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Car maintenance
Tire Information World : your friendly
independent source of tire help
Just Car maintenance
Would it surprise you to know that the
American Automobile Association
(AAA) has calculated your daily commute to and from work
will cost you about $52.20 for every 100 miles you travel? (And this was
based on 2007 gas prices!)
While finding a more fuel-efficient car may be able to lower some of
the cost, one of the easiest ways to save money can be simply by keeping
to your manufacturer’s suggested schedule for car maintenance.
This schedule can usually be found in your car user’s guide, or by accessing software which can be easily located online (http://www.brightcar.com).
One of the best ways to keep your car maintained is by simply taking
care of your tires. Improperly inflated and mis-aligned tires
increase fuel consumption by 6%. Who knew tires could make such a
difference? Many drivers believe that if they aren’t flat, they are good to go, but tires need to be taken much more seriously.
Don’t forget that your tires are your only point of contact with the road, and that tire maintenance is an important part of your overall car maintenance plan. Balance, alignment, rotation and tire pressure (See
Tire Glossary) all require scheduled attention to ensure that you are doing everything you can to keep your family safe.
For most of us, tire maintenance simply means keeping up the proper tire pressure. Knowing how to use a basic
tire pressure gauge
is an easy first step to helping you save money.
Maintaining the appropriate tire pressure is only the first
step you can take to ensure your tires are doing their job properly. Your tires can be perfectly inflated,
but still create problems unless they are properly
balanced when they are first installed,
or whenever they are rotated.
Contrary to some popular belief, it is still necessary to rotate your
tires at least twice a year, a task that many people forget to do now
that all-season tires have replaced the yearly tradition of changing
to winter tires and completing the rotation at the same time. In order
to ensure proper car maintenance, remember to rotate your tires at
least twice per year. Perhaps you can remember to complete this basic
chore of proper car maintenance by scheduling it when daylight savings
time changes.
Finally, ensure that you are keeping up with your car’s maintenance
schedule by having your wheels aligned. Without proper
alignment all of your other
efforts can be wasted. Whenever you install new tires
or rotate your existing ones it makes good car sense to have the
alignment checked by your dealer or mechanic to ensure proper steering and tire wear.
Isn’t it time to cut some of your total vehicle costs? Paying attention to your car maintenance is a simple way to keep a bit more of your hard earned money and ensure your family’s safety while on the road.
Did you know we have a special
place to show-off your favorite wheels?
See the Hot Wheels Show Room
Return to
Tire Information World's home page from Car maintenance.
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