Pits Tires And Wheels

A 2003 EPA study showed that about 80 percent of all scrap tires - estimated at about 290 million - were recycled. That compared to just 17 percent of the scrap tires in 1990.

Did you know that the earliest tires in history were made of wood, followed by iron? These tires could hold up to heavy wear and tear; the only problem was that they could be difficult to replace and to repair.

There are thousands of choices for aftermarket wheels to customize the look of your vehicle. Experts say because aftermarket rims are lighter than regular steel rims, this results in a lighter vehicle with superior handling.

Until recently, the standard wheels most cars came with have been made of steel. This is changing with new technologies and fashions and you can now get alloy wheels, made of aluminum or a magnesium alloy, chrome wheels and spinners.

Did you know that spinner rims have become extremely popular in the past several years? These have an appendage in the wheel hub that keeps spinning after your vehicle has stopped moving.

One of the best ways to maintain rims is to rotate your vehicle's tires every few thousand miles. This maintenance process shifts the placement of the rubber coverings to prevent uneven wear and tear on the rims.

Did you know that the word tire is derived from tie, which refers to the outer steel ring portion of a wooden cart wheel? The purpose of this steel ring is to tie the wooden segments together.

That jumble of letters, slashes and numbers on each of your tires isn't random. In fact, understanding the standard tire abbreviations can help you shop for new tires. In a P225/75R15 H95 tire, the R15 indicates a 15-inch radial tire, for example.

The first type of pneumatic tires were referred to as bias-ply because the outside casing of the tire that protected the inner tube had layers of rubberized fabric cords in the rubber that offered protection and were known as plys.

If tires need to be replaced, it is best to replace all four tires at once - or change the two front tires or the two back tires. Replacing the tires in groups will help your tires to all wear evenly.

Want to have the benefits of a new looking car without having to spend the big bucks? A new set of wheels will completely change the look of your vehicle and cost a whole lot less than buying a new one.

Never overload your tires. Overloading a tire is the second leading cause of tire failure, next to under inflation. Putting too much weight on a tire can cause not only excessive wear and structural damage, but it can also lead to sudden failure such as a blow out.

Car manufacturers in Detroit originally resisted steel-belted radial tires, invented in 1948. The tires offered more protection, increased gas mileage and longer tread life. However, they required a different suspension system the big automakers wanted to avoid.