tire up keep? Yeah right!

The title I used is what it seems people say to themselves when you tell them about maintenance or oil changes and tire care. Not every one thinks this way and that's good. For those that are starting out to drive, though, a good education on car care is a good thing to have. I could actually write a book about it! LOL! But for the purposes of this particular thread, I'll just talk about tires for now.
I'm going to start by advising every one about tire care and maintenance. Why? Because no matter how much information there is out there about this, I always see poorly maintained tires and wheels. It's important to check tire PSI and keep them at their proper levels at all times by checking the PSI when the tires are cold. Preferably before you actually drive on them for a bit. If you have access to a portable air pump set them at the manufacturers suggested PSI, usually found on the B pillar or on the door under the latch. Older cars have them either in the glove box, center console or the gas door. Some also have them on the passenger side rear door C pillar. It will depend on what car you have. NEVER fill your tires to what the max PSI says on the tire. That is only there to tell you how much to fill it to if you plan on having an excess of weight on the car. Usually with suit cases and passengers together. Any way, the car manufacturer already has taken consideration on how the car is to perform and handle with a certain tire spec and PSI. They know better than we do, especially when it comes to the every day street use of tires. Over filling your tires will aslo create other issues that will eventually cost you some duckets. More roll due to over filled tires will wear your brake pads prematurely. More free roll = more friction on the pads, thus, more heat, thus, more friction... you get the idea. LOL!
Alignments are another thing that keeps getting neglected a lot with some people. That, with good PSI levels, will have a significant effect on fuel consumption and tire wear, usually for the better.
For those people living in regions that are getting colder this time of year, you are more vulnerable to PSI loss due to the cold air. For every 10 degrees that it gets colder, you lose about 1 to 1.5PSI in your tires. Multiply that by a week or two and you really lose a lot. The wierd thing is that you don't get that back as you drive due to how cold it may be, at times. Check it once a week or once every two weeks, depending on the severity of the loss. You can be the judge of how frequently to fill as you keep up with it. If you have a flat, you'll know if it is a puncture. LOL! Fill it and see if it goes flat with in the day. If it does, VUOILLA! ( I think I spelled that right, LOL!)
Any way, this is just one of the many things that you have to consider on keeping up with when it comes to your car.
At this time of the year, with the cold regions especially, the cheapest part of the cars' components will be the ones that get you the most and have you walking. What would be one of those parts, you ask? The thermostat. If you haven't done yours in over two years, get it replaced. Don't let the fact that it hasn't over heated on you bring you to a state of complacencey. It will happen when you least want it to. And for gods sake, if you plan on doing it don't get it at a parts store. Go to the dealer and get the car manufacturers thermostat. I've come accross a lot of defective thermostats by going aftermarket with one. Never more, for me. It's better to spend the extra dollars and have piece of mind. That's another thread for the future, though. I just want what's best for my fellow tuners.
Till the next thread, my friends. (Dang! I sounded like McCain! LOL!)
 
How you drive is your buisness. Remember that you're not the only one on the road!

ive never really paid too much attension to my tires to be honest. ive actually learned alot about tire care thanks s12rapido3. how often do you change your tires?? the question im really trying to ask is how oftten should i change my tires? every xkms? ( i usally change my tires every six mounths rain tires the first then some fair priced hankook racing tires for the other 6)  

You're on  the right track, if you're doing that. Since we live in an area of the continent that sees cold snowy weather and then fair weather, it's ok to switch from weather to weather. As far as the wear on your tires are concerned, there is a wear bar mark that shows the exact limit of when to change them. Every known tire has this bar or slight protrusion, on them. That mark is known as a "wear bar" and is at 2/32" tread depth. Legaly, that is considered a bald tire when it reaches that depth. You can run your finger along one of the rungs, or chanels, in the tread and feel the bar. You'll know its the bar when you feel between each rung across the tread. It goes all the way across the tread. Once your tread wears evenly to that wear indicator, it's time to replace them.
As long as you keep up with the PSI and alignments, you should get a long life out of a set of tires.
I almost forgot to mention tire rotations. Do tire rotations once or twice a year and balance the tire/wheel assembly when you do the rotation. May as well do it when the wheels are off the car. LOL! It's difficult to remember all of this at one time, but once you start doing it for a while, it gets easier.
I've gone up to 6 years on a set of tires just by being a little anal about tire maintenance. I don't expect any one to be as me, but any little info I can get out there about this is more help than most shops give.
Think about how those places make money. They have to sell tires and services to stay afloat. So they fail to tell you the things that need to be done so that you become complacent about the care of your car. They sorta make you feel like they are in complete control of the care of your car. For all intensive purposes, they are and of your wallet as well. Not all shops are like that, mind you. The ones I worry about are the chain stores and corporate run fascilities that have an agenda to keep you as a customer. There is nothing wrong with that, per say. It's buisness. But if you can take control of when you need tires by taking the helm, so to speak, it's better for you instead of them. You know?
I hope this helps a lot of people. I'm one of those people that would rather see his people, that's all of you guys on this forum, do for them selves and have awsome rides that are reliable and fun to drive. LOL!  
How you drive is your buisness. Remember that you're not the only one on the road!

hmm wear bar ehh  i probably could have saved a bunch of money over the years well now i know lol this thread is very helpful lol thanx  

Any time, buddy.  
How you drive is your buisness. Remember that you're not the only one on the road!

does anyone have 18" rims on their car? mine has them and I have a problem with the inner side of the tire rubbing on the fender when I turn but I have seen other guys put 18" rims on their hondas and the dont seem to complain. so does my car need some alignment adjusting or should I have someone cut the small piece where my tires keep rubbing at off?  
HONDA-High Octane Nitrous Driven Auto

check to see if what you have on for a tire is within 5% to 8% of the original tires dimensions. Over all diameter and width will determine proper fit when you up size the wheel size. If your car is dropped some, you may have to consider going in with 17" wheels. There is a way of rolling the fenders and rear quarters, but it requires a steady and knowledgeable hand. If the 18" wheels is your desire find who can do the rolling of those areas. If it rubbs the inner portion of the tire you may need to get a spacer between the mounting flange and the wheel. You may find that you will be really close to the fenders and quarters if you do get the spacers. Bumping those areas may be an option if you get that. You may have to play with some numbers (measuring) to see what you can do. I think that down sizing the wheel size is you way out, though.  
How you drive is your buisness. Remember that you're not the only one on the road!

lol thnx I was thinking that same thing about changing my wheels to 17" but I love my 18" wheels cause they make the car look pretty nice. lol you should see it if you havent already  
HONDA-High Octane Nitrous Driven Auto

Do you have it posted some where here? I'de love to see it. I'm having issues with posting pics from my computer to this forum. I don't know if photobucket is a free thing or not. Money is a really tight subject right now. I've been geting out from work early for two weeks now. Work is getting thin at Ford. I went to a Toyota dealer in Milford, Ct. and spoke to the service manager. He'll be need ing two techs in a month or so. Thank goodness. They've been pretty busy, compared to the Ford dealer I'm at. the manager at Toyota really wants me so he told me to stay tight until I get the call. Once I find another way,legally, to post the pics of my little Rav, I'll post them. Things are getting harder, MAN! Thank God I'm making the mortgage payments. That's all I'm worried about right now.  
How you drive is your buisness. Remember that you're not the only one on the road!

lol good to hear. i think the general topic should just be S12rapido3 presents "Way to many people have no clue about vehicle maintenance". i had a great example of losing tire pressure. it was fairly warm when i mounted my winter tires and set them at 30 psi and by the time i got them on and checked what it was at(after it significantly cooled) it was down to 18 psi!  

I believe photobucket is a free site because I have an account on it and I do have my car on this site in readers rides just look for the orange 95 civic coupe my name should be on the profile as well. Hope you get the job s12.  
HONDA-High Octane Nitrous Driven Auto

Dude! I found it and drooled! I gave it a high rating, over all, bud. I can't say enough on how nice the ride is. My ride is not even in the same planet as yours. Much props!
2000Hcsi is too funny. "s12rapido3 presents"! Way too funny! I should write a book and call it that! LOL! The dos and don't of car care, FOR DUMMIES! LOL!
That low psi tire issue you had happened to me too, bud. At least you're not alone. LOL!  
How you drive is your buisness. Remember that you're not the only one on the road!

LOL! thnx. can you believe I took it to a car show and it didnt win not even 2nd place and the show wasnt even that big maybe 7 or 8 cars. The guy who got 2nd was some dude driving a truck with no paint and a couple engine mods.  
HONDA-High Octane Nitrous Driven Auto

and there lies are problem. to many truck enthusiast...  

LOL! Trucks aren't bad, just the ones that aren't fixed up right! LOL! Too many people use trucks as a work horse and really don't get the performance scene too well. For those that do, though, I give them much props. It's still hard work to build a truck the right way. You know? Those small car shows aren't big for a reason. They are not well planned and they don't notice too much in the way of a good build like yours, VTEC. Don't sweat it, bro. You got first place in my eyes. Again, really nice ride. Now you've given me the adrenaline rush I need to make more money and get my Rav started... once the buisness picks up. LOL!  
How you drive is your buisness. Remember that you're not the only one on the road!