How To Know Whether Your Car Tires Need Replacing

When you’re always out on the road in San Antonio, there’s nothing more important than you and your passengers’ safety. Your car tires play a really integral part in this, because unless all of your four wheels are still in good, working condition, you’ll most probably have trouble navigating down the road. There’s nothing worse than breaking down in the middle of the expressway because of a busted tire. Besides, it’s much easier to replace a tire when you’re prepared, preferably when you’re on a visit to the automotive repair shop, than when you have to replace a tire in the middle of an emergency.

Towing Alamo now provides you with some tips on what to check and how to know whether you need tire replacing or not, as taken from wikihow.com:

1.) The tread of your tires is one of the most important things you should consider.

Various tests have been employed to check that the tread of your tires are still deep enough (1.6 mm is the standard) to allow traction when you’re driving down the road. Basically, the function of the tread is to allow water on slick or sleet-covered roads to pass through them so that your tires won’t skid or slip when you’re driving fast. The Lincoln Penny test and the tread depth indicator/gauge are perfect for assessing amount of tread. If you’re confused as to what these things are, feel free to contact Towing Alamo. (210) 263-1107

2.) Check the legal requirements for tread depth. The US standard is 1.6 mm, but this may vary from state to state. The Texas tread depth requirement is also 1.6 mm.

3.) Make sure that your sidewalls are free from any bulges or bubbles.

The existence of these “bulges” or “bubbles” are the usual first signs that your tire’s already worn out—expect that it will most likely burst completely if you continue using it. Check the sidewalls as regularly as the tread depth.

4.) Lastly, have your tires replaced at least every 6 years. Tires are not meant to last as long as your car does

How to Save Money on Gas While Driving

Driving a car needn’t be too expensive to manage

Those with keen eyes, and quite actually, those with not so keen eyes, will notice that gas rates keep soaring to new heights as time goes by. These ever increasing rates sure put a strain on motorists’ wallets and make them struggle to find new ways to keep both their car and their sanity.

Saving money on gas is possible!

The good news is that there are quite a few tips and ideas that will help you save considerable amounts of money when it comes to your gas bills. This following list is naturally an incomplete one, but we’re sure you’ll find at least one or two ideas in it that will help you in saving money as soon as the next time you pull into a gas station:

Car related activities

• Air pressure: every couple of weeks, when you pull into a gas station make sure that your tires are properly inflated and that their air pressure is in correspondence with the manufacturer’s instructions. Proper air pressure will lead to safer driving and to better fuel consumption.
• Maintenance: a well maintained car will make more out of the fuel you put into it.

Driving habits

• Acceleration: putting the pedal to the metal can give you quite a rush. However, it’s less than safe driving and it’s sure not effective when it comes to fuel consumption. Try to accelerate gently and see for yourself how much fuel you’ll save.
• Air conditioning: the A/C increases fuel consumption. Try using it only when really necessary.

Planning ahead

• Carpooling: leaving your car at home is a great way to save gas.
• Planning your week: combining trips you have to make during the week is a great way to save time and money.
• Planning your trips: avoiding major roads with many traffic lights and potential traffic jams is recommended. Traffic lights and traffic jams lead to situations when you wait for something to happen while your engine is idling. During these times, you achieve nothing but wasting fuel.

There’s no doubt that there are other tips and great ideas out there that will be as equally effective in saving gas as those we’ve chose to mention. However, try choosing a single idea or even two, and start saving money on gas today.

Save money on gas, and the environment

Eco-driving is a generally better way of driving on the road, especially when you have to deal with traffic or if you’re going on long drives all the time. Eco-driving simply means knowing the feel and capacity of your car, and developing simple driving habits that can maximize your fuel consumption and to avoid putting your car in too much strain or stress.

Since the goal of eco-driving is maximizing your fuel consumption so you can use your fuel for longer distances, saving of energy is highly recommended. Opt to open your windows (just a crack) if you think you can handle the temperature outside, so you can switch off your air conditioner. Don’t roll your windows all the way down, though, especially if you’re driving at high speeds—the wind from outside coming from the opposite direction your car is moving will inevitably make you go slower, therefore, requiring you to accelerate to keep up your pace.

Make sure that your trunk isn’t full of dead weight you don’t need. Since your car is heavy enough as it is, remove the things you think you won’t need so the dead weight won’t contribute to the weight of your car while you’re on the road.

Shift gears as soon as possible.

To avoid strain from your car engine, shift gears as soon as possible when you increase or decrease your speed. It is advisable to put your car in neutral while you are going down steep inclines, as the gravity will make you accelerate automatically without applying gas.

Always make it a point to have your tires checked every few weeks or so. On your next trip to the gasoline station, have your tire gauges checked and make sure that they are the same for all four wheels. The value of the tire gauges themselves really depend on the type of car you’re using, so ask around for help regarding this. If you have a flat tire, or if you think you are about to have one for running over broken glass or other objects on the road, change it immediately.

Tips for driving in bad weather

Driving in a bad weather is risky. Accidents can happen anytime, especially if you are not following road signs and you do not slow down all the time. Thus, if you want to be safe, follow these simple tips for driving in a bad weather;

Always be prepared

Whenever you plan to go somewhere in a bad weather, you have to keep a number of things inside your vehicle. This includes an extra tire, flashlight, jumper cables, extra gas, proper clothing, first aid kit, and even water or food. Preparing is necessary because we do not know what will happen along the way. So whether you are stuck on the road or there are people who are willing to help you, at least you have the necessary tools and equipments to fix your vehicle and keep you safe all throughout.

Inspect your vehicle

Always take time to inspect your vehicle before using. Make sure that the engine is functional and the brakes can hold on. If there are parts that not functioning, consult a technician and have it fixed as soon as possible. Do not use your vehicle if there are suspected malfunction to some of its parts.

Slow down

It pays to slow down your vehicle in a bad weather condition. Roads get slippery when rain pours so better watch your way and make sure that you do not drive fast. As much as possible, control your speed and do not overtake other vehicles. Wait for your turn and never forget to obey road signs. It is important to be safe than sorry because accidents are most likely to take place during these times.

Park in a safe place

When your vehicle goes wrong, always do your best to park it in a safe place. It is important to keep your safety first before calling Towing San Antonio to handle your roadside assistance and towing concerns. The company has reliable technicians who can fix your vehicle right away but while waiting for their people, make sure that you do not hinder other vehicles from passing by.

Be cautious

Even if you think that there are few vehicles along the road, always be cautious. We never know what will happen next so keep your vehicle in a safe place and watch for cars that pass by. Make it a point to call help when the road is safe and your life will not be in danger.