Tag Archives: Tires

Hot weather and your tires

Hot weather and your tires

Tires can wear faster in hot weather due to the following reasons: Rubber becomes softer. The rubber in tires becomes softer in hot weather, which makes it more susceptible to wear and tear. This is because the heat causes the rubber molecules to become more flexible and less resistant to deformation. Tires expand. As the rubber becomes softer, the tires also broaden. This can strain the tire walls and lead to premature wear. More friction. When tires rub against the road surface, there is more friction in hot weather. This is because the heat causes the road surface to become softer and stickier. The increased friction can also lead to premature wear. More frequent braking. Drivers brake more often in hot weather, which stresses the tires more. More debris on the road. Hot weather can cause more debris to accumulate on the road, such as leaves, gravel, and sand. This debr ... read more

What is causing havoc with your alignment?

What is causing havoc with your alignment?

You don’t need us to tell you there is a lot of construction on the roads throughout the area. But did you know that driving on those bad roads can cause problems with your wheel alignment? Road hazards can prematurely knock your wheels out of alignment, causing the need to have the wheels realigned.   We are going to list the various road hazards below.Auto Accidents Things other than bad roads can also knock your wheels out of alignment. For example, your wheels and alignment may be affected if you get into an automobile accident. Even a minor incident can cause problems with your vehicle’s wheel alignment. Bumpy Roads Bumpy roads are a pain, aren’t they? Driving too fast on rough roads can knock your wheels out of alignment, unbalance them, and even damage your tires. Bumpy roads can also wreak havoc on your struts and shocks as they struggle to absorb the uneven pavem ... read more

Gas prices continue to rise, here are some tips so you can get the most out of your gas tank.

  Keep windows closed when traveling at highway speeds. Open windows cause aerodynamic drag. But, operating the air conditioner on the maximum level can reduce your mpg by 5% to 25%, compared to not using it. Also, try to park your car in the shade so you won't have to keep the AC working as hard. Properly inflated tires are safer, lasts longer, and improve your gas mileage by more than 3% per tire. Slow down! Although vehicles reach their optimal fuel economy at different speeds, gas mileage usually decreases over 60 mph.  Try to drive at a constant speed—both acceleration and deceleration waste fuel.  Use cruise control when possible. The car's cruise control system's minor, more precise adjustments will keep your speed constant and save you fuel. Wax your car and keep it clean. This will reduce aerodynamic drag, thus providing better mileage. A clean air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as10%. Perform routine maintenance

Seasonal Vehicle Maintenance

Seasonal Vehicle Maintenance

Car maintenance intervals don’t only tie-in to how many miles you drive in a given year — they’re also linked to the seasons. If you live in a part of the country where the difference between winter and summer driving is stark, then you might already be familiar with the regular rituals of tire swaps, fluid changes, and other seasonal car maintenance duties. But if seasonal changes are more subtle in your neck of the woods, you can still use this natural clock to help time your basic vehicle maintenance. In addition to checking tires and fluids, seasonal car maintenance also includes inspecting items on your vehicle that commonly wear out in order to see if they need to be replaced. Specifically, rubber or plastic components like wiper blades, engine belts, and battery cables are all worth taking a look at. If you see any cracks, discoloration, or signs of corrosion around the battery, these are solid indicators that the part should be replaced

Recycling Tires

Recycling Tires

There are different grades of shredded tire product on the market. Tire shredders are pretty tough and durable and can also be adjusted  With good quality tire shredders, you simply have to put car and truck tires into the feeder and the tire shredders will do the rest right from sizing it, cleaning it up and creating the quality product that customers​ are looking for. Some tire shredders are designed to break the rubber to bits, as well as separating the rubber pieces from the smaller steel bits.  Making Concrete from Shredded Tires (Derived from Tire Shredders) The Rubber crumbs that are obtained from shredded tires with the help of tire shredder are incorporated to make Recycled rubber roads. Researchers have shown that the percentage of crack formation in rubberized concrete reduces by more than 90% as compared to normal concrete. The polymer fibers present in tire crumbs ameliorates the resilience of concrete and hence makes it long lasting ... read more

Underinflated Tires and TPMS

Underinflated Tires and TPMS

What is the danger of underinflated tires? Flats, blow outs, skids and longer stopping distances can all be the result of driving around KS on underinflated tires. Now, it's hard to tell when a radial tire is underinflated but your friendly and knowledgeable Bret's Autoworks can help you. The tire may not look low until it gets below 20 pounds – which is significantly underinflated. Tire Pressure Monitoring System-TPMS Your newer vehicle or light truck might be equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). This technology has been used by race car drivers for years. They are able to head off problems from underinflation by closely monitoring tire pressure on the track. Obviously, TMPS systems don't come free for car buyers. U.S. government studies have estimated the net costs of the TPMS system itself, maintaining the system, replacement of worn or broken parts and tire repair cost increases. The costs are partially ... read more

Categories:

2018

Tires - Buy Value, Not Price

New tires are a big ticket item for most drivers. You're not only concerned about the price, but you want to know that it'll be a long time before you need to buy new tires again. And of course there's the safety aspect as well. The tires do a lot of work – they carry the weight of the vehicle and you and your passengers around. They need to be up to the task. You want to be sure they hold the road and provide good traction. Drivers who carry heavy loads or tow a trailer need a high load tires to be up for the job. The tire professionals at Bret's Autoworks think it's important that  drivers understand the effect of price on a tire's performance and durability. The major tire brands sold in the area that you're familiar with are known in KS as&nbs ... read more

Categories:

2018

Tags:

Tires

A picture is worth a thousand words! In this case two pictures!

A picture is worth a thousand words! In this case two pictures!

This might just look like some really worn tires, and while that is true, the real culprit is on of alignment. This is what could happen when tires are not put up on a lift and checked during a routine maintenance for rotation and alignment.  The wear and tear on the tire ion the left s completely   through to the backside of the inner lining.  The wear on the tire on the right is through to the steel belts.  In both cases, the wear and tear occurred on the interior edge, so if the tires are just inspected on the ground, the side facing out, might look just fine. 

Categories:

2018

Tags:

Tires

Selecting Tires

Let’s look at selecting new tires in light of three factors: Function, Fit, and Value. Function: This gets at what your needs are for new tires: KS weather conditions, Kansas City terrain, Olathe temperatures, etc. Most new family vehicles in KS come with all-season tires. They can be used all year long and do pretty well in most KS road conditions – but they aren’t ideal at the extremes. Winter tires have a more aggressive tread for handling snow and ice on roads and they have a rubber compound that helps them have better traction as temperatures drop below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Definitely better stopping and road-holding characteristics for Olathe vehicles than all-season tires in winter weather. Dedicated summer tires enhance warm KS weather performance driving for Olathe. If you drive off-road around Kansas City , there is a wide spectrum of tires from all-terrain (a good mix of highway and off-road capability) to dedic ... read more

Categories:

2016

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Tires
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