seen from Japan
seen from Germany
seen from Singapore
seen from Singapore
seen from Australia
seen from United States
seen from Poland
seen from Philippines
seen from Australia
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Bosnia & Herzegovina
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Singapore
seen from Australia
seen from United States
seen from Malaysia
seen from Ireland
Tire Wear Patterns: Cracking the Code
Some simple sleuthing of your vehicle’s tires may help reveal if there’s something wrong with them or if it’s time to replace them. Watch our video to see what clues you may find in different types of tire wear patterns.
Blown-out tire treads lying on the road are known in the trucking industry as “road gators.” When you’re driving down the highway, the textured rubber of a tire tread lying flat in your lane can almost look like the ridges and scales on the back of an alligator lying in wait. Road gators can happen at any time, especially on interstates where the speed limit is 70 or 75 mph. Most motorists notice road gators safely sunning themselves on highway shoulders but sometimes, they end up in the travel lane, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye out so you can avoid them.
A road gator’s bite may surpass that of a its namesake, slicing open oil pans, ripping off steering components, smashing through windshields and causing panicked drivers to lose control of their vehicles, attempting to avoid the beasts.
Here’s some information on why road gators occur and what steps to take if a vehicle loses its tire tread in front of you on the highway.
This 2016 GMC Terrain offers impressive levels of capability, luxury and technology
The reincarnation of a glorious muscle car, this 2014 Dodge Challenger delivers great retro styling!
20 Useful Tips to Improve Your Gas Mileage
1. Take it easy on the pedal
We all have this tendency to unleash the speed demons in our inner beings, living our wildest fantasies of becoming an F1 racer or even a WRC driver. Regrettably, this is not the best way to save on fuel since you’re technically requiring your engine to push you that fast. Imagine the space shuttle being launched into outer space. You’ve got several rocket boosters propelling the entire spacecraft until it reaches the emptiness of space. The point is that while our cars may be able to blitz 0-60 mph in under 5 seconds, it will be definitely burning more fuel. The reason is quite simple. The faster you go, the greater is the drag that your car will have to work against. Unfortunately, work requires fuel to be consumed. So go easy on the pedal.
The same is true when coming to a stop. Don’t try to be a Formula 1 racer who applies the brakes just in the nick of time to make that critical apex, allowing it to turn in perfectly without any significant loss in momentum. The problem with most of us today is that we clearly don’t have any regard for the traffic lights. As soon as the lights turn yellow, we step on the pedal like some drag racer hoping to beat the other motorists alongside us. Unfortunately it doesn’t work that way. The sudden acceleration will burn more fuel. Some drivers imagine that there’s an egg between their foot and the gas pedal just to condition themselves to use the accelerator as slowly and gently as possible.
And if you have to stop abruptly, energy will have to be spent to bring your car to a complete stop. As such, mind your distance from the driver in front of you so you will avoid sudden braking. When coming to an intersection with the traffic lights turning yellow, you’d better get your foot off the pedal and simply allow your vehicle to come to a slow rolling stop.
2. Adhere to your vehicle’s recommended fuel type
There’s this notion that premium gas is the best when it comes to getting the best performance from your car. Racers, stunt drivers, and even professionals recommend premium or even regular as their fuel type. Unfortunately, many fail to understand that the car manufacturers always test their vehicles for the best performance using the most ideal type of fuel. If your car manual says that you need to put in unleaded fuel or even the cheapest petrol with a not-so-high octane rating in your vehicle, then you really have to trust them since they know what they are saying. Now, if you have a high-performance vehicle that comes with a monstrous high compression engine, then you’d definitely have to go for higher octane fuels. But if you belong to the three-quarters of the world’s population that owns cars, then you’re perfectly fine with cheap petrol. Just make sure it is within the lower limit of the octane rating recommendation by your vehicle manufacturer.
Distracted Driving Statistics
Spring Driving Tips
Winter may be most known for its treacherous driving conditions, but spring also can be a difficult season for driving. From wind and rain to wildlife emerging from hibernation, spring driving can be challenging in its own right.
It is possible to enjoy the ride, however. By being aware of possible obstacles, increased traffic and tricky weather changes, you can take care when driving to ensure you and your passengers arrive safely and securely.
While you are driving, keep an eye out for pedestrians, especially on warm days. Residential, shopping and recreational areas will have more pedestrians, so it is especially important to be aware of those who are walking.
Two-wheeled vehicles also increase in popularity in the spring, so keep an eye out for motorcycles and bicycles and share the road. Bicyclists have the same rights as other vehicles on most roads. In particular, watch out for motorcycles and bicycles at intersections and in your blind spots when you are turning, passing or merging.
Add Your Vehicle to Spring Forward Safety Checklist
Spring is here and its arrival means warmer weather, more hours of daylight and spring break travel. As you set your clocks forward on March 11, and plan to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, take a few steps to make sure your vehicle is safe and road-trip ready, says the non-profit Car Care Council.
Check that all interior and exterior lighting is working properly and replace worn wiper blades so you can see clearly when driving at night and during spring showers.
Check the tires, including tire pressure and tread. Underinflated tires reduce a vehicle’s fuel economy and uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots.
Check filters and fluids, including engine oil, power steering and brake and transmission, as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant. Dirty air filters can waste gas and cause the engine to lose power.
