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Demystifying The Tire Sidewall Code
So, you need new tires for your car or truck, but how do you know what to buy? What do all those alphanumeric codes printed on the tire sidewalls mean, anyway? If you’re in the market for new tires, you may simply want to replace your worn tires with exactly the same tire it came with. But you MAY want to consider an upgrade. If you know how to read the tire sidewalls, chock full of valuable information, you’ve got an advantage over most people and are prepared to make an informed decision. So let’s get underway! Tire Size Markings (example: P215/65R15 89H) Broken down: P = Passenger Other designations are LT = Light Truck T = Temporary (spare tire) 215 is the width (in millimeters) of the tire from sidewall to sidewall. A wider tire has more grip but the bad news is that you lose fuel economy, hear more noise and the tires don’t work as well in the rain. 65 is the aspect ratio The aspect ratio is the ratio of sidewall height to tire width. With regards to aspect ratio, the larger the number, the taller the tire sidewall. Tall (60-75) is great for a quiet ride but causes howling in turns. Short (35-55) is better for handling–more for sports cars. R indicates Radial. This means it is constructed with a series of support belts sideways under the tread. Other designations include B for Belted Bias and D for Diagonal Bias The standard, and what you’ll see most often, is R. 15 is the wheel (or rim) diameter, in inches. 89 is the load index H is the speed rating Speed ratings indicate the top speed under ideal conditions. Higher-rated tires are usually made of softer rubber and will have shorter UTQG tread life. Here are a few of the more common speed ratings: R= 106, S=112, T=118, U=124, H=130, V=149, W=168, Y=186. Along with this speed rating, you have a load index which indicates the approximate weight the tire can carry. Some of the more common load weights are as follows: 85 = 1,135 pounds, 86 = 1,168 pounds, 87 = 1,201 pounds, 88 = 1,235 pounds. UTQG Ratings Passenger car tires are accompanied by a UTQG Rating (Uniform Tire Quality Grading, mandated by the Federal Government) which rates the tread life of tires by looking at tread wear, traction and temperature resistance. The UTQG Rating is usually found opposite the tire size markings and will be in three separate ratings: treadwear, traction and temperature. The treadware grade standard is 100. A grade of 200 means the tread would wear twice as well as a tire graded 100. Traction grades run from AA to C, with AA being the highest grade and C meaning the tire brakes poorly on both wet concrete and wet asphalt. Temperature grades rate the tire’s resistance to and ability to dispel heat. Those grades are A (resists heat well), B (not as good as A) and C (passes minimum safety standards.) Keep in mind that heavy loads, under-inflation of the tires, and high speeds can all affect the tire temperature. You should note that these tire grades rate tires measured under controlled conditions. Factors such as driving habits, road conditions, climate, etc., are not considerations and may affect the actual performance of your tire. DOT DOT (Department of Transportation) indicates the tire is in compliance with applicable DOT safety standards. Next to DOT is an identification or serial number–codes that designate where and when the tire was produced. You’ll also find other information on the sidewall such as the type and composition of the tire, the maximum cold inflation (PSI) and maximum load in pounds. So as you can see, tires carry a huge amount of information. But it’s really not all that complicated once you learn to read the code. Debbie Pettitt is webmaster for Everything Tires, your tire resource. For more information on tires, visit http://everythingtires.com
Source: www.ArticlePros.com

Learn the Secrets of Driving Online and Feel More Confident When Taking Your Road Test
There are more driver’s education opportunities than ever before While passing the driving test and getting a license has always been nerve-wracking, the internet has made studying and preparing easier Students don’t like sitting in class listening to boring lessons; nor do they like going over the same instruction book over and over again . .In fact, the DMV-issued handbooks don’t even provide all the facts and information that students need for successful examination If nothing else, traditional study material only teaches students the basics of driving As such, many don’t feel as if they’re getting all the essential information they need and end up extremely nervous on test day because of it . .So how can the internet help? There are driver’s ed programs that are suitable for any type of student The e-learning course lessons can be customized exclusively for each and every student Rules from every state are included in online programs Not only are the courses beneficial in the sense that they provide all the essential information needed for passing, they also make learning a comfortable experience! . .From the convenience of studying on a computer, individuals will feel more relaxed when studying, and will therefore feel more confidence on the day of the testing Lack of knowledge isn’t always the reason why so many people fail—lack of confidence does also Thankfully, getting nervous when driving with the examiner is quickly becoming a thing of the past as more and more people receive thorough instruction and study material at home on their computers .
Source: www.rsstnx.com

When is the Best Time to Buy a Car
Timing is everything whether you are hitting a baseball or delivering the punchline to a joke The same goes when you are buying a car Indeed, if you are concerned with saving money on your next car deal, and who isn’t, then it is wise to visit the dealers yard on a certain time, day and month of the year This article will cover what is the best time to buy a car so that you have more negotiating leverage and therefore can cut a better deal . .All cars salespeople are driven by hitting targets - sales targets And by the very nature of the job, competition is the lifeblood of the industry There is nothing tangible about selling a car so the way to motivate and keep salespeople going is to turn the selling of cars into a competition amongst themselves There are all sorts of rewards from financial incentives, chances of promotion to various sales awards that can be garnered if you are the best salesperson for the month or year . .So the best time to negotiate for a car if you want to get a good deal is just before the sales figures come in So it is no great surprise that the end of the financial year is a great time to buy a car Dealers will be keen to bump up there number of sales and therefore they will be more willing to give a little on prices or extras . .The same goes for the end of the month Again, monthly sales figures will come in and a car dealer will want to top the list of number of cars sold They will be more willing to move on any prices during this period . .Another time that is not related to the competitive urge but more to do with human nature and psychology, is to shop for a car during the week First of all, most people shop during the weekend because they have the time Salespeople will be more busy at this time and will have more people to sell to Greater supply of the ‘great unwashed’ means less negotiating leverage for you . .Also, think about the time you go into the dealership Like most people, a car dealer will be at his/her least energetic or alert just after lunch All the blood will have gone to the stomach to process food This is an opportunity to get one over the car dealer, provided you have not just had a huge lunch yourself .
Source: www.rsstnx.com