke out at a tire manufacturing plant in downtown Phoenix. Anyone who has seen the cloud of black smoke that this produces, or who has tried to just simply breath even miles away from a tire fire, knows instinctively that this is not good for the environment nor for the people living in close proximity. Well, it is not only environmentally unsound, it is also an illegal way for the disposal of used tires. Years ago, it was common practice for some, to even use old [...more]

There is a shelf life to car and truck tires. Even when a tire is not being used, the rubber will weaken and crack over time due to environmental conditions, and just simply the age of the rubber materials. Over the years, many have experienced the unpleasant situations that arise when a car tire blows unexpectedly, either on the highway traveling at high speeds, or out in the middle of no where while taking a trip. Many tire experts have come forward to say, and one British tire company even i [...more]

A lot of men here in the United States have made it quite a hobby to refurbish old cars or maybe even build one from scratch like Tim the Tool man. To do so, you will probably need more than a few custom parts. Extreme hobbyists are not the only ones who keep the custom parts industry running. When you spend a lot of money on a new vehicle it is not unusual to want to add some custom parts. If you buy a powerful Chevy pickup, you may get it lifted or at least get larger wheels; which often requi [...more]

Tires are an every day part of our driving experience. They are what keep us driving smoothly down the road and provide traction at those particularly dangerous times. Even though we realize their important place in our daily lives and rely on them for our safety, when they wear out we would rather ignore it and hope everything will be okay. Tires are high on the list of most expensive car parts and even though they typically only need replacing every 70,000 miles or so they are not always some [...more]

There are several contributing factors that affect the life of your tires. While under ideal circumstances you should get 70-80,000 miles on your tires, tire type, driving style, maintenance, and driving conditions can force you to buy new tires much earlier than you anticipated. If you want to get the full life of your tires, there are a several things you can do to ease their wear. You can begin taking this into consideration when you first buy new tires. All-season tires have lasted consiste [...more]

There is nothing quite like driving down the road with some shiny chrome rims dressing up your vehicle. However, one minor accident or some excess rain is all it takes for those beautiful 20 inch rim to become the center of heartbreak and an empty wallet. Fortunately, if this has happened to you, there are a few things that you can do to hide the damage and prevent further damage If your rims are scratched or cracked the best thing to do is try and fill them in so that corrosion and rust does n [...more]

Recently I purchased a new vehicle. It's a nice sporty little Subaru Forester; it's not much but it is quite an upgrade from the Plymouth Voyager that got me through college. Having driven a beater for so long, I didn't immediately drive out of the dealership and straight to the custom parts store, but there is one addition I would like to make my new car. A nice new shiny set of rims. Not just any rims mind you ‚ pink rims. Needless to say, my husband is less than thrilled. As with any new part [...more]

With so many different types, styles, sizes, and prices of tires out there it is hard to know the right kind of tires for your vehicle. Knowing your environment, and the primary environment that you will be driving in, is the first step to choosing the right tires for your vehicle. If you live in an area that has nice, long winters it is probably best to get all weather tires or winter tires. If weather is not an issue, do not forget to consider the terrain. Tires are made differently for city [...more]