Purchasing tires for your truck is an important decision. The safety of both you and your truck rely on it. On top of choosing the right kind of tires--all terrain, all weather, off roading --you also need to make sure you get the right size. After all, the wrong size tire can result in damage to your front end components as well as the transmission and engine. It can also throw off your speedometer and gas mileage. To begin determining the correct size, take a look at the sidewall of your curr [...more]

There are many aspects to consider when deciding when it is time to buy new tires for your vehicle.  This may not mean that the tread is worn...which is definitely one way to know for certain that that time has come, as well as tires that have been damaged, or have driven for many miles.  You may have purchased new tires for a car, but then perhaps you did not drive the car for many years.  Arid and hot environments will damage the rubber of tires, even when they have not really been taken on th [...more]

So the time has finally come to buy tires for your vehicle, after weeks or perhaps months of holding your breathe, having taken note that you do in fact need them, also take note, that it need not be such a hassle as it may seem.  There is nothing more refreshing nor more poetic than hitting the open road and taking off on a road trip.  Long drives for many people relieve stress and give them time to think about life, about love, and about their place in the world.  Not so if you are doing that [...more]

Time to buy new tires for you vehicle, not usually considered a very fun task, in fact sometimes it is even a bit difficult to know exactly just where to begin.  If you have never replaced the tires on your vehicle, you may not be certain which ones are manufacturer recommended.  One very simple way to discover this is by searching online.  Searching the model, the make and the year of your car, together with 'recommend tires' will bring you to sites that will give you all the information you ne [...more]

Control arm bushing is the system of parts, the rubber bushing itself, an outer sleeve of metal and an inner sleeve also of metal.  This is a system that prevents metal from contacting with metal. and protects the front end suspension of your vehicle.  This system cushions the suspension of your vehicle, giving you not only a more quiet and comfortable ride, but it also ensures that the handling of your vehicle is in tip top form.  Most vehicle's have just one control arm, but most SUVs and pick [...more]

The Continental General Tire Corporation has a very long and respected history.  In 1909 two men partnered up and started the Western Rubber and Supply Company, William O'Neil and WinfredFouse began their company with the savings that they had, in the hopes of one day of doing more than just selling tires.  They opened their business of manufacturing the General tires as well, just few years later in Akron, Ohio. O'neil participated in his role of general manager through 1960.  Today the company [...more]

Deciding to buy a new set of car tires is a tough decision for many people.  Well, most people know when they do need new tires, but they may be confused about the best place to go, either to a retail tire store or to an online company, and which brand is the best for their vehicle.  One company that is well trusted and respected in the business is the Toyo Tire company.  Not only are they one of the leading manufacturers, for passenger vehicles as well as fleets of trucks and buses.  But they m [...more]

There are many things to consider when purchasing anything online.  Nowadays, people are finding that they are able to save a lot of money and a lot of time through shopping online.  One of those ways to save when looking for ways to update the look and the safety of your vehicle is through the wheel and tire packages that are to be found. Once you have the wheels and tires shipped to you, the installation process is relatively simple.  And be certain that the company your order from, will be t [...more]

If you are anything like me, the thought of buying new tires, is a bit of a daunting thought.  I did however, find a few tips that helped me the first time it was necessary for me to purchase all four, brand new auto tires.  By doing just a bit of research, I discovered that finding the right tires for your vehicle, is not that confusing.  While there is a world of options out there, be it online or at your local retail tire shop, those options are a good thing, not something to shy you away. T [...more]

What are directional tires and wheels? Well, they are tires and wheels that are specifically designed to increase traction, increase your level of safety when driving in extreme weather conditions.  With the tire this has to do with tread.  The pattern is more aggressive in order to give your vehicle more grip on wet or icy surfaces.  While they are louder than regular tires, they are not nearly as loud as chains or snow tires.  Most have a pattern that goes in one direction or the other, so car [...more]

Who makes Cooper tires?  Well, the Cooper Tire and Rubber Company, that's who.  This company is North America's fourth largest manufacturers of tires and among the world's top ten.  They manufacture and sell tires for light SUV's and trucks as well as passenger vehicles, race cars, motorcycles and 4-wheel drive vehicles.  The company works with more than forty distributors worldwide, and they have eight production and manufacturing plants.  Their customers are the wholesale warehouses, the deale [...more]

Fighting fires is a tradition that goes back to the beginning of time; however, fire trucks as we know them are a relatively new invention.  The first fire engines, developed around 1700, were hand pumped and, surprisingly, pulled by men.  It wasn’t until the mid 1800’s that America was able to use the first steam powered fire engine created by John Ericsson and horses began to pull the heavy engines.  Self-propelled, motorized fire engines did become commonplace until the 20th century. Even tho [...more]

You do not have to be an automobile enthusiast to realize the importance of maintaining good tires. Not only do tires affect the performance of your vehicle but they also maintain your safety. Every time you get into your car you are counting on your tires to stay on the road, regardless of the weather conditions, to stay inflated, and to get you where need to go. This also means choosing the right tires for your vehicle. Many of us drive smaller, light weight cars and trucks; therefore we need [...more]

Winter time is approaching fast and although thoughts of the holiday festivities attempt to take over,  truck owners with chrome wheels need to start planning ahead for the snow and salt that will soon be covering the roads.  Because salt eats away at the chrome and causes it to rust, the best way to protect your chrome wheels is take them off and store them for the winter.  They can easily be replaced with stock wheels for the winter.  However, if that is not option, there are several things yo [...more]

Performance Plus Tire presents the first annual cruise night and BBQ held at Performance Plus Tire in Long Beach, May 15, 2009. This was a car show/BBQ with music, dancing, and prizes to raise money for local charities!

Many people have a bit of fear when setting out to buy new tires.  This is justified, as many people are not really sure of just what they should be looking for in a tire.  And they may not know which tire is the best for their needs, for their own personal driving habits or for the weather that they will be spending the most time driving in. Tires are one of the most important features on a car with regards to safety, so it is important to read up and to know what you will be getting, which re [...more]

Most truck and auto tires these days are made of rubber and steel.  They start out as a loop, called a bead, that is constructed with a rubber coated cable made from steel.  This is the inner armature that gives the tire the necessary strength to stay firmly affixed to the rim of the wheel.  This inner skeleton also allows the tire to withstand the impact of the machines which mount the tires to the rims. The body of the tire is then constructed by applying layers of various fabrics, the most c [...more]

This week, according to an article from the Associated Press, a Chinese trade official said the complaint from the United States about Chinese tire exports is protectionism and could harm relations between the United States and China. “The government of President Barack Obama is deciding what action to take after the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled in June that increased imports of Chinese tires were harming American tire producers.” The back story on this is that United States tire [...more]

According to a news article in the Beaverton Valley Times out of Oregon, Portland has decided to reroof a historic building using recycled rubber shingles, as part of a Conservation effort. The recycled rubber tire shingles do cost more money; however, they last up to fifty years. About ten percent of the tires thrown out each year get recycled, and this is just another way they are being recycled these days.  The price for this type of roof is usually $25,000 to $28,000, but can last upwards o [...more]

NASA will begin testing the Goodyear Tire Company’s airless tire. The tire was designed for lunar explorations and could be part of a next mission to the moon.  This is information according to the Associated Press, by way of the Dallas Morning News. The partnership between Goodyear Tire Company and NASA was announced in 2007. The company has been working with NASA at the Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio since about 2007. The article states this: “The Akron-based tire maker said Monday [...more]

A tire retread is when you do not replace the entire tire on a vehicle and instead just replace the tread, hence retreading. This method is used on everything from school buses to emergency response vehicles. It is a viable option to simply replacing your tires outright. An article from amoz.com states this: “Retreads are also used by thousands of owner/operators, small package delivery services such as FED EX, UPS and the U.S. Postal Service. There is even a U.S. Federal Executive Order (1314 [...more]

Surely you have seen a playground with a shredded tire surface. It makes sense because it seems like wouldn’t it be better to bounce of the surface if you fall instead of smacking your knees on the pavement? But according to a Chicago Tribune blog some parents are beginning to worry if the surface is safe. There is little data surrounding the fact if the tire surfaces are really safe to children if they are continually exposed to it. There has been worry from the United States Environmental Pro [...more]

According to a news article from Reuters, the Goodyear tire company posted a loss for the quarter, but did much better than the industry thought it would.  Their loss was much smaller than analysts had predicted according to the article. The loss equated to this, from the article by David Bailey: “The net loss amounted to $221 million, or 92 cents per share, for the second quarter, compared with a profit of $75 million, or 31 cents per share, a year earlier.” The tire companies have been feel [...more]

According to an article from Gizmag.com, science researchers at the Oregon State University are proposing to make tires out of wood. The article states: "They aren’t suggesting constructing the tires solely from wood, but replacing silica with microcrystalline cellulose derived from plant fiber as reinforcing filler in the manufacture of rubber tires. The result could be a tire that would cost less, perform better and save on fuel and energy." For the study, the researchers replaced [...more]

Going green is not a new concept. But going green in your car can be a little more difficult. If you don’t drive a hybrid what can you do to reduce the environmental impact that your car makes? One of the easiest things you can do is buy new tires. Sure more fuel efficient, eco-friendly tires are not going to be the cheapest in the store, but in the long run they help the environment and your wallet because you will not need to fill up as often. The tires that are coming out now made of things l [...more]