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Restoring Cars: Fixing Up an Old Clunker

Last year, I found an old car that looked a lot like the one I owned when I was in high school. Since I have some time and a little money to invest, I bought the car. While it was not in the best of shape, it struck me that restoring it would be a great project. Fixing up that old clunker was a lot of fun. Along the way, I learned things about exhaust systems and other car repairs that I never knew. My old car runs like new now, and I like to drive it around every weekend to show off my handiwork. If you are interested in restoring an older car, let me share what I've learned. A year from now, you'll also be out on the town showing off what you've done with your own two hands.

 

Restoring Cars: Fixing Up an Old Clunker

Letting The Air Out Of Common Tire Myths

4 November 2015
 Categories: Automotive, Blog

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For many decades, tire myths have existed and will probably continue. Some suggestions are amusing, but some can become dangerous. People begin to think tires can operate based on information from hearsay. There is much more to tire reliability than can be decided from rumors.

False: Too Much Air in a Tire Will Make Them Pop.                 

To a point, this is true, but your tires can be pumped past the number on the sidewall without blowing the tire off the rim. If the tire is of good quality, the manufacturer has considered this issue. The tire's integrity will be fine unless you pass the mark by a larger proportion; there should be no safety risk.

False: It is More Important to Replace the Front Tires.

The rear tires provide most of the stability for the automobile. If you steer or brake during wet or damp conditions, the rear tires are the ones that will stop you from spinning out of control. If you only replace the front tires, the water can bounce off them and proceed to the rear tires, placing more pressure on them. Always check with a tire supplier, but usually they will agree that the back tires are more important. 

False: Unused Tires Will Not Chemically Break-Down.

Each manufacturer has different replacement recommendations. It is suggested that you replace tires every five years, no matter what the depth of tread. Even if the tires have not been driven, they can still degrade and may not be usable after the specified time limits.

False: Air is Used to Fill All Tires.

This is true of regular street tires. However, many aircraft and racing vehicles use nitrogen to fill the tires because the gas is capable of maintaining a stable pressure.

False: Cheap Tires Are Just as Good as the Expensive Ones.       

Cheap tires can meet the minimum legal requirements, but cannot last as long as the more expensive products. The cheaper ones may not have been as developed and did not receive the same high-standard testing as the ones that cost a bit more. Safety has to be considered because the tire that was believed to be such a bargain may not be one after all.

False: Purchasing Specialty Tires Are Not Worth the Investment.           

If you own an off-road 4x4 vehicle and plan on driving on the beach, it is imperative to have a tire than can take the wear and tear of sand in the wheel. Regular tires cannot get good traction and you may be buried up to the hub caps. You cannot get good traction in mud, either, if you live in an area that has a lot of rain, so you may need a special mud-grip tire. If you live in a cold/snowy region, you may need special snow tires.

Hopefully, this information has given more insight to what is true and what is false. The decisions you make may mean the difference in safety and disaster. When purchasing tires, it's important to know what's true and false, and choose wisely. For more information, contact a company like PDR Automotive Inc.