Don’t Buy Them!

The best way to save on new tires is to not buy them at all! In other words, do everything you can to extend the life of your current tires. This starts with having them fitted and regularly serviced by tire experts. A good wheel balance and wheel alignment can add up to 50% to the life of your tires. You can also add up to 5% to the life of your tires by keeping them inflated at the maximum recommended pressure (which can be found printed on the tire wall). One final tip is to avoid tricked-out, extra-wide tires. Sure, they look great; but they increase road friction and you’ll wear through them 20% faster than normal tires.

Are You Sure You Need Them?

The first step to wise tire buying is to be 100% sure that you really need new tires. Many people know that a vibration in the steering wheel can be a sign of worn tires – but it can also be a sign of needing a wheel balance or wheel alignment. Check with a tire technician, who should be willing to make a free recommendation on the hopes of getting the job after you’ve decided what you need.

When and How to Change Tires

The best time to change your tires is just before winter hits. New tires can add a great deal to the traction of a slippery road and the absence of hot summer tarmac will extend the life of the tire as well. But don’t wait for signs of slipping or tire damage to put your life at risk – have your tires looked at least once a year to know exactly how they’re faring. Finally, ask the technician if you’re able to change just one pair of the tires – a great trick is to move the back tires up to the front and focus all your budget on a single pair to replace the back set.

Shop Around

Shopping around has always been a good idea, but in these tough financial times, it’s an even better one. Plenty of companies are competing ferociously to emerge from the crisis with a bigger share of the tire market. Some of the larger chains are also using their buying power to bring better prices to customers. Meanwhile, you could also take advantage of any smaller local outfits that are going out of business and offering closing up specials.

Finally, be sure to take advantage of the amount of information that’s available online and compare the various tire sellers in a wide geographic area – a great bargain might be a mere half hour’s drive away.

But before you go out looking for rims, there are a few things you should consider. First, what kind of car will you be putting rims on? Is it a classic automobile or is it something more modern? Newer cars will look good with 20-inch rims, but for a classic car or older car, you’ll probably want to choose a more classic style. For best results, your rims should match the period of your car. Modern rims on a classic car will look fairly odd. You also need to consider the bolt pattern. Grab a tape measure and measure the bolt pattern on your existing rims.

Once you have this information, you can begin searching the Internet for affordable rims. One of the advantages of shopping for rims over the Internet is that you aren’t limited to one geographic area – you can compare a variety of vendors without having to drive from store to store. Start with general web searches to get an idea of what rims usually sell for, what styles are out there, and what rim sizes are available for your car. Don’t forget to consider used rims – they’re usually every bit as nice as new ones. Even a little rust can be scrubbed off and those used wheels can be polished to a mirror finish that will have onlookers doing a double take.

Once you receive your rims, you’ll need to install them. To start, you’ll need to boost your car with a hydraulic lift or a wheel jack to do them one at a time. Release all the air in the tire so that you have space to work the old rim off the tire. Loosen the bolts holding the rim to the car wheel and remember to set the bolts aside where you can keep track of them. Pry the old rim from the wheel using a crowbar or a tire lever. You’ll want to be careful here so that you don’t accidentally damage the edge of the rim.

Next, install the new rim using a socket wrench, either connecting the original bolts or the new bolts that came with your rims. Re-inflate your tire until it meets factory-approved standards and repeat these steps with each tire until all of your rims have been replaced.

Finally, you’ll want to drive the car around slowly for about an hour in a safe area to test your work. After your ride, check the rims to make sure they’re firmly attached and aren’t showing any problems. Then, congratulate yourself because you’ve just customized your car on your own – and saved a lot of money doing it!

Some cars come with spoilers that are a part of the manufacturer’s design of the car. You can buy replicas of these spoilers, which are called OEM spoilers. Custom spoilers, on the other hand, are designed to fit a particular make, model and year of car, but aren’t true replicas of the factory installed spoilers. Custom car spoilers come in a variety of styles and colors, and most are made from fiberglass or polyurethane. These materials are lightweight, very flexible and highly durable so that they won’t crack or develop sags over their lives. Other spoilers may be made from a variety of materials and some even feature LED lights. You can order your custom spoiler to be painted to match the color of your car or you can choose another color for contrast or special effects.

The design of the spoiler should take precedence in your selection process. A spoiler affects the way air moves around your car, giving you greater stability when you turn, accelerate or brake. Therefore, you need to choose a custom spoiler that’s properly designed to accomplish this.

Another consideration is your typical driving speed. If you do a lot of highway driving, you’ll need a spoiler designed for higher speeds. If you mostly drive around town, that kind of spoiler won’t be as effective. As you accelerate, the aerodynamic drag on the car increases – affecting the impact your spoiler has on your car. This means that you need to choose your spoiler as much for your driving style as for its design.

Installing a custom spoiler is a fairly simple process. Choose the right spoiler for your car and then measure your trunk lid carefully to make sure you’re ordering the right size. In addition, be sure to check under the trunk lid for reinforcements or braces that will affect installation.

When you receive the spoiler, assemble the spoiler wing brackets. Making sure you have the spoiler pointing in the right direction, mark the outside of your trunk where the spoiler will be installed. Use a drill to make holes through the sheet metal top and underside of the trunk lid. And do we need to remind you to make sure your measurements are perfect before you start drilling holes? Start with a small bit and work your way up to the necessary size.

Using a small hand sander, smooth the inside of the holes you just drilled. Next, vacuum up any metal bits and shavings. Use touch up paint on the inside of the holes to prevent rust from developing.

Now attach the spoiler to the trunk. Assemble the bolts properly, placing the washers in their correct places. All bolts should be equally tightened, and the spoiler should be secure against the car. Finally, if your spoiler features LED lights, follow the manufacturer’s directions for installation and completing the electrical connections.

Fortunately, replacing windshield wiper blades is one of the simplest types of maintenance you can do on a car, and it’s a great task to begin learning about the specifics of your particular car. The more you know about your car and its maintenance, the better the chances that you’ll be able to keep your car running well for a long time to come.

The first consideration with replacing windshield wiper blades is not the “how,” but the “when.” Pick a regular time, about once a month when the sun is shining and you aren’t actively using the blades to take a look at your windshield wiper blades. Look for signs of wear as well as signs that the blades are cracking, drying out, or losing their pliability. Signs of wear include fraying edges, the blade not lying snugly against the windshield, or any problem with the tension in the arm holding the blade against the windshield. If you see any of these signs, it’s time to replace the blades.

When a windshield wiper blade is beginning to fail, there’s no way to repair it – replacement is your only choice. And as windshield wiper blades are relatively inexpensive and readily available, there’s no reason you should endanger your safety – and that of others – by driving with failing windshield wiper blades.

As for the mechanics of replacing the wiper blades themselves, this will depend on the way the manufacturer of your car has configured the attachments that hold the wiper blades in place. These can range from screws, to snaps, to clips, to grooves into which the blade is placed, depending on the configuration used on your car. Check your owner’s manual, look at the blades themselves, or ask a mechanic to show you how the blades are attached on your car. Once you have this information, actually replacing the blades is the next step and is a fairly straightforward process.

However, all wiper blades are not created equal. To purchase new wiper blades, you’ll need to know the year, make and model of your automobile. Once you’ve purchased the right blades, be sure to read the entire package – there are often replacement tips on the package that you’ll find helpful.

In addition, as there are so many variations on attachments, it would be impossible to provide universal directions in the space of a single article. Your best bet is to look at the package directions together with your owner’s manual, and see if the process makes sense to you. If it does, proceed. If not, take your replacement blades to your local mechanic and ask them to show you what needs to be done. If you’re regularly checking your blades as recommended, you’ll be taking care of this replacement on a sunny day when driving to your local mechanic won’t be a problem.

The regular replacement of your windshield wiper blades can help keep you and your family – not to mention everyone else on the road with you – safer. When you learn how to perform this simple task yourself, you’ll not only save money – you’ll also feel a great deal of pride in knowing that you’re caring for your car, and for the safety of yourself and others.

Older style batteries required a fair amount of routine maintenance, including regularly checking and adding water to the battery. Adding water helped create acid in the battery and allowed electricity to be generated when the acid reacting with the metals contained in the battery. These days, however, batteries are sealed, making them safer and more reliable. You no longer have to check battery water levels, so ease of use and maintenance shouldn’t be a consideration when buying a new car battery.

Car batteries tend to vary in two ways. The first of these is their voltage, which an expression of the ability of the battery to produce electricity. Your car manufacturer has already determined the voltage needed in your car – car batteries typically come in either 12 volt or 24 volt versions. Your car uses the power from the battery to start the engine; after that, the battery is recharged by the alternator as the engine runs. Using a battery with the incorrect voltage for your car can lead to serious problems when it comes to starting your car.

The second variation in batteries is how they are configured, primarily in terms of the size and placement of the terminals. The battery must fit into its allotted space in your car and there must be access to fasten it securely into its place. The battery is usually held in place by a battery housing and fastened in place using clamps with nuts and bolts. Fortunately, figuring out which style battery your car needs is pretty simple – just look at the configuration of the battery you’re replacing and match that as closely as possible.

In addition, batteries almost always come with a warranty. In fact, the first thing you need to know when you have a battery that needs replacement is whether or not your existing battery is still under warranty. If a battery fails soon after purchase, it will generally be replaced at no cost to you. Or, if it fails during its expected period of operation – for example, you bought a “10 year battery” and it dies after only 3 years – you’ll receive a credit toward the purchase of a new battery. Usually, the cost of the battery is amortized over the period of time for which it was designed to last. Even if your existing battery is no longer under warranty, you can still usually receive a “core credit” for the components that can be recycled from your old battery.

So why would you choose one battery over another? Mainly, service. Some mega-marts that sell batteries may not install them for you, and may charge a fee to dispose of your old battery after you go to the trouble of bringing it back in. Other locations – like most parts shops, for example – may offer free installation and give you a credit for your old battery. Unless you’re willing to do the cumbersome job of installing the battery yourself and carting your old battery to a disposal site, the few dollars you save at the mega-mart may not be worth it after all.

What speakers should you get?

Well, this depends on how simple of an install you want to have.  If you’re only replacing blown speakers, you’ll probably want to keep this simple.  Buying the same size that’s already in place makes swapping out the speakers and easy process.

However, if you want to improve your sound system and be ready for other future audio upgrades, you’ll probably want to get larger speakers.  For the main speakers, choose speakers that are around the same size or a little smaller.  You’ll also want to install sub-woofers to get that “bump” – the larger the speakers, the more “bump” you’ll get.  Typically, 10” sub-woofers are the standard for the best bass.  Finally, add a set of tweeters for clearer voice audio sound.

Start with the door speakers.

Before you get started, be sure to detach the batteries negative cable, since you’ll be working with your car’s electronic devices.

The speakers inside the door panel on each side of the car are the easiest of the speakers to replace.  Open the car door and look around for any screws that could be holding on the panel.  Some panels “snap” off and back into place.  If this appears to be the case with yours, be very careful removing the panel, as they are very expensive to replace.  If your car has manual window cranks, remove those to finish taking the door panel off.

Once the panel is off, locate the speaker.  Remove any screws holding it in place, taking care when working with the speaker wires that are attached.  When you have the speaker detached, carefully remove the wires from the back.  Some speakers have a plug that contains all the wires needed, while others have wires attached to several places on the back of the speaker.  If the wires attach to different places, be sure to mark them so that you can get them correctly connected to the new speaker.

If you’re replacing the speaker with a larger one, you might have to drill new holes for remounting the new speaker.  If so, be sure that the new screw placement won’t interfere with any moving parts inside the door.

Finally, you’ll have to go through the process in reverse to put your door back together.  Reconnect all the wires for your new speaker and screw it back into place in the door.  Replace the panel, repeat the process on your other door speaker and you’re all set!

The other speakers

If you’re only replacing the door speakers, you’re done, but if you want to replace the other speakers at the back of your car, there’s still a little work to be done.  And although the process is pretty much the same for the speakers themselves, getting to them is a bit different!

The ways these speakers are installed varies from model to model, making it difficult to describe

Before you buy a GPS system, you should think about your usual driving conditions. Think about how often you find yourself traveling to unfamiliar areas, and consider the kinds of features that are available, and whether or how often you might use them. With that information in mind, you can begin looking at both the devices themselves and the service that backs them up. In some cases, you pay for the equipment and the service separately, so consider both costs when you’re evaluating the products. Most services are available by subscription, and may offer a discount for longer periods. Do you frequently drive more than one car? If so, a portable GPS device may be a better choice for you than a built-in device – even if it’s slightly more expensive to use.

Whatever product you wind up with, all of these systems start by entering a destination into the unit. The system will then plot a route to your destination, and, depending on the system or the options that you have, the system may give you spoken turn-by-turn directions as well. The route will be mapped out as you go, and most of these systems will let you choose your route, including the shortest distance, the best time, or even a specific route with no toll roads.

An added advantage of using these systems is that you can quickly find a variety of services, such as gas stations, ATMs, restaurants, and hotels. Some even note local tourist attractions! With most models, you can search for a specific point of interest, and you can even choose a restaurant nearby, based on the type of food you like to eat.

Some of these added features are surely wonderful, but you have to carefully consider how well the system works for navigation. That’s what you are buying it for, after all! The best models will make it easy for you to enter destinations and will give helpful, easy-to-follow directions. For this reason, both the Garmin and TomTom brands are good choices.

If you’re getting a new car, you may find that it already has a built-in system available. These kinds of system are nicely integrated into the car, but they tend to be more complicated to use and are typically more expensive than portable systems – both initially and for subsequent updates. Most people are very happy with the after-market systems that are available, so don’t let this be a determining factor in your purchase.

If you decide to go with an after-market system, you have three basic choices for portable systems – basic, traffic optional, and traffic ready. The basic has no text-to-speech capabilities. These are no-frills navigators, which are ideal for those who don’t need a lot of bells and whistles. For this reason, these are some of the most compact models and range between $100 and $300.

The traffic optional models are best if you don’t need traffic info now, but might want to add it at some time in the future. You’ll have to buy a second receiver later on if you decide to add this functionality, and that can cost around $200 dollars. It’s common for these models to have additional features, like spoken street names, and they typically range in cost from $150 to $500.

A top-of-the-line, traffic ready unit usually comes with traffic reporting and a built-in or included external receiver. These models have all the features outlined above, and include the addition of a music and video player, Bluetooth, FM transmitter, and wider screen than other models. These units are ideal for people who want to carry fewer electronic devices on their trips, and typically cost between $200 to $700 dollars.

What to Look For

When you first walk into the tire store, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the sheer variety of tires available today.  Low profile or regular?  All-season or special snow tires?  While a qualified sales person can help you determine which option is best for you, remember that they are there to sell tires – the more expensive, the better.  Do your own research first so that you know what to look for in a new set of tires.

First, you need to evaluate your driving style and preferences.  If you drive an expensive sports car, you may want to find a set of high performance tires with high speed ratings and a long tread life.  Manufacturers rate their tire’s tread in terms of expected life expectancy, and speed ratings on a scale from Q (lowest) to V (highest).  If your driving excursions are limited to driving back and forth from work, you’ll likely be fine with a mid-range model that incorporates a middle-of-the-road speed and tread rating.

Of course, price is an important factor, but it shouldn’t be the only thing you consider.  Think about it – your tires are the foundation of your car.  Tires that are poorly made are a danger to you and any other drivers on the road.  Plus, cheaply made tires will likely wear out more quickly.  In the long run, you’ll wind up paying more if you have to replace your entire set of tires every year.

Stick with the Basics

If you need new tires, the easiest thing to do is to purchase the exact same style, size and brand that came on your car when you purchased them.  You won’t have to decide between other styles or brands, although it may be to your advantage to evaluate other options.  For example, if you want to upgrade a larger wheel diameter, it’s easiest to do so when it’s time to buy a new set of tires.

Tire Styles

To some extent, your tire options will vary based on the car you drive.  If your car was originally produced to accommodate low profile tires, you’ll have to buy a pair of low profile tires unless you want to upgrade your wheels.  Low profile tires may look more stylish, but they also tend to wear out more quickly and may not stand up to bad road conditions as well as standard tires.

You’ll also want to consider the weather conditions you’ll be driving in.  If you live in a wet, rainy area, you’ll want to look into tires with deep treads that channel water away from the tire efficiently.  On the other hand, drivers in snowy climates may want to invest in all-season tires that can handle snowy and rainy conditions, as well as dry roads.  Snow tires may also be available in some areas, although these will need to be changed every season, adding to their costs.