The Three R's with RNR

Dear Bree,

When I come in and get a new set of tires, what happens to my old tires?  What happens to all of the old tires?

Curious in Tampa

 
Dear Curious,

That’s an excellent question!  There are lots of uses for old, discarded tires, as well as lots of things you shouldn’t do with them.  Try to imagine how many tires are discarded every year; you may just be thinking about cars, trucks, SUVs, etc., but what about motorcycles, bicycles, tractors and other farm equipment, and planes?  There are more tires than you ever thought of! 

In the past few years, as people have focused more and more on the environment, the question of what to do with all of these tires has been given a lot of thought.  Generally, when we think of taking care of the earth, we think of the first thing we taught our children about being responsible stewards of the planet: reduce, reuse, recycle.  It’s kind of like “Everything I need to know, I learned in kindergarten.”  Stick to the basics and you can make a big difference.

Reduce: Want to reduce the number of tires being discarded every year?  Start with your own car by taking care of your tires and properly maintaining them.  That means checking the tire pressure and tread, having the alignment and balance checked and rotating the tires when necessary.

Reuse:  There are ways for you to reuse tires around your own home or in community projects.  Think about making a tire swing for your kids, use them as planters or for unique art projects, or use them to help improve your young athlete’s accuracy by hanging them and having them throw a baseball, football, etc. through the middle (works for archery too!).   Old tires can also be used as bumpers for boats, go carts or other recreational vehicles.  Use your imagination!  Using old tires keeps them out of landfills and scrap tire yards—and it makes you use your imagination!

Recycle:  More and more things are being created all the time from recycled tires!  To recycle a tire,   you have to disassemble it and melt down the parts: rubber, steel and other materials.  Then you can reshape these elements and create something new like the solid tires used on lawn mowers and toys.  Tire rubber is also excellent for making rubber bands and belts that are used in automobile engines—and in making asphalt! Per the EPA, there are at least 110 new products made with recyclable tire rubber and 12 million scrap tires per year used to build highways.

 

Want more?  You can grind up old tire rubber and use it as mulch or as filler on athletic fields.  Want to really get the most out of old tires?  Old rubber can be ground up and used to be “Earthships,” energy efficient homes made from bricks that are essentially earth and ground up rubber.

If you’re wondering how safe it is to have all of this rubber ground up and used as mulch or to create playing fields, checkout the RMA’s (Rubber Manufacturer’s Association) webpage, Scrap Tires and the Environment.

As far as what you shouldn’t do with your old tires, you shouldn’t dump them illegally or burn them.  Discarded tires that pile up in vacant lots are breeding grounds for mosquitoes (standing water inside of them) and rats; burning tires releases toxic fumes and these fires are very difficult to extinguish.  Rats are just creepy, folks; and don’t we have enough mosquitoes already?  I get eaten up every time I step outside!  And don’t get me started on air pollution!

If you need to get rid of some of your old tires, look for a recycling business in your area.  More and more businesses recycle tires, and it won’t be too hard to find someone to help you out. At RNR, we have a service that disposes of or recycles tires that can’t be used anymore.  Ask us for advice if you’re stuck about what to do with your old tires!

Bree

Malfunction Junction - What's the TPMS Function?

Dear Bree,
I do not understand what the heck just happened with my tire.  Please translate.
I was driving into my neighborhood when my tire pressure light went on, and then BA-BAM!  My tire just went flat!  I’m talking about going from, “Hey, your tire pressure is low,” to dead tire.  Not wounded, not a little leak--FLAT!  Then, as if that wasn’t crazy and scary enough, when I got it to a tire place to repair, they told me that the tire sensor valve stem had corroded, so the sensor just went *POOF*, detached and fell into my tire—hence the instant flat! What?!  I don’t even know what a tire sensor valve stem is!
I think that I should have had some clue that this problem existed or might occur or something, but I didn’t.  I just assumed that when my tire pressure warning light lit up, I’d have a minute to do something about it.  Can you please explain to me what went wrong and what I can do about it in the future?  Anything else I ought to know about these sensor things?
In the Dark in Indiana

Dear In the Dark,
You’re not alone in your confusion.  We see this kind of thing in some of our locations (namely, the ones located in colder climates), but lots of people are unfamiliar with the problem.  Let me break it down for you.
I’ll start with a little history lesson.  The Great Firestone Recall of the late 90’s had a big influence on the movement toward TPMS (tire-pressure monitoring systems) becoming standard on new cars.  More than a hundred deaths were linked to rollovers caused by tread separation on these Firestone tires, and this led to the creation of the TREAD Act by the Clinton administration.  In short, it requires that all new cars sold after September 1^st, 2007, had to come equipped with TPMS that would alert drivers when their tires were under-inflated.  The benefits are two-fold: reduce the number of accidents on roadways and improve fuel efficiency. Now, whether or not you agree with a government mandate on this topic can be discussed at your dinner table; the point is that TPMS’s are here to stay; so, as consumers and drivers, we need to know as much as we can about them.
TPMS’s are designed to alert drivers when their tire pressure falls below 25% of the recommended cold tire-inflation pressure, and it does this by using pressure sensors in each wheel to directly measure the pressure in each tire (this is the direct tire-pressure monitoring system).  Another option is the indirect TPMS which uses the vehicle’s antilock braking system’s wheel speed sensors to compare the rotational speed of one tire against the others. If a tire is low on pressure, it will roll at a different number of revolutions per mile than the other three and alert the vehicle’s onboard computer.  Most people seem to agree that direct systems are more accurate and reliable, and also have the advantage of usually being able to identify which tire is having trouble.
But TPMS’s are far from perfect.  The most common problem seems to be valve stem corrosion.  If a brass valve core is installed into an aluminum stem or a brass cap is screwed onto an aluminum stem, you’ve got a problem.  These two metals don’t mix; put them together and you get galvanic corrosion, especially if you’re living with Nanook of the North and dealing with ice melting chemicals and salt on roadways.  If this corrosion occurs, these two dissimilar metals will fuse together and cause damage to the stem, core and cap, and eventually the sensor itself.   When a dealer or tire repair professional goes to remove the cap or valve core, or just check the tire pressure, the whole sensor just breaks off or the valve crumbles.  Not good, right?  Sounds like this might be what happened to you.
Another common issue is that eventually, the batteries in these units die (anywhere between 3 and 10 years is the life span); and when they die, the entire unit has to be replaced.  It is recommended that if you replace one TPMS, you replace them all at the same time (more than likely, the others are on their last gasps as well); and this, as you can imagine, can get pricey.  You may be facing a similar fate with the sensors on your car.  If one was this badly corroded, how are the others looking?
So, now you know.  Don’t mix the metals.  Ask questions.  In 2012, it was estimated that there were more than 200 million TPMS sensors on the road, and more than 35% of them were at least 3 years old, which means that in the next couple of years, more than 9 million sensors will need to be replaced.  That’s a lot of sensors.
We deal with problems like this all the time at RNR, so if you come see us, we can help you out and get you back on the road.  Take care!

Bree

RNR Opens New Corporate Store in Orlando, FL

RNR Custom Wheel and Tire Express opened their 10th corporate location on May 5th, 2013.  The new store is located at 6000 South Orange Blossom Trail and is their second Orlando location.  Their original Orlando location is at 3240 West Colonial Drive.
On Saturday, May 18th, RNR hosted a grand opening event complete with local car clubs and live music provided by Obie Diaz and his crew from Power 95.3.  Some of the areas hottest custom vehicles were showcased, and at the end of the day, Team Redline Car Club went home with the trophy for “Best Car Club.”  A few lucky RNR patrons also took home tickets to an advanced screening of Fast and Furious 6, courtesy of Power 95.3.  It was a busy and exciting day for this new location, and one which they hope portends good things to come.
Orange Blossom Trail is perhaps the busiest thoroughfare in Orlando, and RNR expects this new store to see a lot of traffic.  This location is larger than most other RNR stores with 6700 square feet of space, an expansive showroom, and four bays.  All this room guarantees a large selection of wheels and tires in stock and plenty of convenience for customers looking for a variety of styles and sizes.
“This store is an exciting one for us.  We've done extensive remodeling on the building and this is the first corporate store to offer alignment services.  Some of our franchises have been testing this, and we're looking forward to offering this service in Orlando," says Vince Ficarrotta, Vice President of Operations at RNR Custom Wheel and Tire Express.  ”We’re very happy to be opening a new store here. It’s a great building in a great location, and we’re excited to expand our Orlando market.”
RNR Custom Wheel and Tire Express knew they would need more space on Orange Blossom Trail to accommodate the area’s large volume of traffic and business potential, but there was another addition that they knew they would need, as well:  an electronic reader board.  This is a new, but necessary, addition for RNR, according to Ficarrotta.  “Orange Blossom Trail is such a busy area that sometimes it can be difficult to locate individual businesses.  We’ve added the electronic reader board in an effort to help people distinguish us in the crowd, so that our customers can pick us out easily.”
Orlando is one of two corporate stores opening in 2013 (the other is in Daytona, FL), and RNR is looking to open more corporate stores in the future. “Our growth is focused on expansion of current markets where we already have a presence, and small outlying communities where we will be introducing our concept for the first time. Our plans are to open at least two corporate stores a year for the next five years, if not more.  With the growth plans of our franchises combined with new corporate stores, our goal of over 100 stores should easily be obtained in the next four years,” says Larry Sutton, Founder and President of RNR Custom Wheel and Tire Express.
On May 5th, 2013, the lights went on for RNR on Orange   Blossom Boulevard, and they are ready to bring the selection and convenience of their brand to a wider Orlando audience.

Clean Freak or Just a Freak: Why Is My Husband Always Cleaning His Wheels?

Dear Bree,
My husband is a clean freak (I’ll just put that out there first), but I think he’s taking it too far with his truck.  When I called him on the fact that he washes and shines that thing up every week, he came up with some song and dance about how he has to get the brake dust off his wheels or they’ll get ruined.  Now, I know he’s all about those fancy wheels, but is he full of it? Is this just another way to justify his OCD behavior?

Meditating on Medication in Memphis

Dear Meditating,
I can’t say if your husband is really full of it on a day-to-day basis, but in the case of brake dust on wheels, he’s got a valid point.  Here’s how it works:  When you apply the brakes in your vehicle, metal debris breaks off the pads.  Now, we’re talking about dust here, not big chunks of break pads, so don’t get excited. It only makes sense that a good bit of that dust is going to stick to your wheels, right?   That leads us to your question:  Does this actually harm the wheels or is your husband making stuff up?
He’s not making stuff up.  If you don’t wash your car and you leave break dust to sit on your wheels, yes, there can be damage.  Break dust is corrosive and will harm the wheels, especially if the wheel gets wet, because when the dust gets moist, the acids that result can etch your wheel.  So, yes, keeping our wheels clean is a good idea for everyone, but if I were your husband, and I’d made an investment in some “fancy wheels,” as you call them, I’d be taking extra care, too.
How about this: I’ll give you some cleaning tips that you can use to either a.) impress him with your knowledge, b.) create some bonding OCD time by helping him clean, or c.) all of the above.  Here’s what you do:

1.)    Use a mild soap and water solution to clean your wheels.  Never use tar or bug remover or acid-based cleaners because they may permanently damage or discolor your wheels.  Acid-based cleaners can save your arms because they loosen things up and make cleaning easier, but to be safe, put some elbow grease into it, instead. Look at it as a workout; you’re burning calories, right?  Also, keep your SOS pads in the house!  Never use abrasive pads, steel wool or polishing compounds to clean your wheels.

2.)    Wax those babies periodically to protect them and make them easier to clean.  A word to the wise:  Do not apply wax to a hot wheel—it might cause discoloration.

3.)    Beware the car wash.  I know--I love to drive through and forget it but take caution. Some car washes use acid-based cleaners either before or during the wash to make cleaning easier.  Car washes sometimes use stiff brushes for wheels and tires, as well, and that’s a no-no. Use a sponge, soft brush or rag to clean your wheels.

4.)    Save the steam cleaning for your carpet.  Steam-cleaning wheels can dull the paint or clear-coat finish.

5.)    If you do use an acid-based spray-on cleaner, do not let it dry on the wheels. Be advised that many wheels have been eaten up and the finish damaged permanently by acid-based cleaners left on the wheel too long. Actually, don’t let any cleaners dry on your wheels!  Wash one wheel at a time and remember: Spray, scrub, rinse!

We sell a lot of wheels here at RNR (it’s one of our specialties!), so we feel pretty confident giving tips on proper wheel maintenance.  Hope this helps you, Ms. Meditating.  Maybe wheel scrubbing could become together-time?  If not, let him scrub while you go shopping.

Bree
P.S. If your husband feels the need to show his wheels off, tell him to stop by.  We love to ooh and aah over a shiny set of wheels.:)

RNR Daytona Employee is New Local Hero

Martin Cervantes (left) and John Bracy (right) in front of the RNR Daytona Store

The new RNR Wheels and Tire Express store in Daytona has seen a lot of excitement since opening in March of this year, but on Wednesday, April 24^th, at about 6:30 PM, things got more exciting than anyone ever wanted or expected.  As the store was closing, two employees, Martin Cervantes and John Bracy, were alerted by two young men passing by that a woman at the neighboring BP station was about to set her car on fire.  Shocked and not quite sure what to believe, they went to take a look—just as the woman set the car ablaze.  When they heard the woman yelling that her “babies” were in the car, Mr. Bracy didn’t stop to think, he just ran to rescue the children.  He was surprised to find two dogs instead.  He scooped the pups up and removed them from the burning car, but unfortunately, the chaos didn’t end there.
The woman in question ran out into the busy street (West   International Speedway Blvd.) and sat down.  Fearing she would be killed, Mr. Bracy went after her, eventually bringing her back into the parking lot.  Finding that she couldn’t be calmed and afraid that she might hurt herself or cause an accident, Mr. Bracy and his friend and co-worker, Martin Cervantes, restrained the woman until police arrived.
“It all happened really fast,” said Mr. Cervantes. “This woman just poured gasoline all over her car and set it on fire.  I’m not sure how my buddy wasn’t hurt because the whole back of the car was on fire.”  Fortunately for John, Martin, and the whole RNR team, no one was injured, and the woman was taken into custody without further incident.
Rafael Rivera, manager of RNR Wheels and Tire Express in Daytona, had this to say about the incident:  “Some people will stand by and watch, and others will jump into action with NO hesitation to do the right thing for others, and for that, I’m calling John a hero.”
RNR Wheels and Tire Express opened its Daytona doors on March 1^st, 2012, at 955 West   International Speedway Blvd., just up the street from Daytona International Speedway in what is called Daytona’s Mid-Town Redevelopment Area.  It is the company’s 9^th corporate location.

RNR Opens New Store in Ocala, FL

RNR Custom Wheel and Tire Express franchise owner, Steve Sutton, is very excited for the opening of his new store at 2547 SW College Road, Ocala. A grand opening event was held on January 26th, 2013, with three local radio stations in attendance, a Cruise In + Car & Truck Show, free BBQ and drinks, as well as lots of great prizes. But there’s more to Steve’s excitement than radio stations and prizes. “We’re really excited about this location,” he says. “This location is so much more customer friendly than our former location at Pine Avenue. It’s bigger, has more bays and a much better storefront, and parking here is easy. We think our RNR customers are going to be really happy with this new store.” The new store at SW College Road brings much-needed changes for this already successful RNR franchise. It’s centrally located, has easier access, and customers will enjoy faster service due to the 4-bay garage; and with its impressive 5000 square feet of space, the store is able to stock a larger selection and more sizes of tires and wheels. The former location at Pine Avenue started out in 2005 as Rent Quest, a traditional rent-to-own store featuring furniture, TVs, and appliances, but gradually migrated to a wheel business. RNR, officially known as Rent and Roll, rents and sells custom tires and wheels, making high-quality wheels and tires a reality for those who may not be able to purchase a complete set of new tires or custom wheels in one large purchase. The concept has been very successful by providing, not only a service that individuals and families need in relation to safe and reliable tires, but extras that they want, like custom wheels and performance tires. The RNR Tire Express concept is a recent addition and one that Steve Sutton thinks will be well received. “The price of tires has sky rocketed in the past few years, and a set of safe, new tires just isn’t financially feasible for a lot of families out there—but they’re needed. We provide a unique service—a necessary service—and we pride ourselves on being a place our customers can trust to get the most, and the best, for their money. We give people a new way to buy tires.”

RNR Opens New Location In Daytona, FL

RNR Custom Wheels and Tire Express has opened its 9^th corporate location in Daytona, FL, at 955 West International Speedway Blvd., just up the street from the speedway itself.  Larry Sutton, Founder and President of RNR Custom Wheels and Performance Tires, is excited about RNR’s move into Daytona. “We are delighted to bring our concept to the Daytona market. For the past couple of years, we have had several inquiries online from the Daytona market wondering when we would open there.  When we finally found a suitable location, it just happened to be on one of the most famous streets in America, and we are just about a mile from the Daytona Speedway! This is the first new corporate store we have opened in a while; however, our plans are to open at least two a year for the next five years, if not more.”
While proximity to the Speedway is a bonus for RNR, it isn’t the only thing that makes this location special.  RNR found that, while the inside of the building needed very little improvement, they had to put their main focus on the outside of the building.
“This area of Daytona is called the Midtown Redevelopment Area,” explains Vince Ficarrotta, vice president of operations at RNR.  “The MRA Board has very specific standards so far as landscaping and the style of the building.  This is the largest outdoor-improvement project of a building that we’ve taken on, but the result is worth it.  The store looks great and we’re really happy with the outcome.”
The entire area has been getting a face-lift as a result of the redevelopment project and is seeing new life.  RNR knows that, in the end, this can only benefit their business, but they hope to play their own part in helping out.  “We hope to have a positive impact on the area, to offer our services and bring affordable tire options to our customers, and to employ local residents.  We think this store is a natural fit for the community and will be mutually beneficial to everyone involved,” says Ficarrotta.
RNR Customs Wheels and Tire Express opened its doors in Daytona on March 1st.

Fix-A-Flat and Replace Your Tire (and Wheel)?

Dear Bree,
I got a flat tire last week and I used some stuff that my boyfriend put in my trunk called “Fix-a-Flat.”  Obviously, it got me home, and it’s been getting me along for the past week!  Hurray!  While I was riding around today feeling super-smart, I started to wonder: Is this a little too good to be true?  All I had to do was shoot some goo into my tire, and presto-change-o!  New tire!  Break it down for me, Bree—am I riding on borrowed tire time?

Handy Mandy (my new self-appointed nickname)
Charlotte, NC


Dear Mandy,
Don't get too attached to that nickname.  I’m taking Handy back for now, though I love that you are smart enough to question your “too good to be true” moment.  Yes, Mandy, it is too good to be true.
Fix-a-Flat will save your tush in an emergency—when you’re stuck, you can’t use your spare and you have to get off the road.  It will get you off the side of the highway and hopefully back home, but you didn’t put a band-aid on your boo boo—you might have just cut your arm off.  Fix-a-Flat is a last resort.  Sister, where was your spare?
In my last blog, I talked about the difference between patching and plugging—your basic tire band aids; and I talked about the best way to repair a tire—the patch/plug wire pull-through.  So, this week, let’s talk about amputation.  Here’s the way Fix-a-Flat works:  This stuff comes out of the can under pressure as a liquid and seals the hole in your tire so you can get the heck out of Dodge.  Did you catch the “seal” part?  It seals the hole through a chemical reaction.  When the liquid comes into contact with the air (through the hole in your tire), it starts to harden and a change happens.  Now, this is good for you in the short term—sealed hole, back on the road--but what about the long term?
The chemical change doesn’t just stop when it fills the hole.  You’ve got a little high school chem lab going on in there.  There’s still liquid bumping around, hardening up, and taking whatever shape it wants as the air hits it.  That Fix-a-Flat substance just keeps on reacting with whatever it comes into contact with:  rubber, valve stem, your wheel, etc.  If you leave it there, you’ll need a new tire, but leave it long enough and you’ll need a new wheel too.  Eventually, the substance you squirted in there will start to eat away at the rubber of your tire; then it will start working on the paint and finish on your wheel, and so on.  Your future issues:  a tire that will never balance, a valve stem that won’t seal because the diameter of the stem got eaten away by goo, etc., etc.  Do you see where this is going?
You can have the Fix-a-Flat removed from the tire but it takes time, and some brands are tougher than others to clean up; but most of the time, Fix-a-Flat prevents proper tire repair from the inside. Come see us at RNR ASAP, and we'll see what we can do to get your tire fixed up, Mandy.   And next time, use your spare.

Bree

P.S.  Here are some directions on how to change a tire.

I'm a Safety Girl: Plug or Patch?

Dear Bree,
I’m having an argument with my husband about plugging vs. patching when there’s a hole in a tire.  He says, “Just get the tire plugged.  It’s quick and easy.”  But I’ve been doing a little research and I’m not so sure about the plug long-term (or the patch!).  To quote Pretty Woman, “I’m a safety girl.”  Got an opinion?

Tiffany in Tampa


Hi Tiffany!
Of course I have an opinion!  I have an opinion about most things, and you happen to have hit upon a hot-button topic!  So, plug vs. patch, huh?  I have to say, Tiffany, that I’m with you and Vivian—I’m a safety girl!  Luckily, so are the RMA (Rubber Manufacturers Association) and the states of Texas and Florida.
Go back a blog or two to the difference between all-season and high performance tires (and snow/winter tires)—what it came down to in the end was the science behind the rubber compound, so let’s get down to the science of plugs and patches.

Traditional tire plug

A plug is sticky and expandable, and it gets shoved in a hole in the tire from the outside and wedged in until the air stops leaking out.  Air leaking out is bad for a tire (and you!) so stopping the leak is great—but do you want to live your tire life on just a plug?  Some people say that a plug will live longer than your dog, but I don’t have any exact stats on that.  What I do know is this:  The plug is made from a different compound than the tire itself, so you should think about the properties of that compound and the rubber compound of your tires.  They may not expand and/ or contract at the same rate, so if you’re driving fast (creating heat) and your tires are expanding; will the plug expand with it?  If it doesn’t, or it expands at a different rate (faster or slower), what happens then?  What if the weather is cold, and your tire contracts but the plug is contracting faster?  You may end up with another leak and be back to square one but in the snow this time.

Traditional tire patch

Patches are a little different because they are actually on the inside of your tire.  To patch a tire, you take the tire off the rim, apply the patch on the inside, seal it and remount the tire. The patch is bigger than the hole and will be pushed by the air pressure against the hole (outward).  A plug is just wedged in there, being pushed outward by air pressure and inward by the road itself.  Let’s hope the road wins.  There is also a Door #3 though, Tiffany, and this is where the RMA, Texas and Florida come into the story.

Patch/Plug Wire Pull-Through

The RMA supports pending legislation in Texas and Florida to prohibit the sale of unsafe used tires.  Many used tires that are either worn out, damaged or otherwise unsafe are being resold every day all over the country; and two states, Florida and Texas, are working to stop that.  In conjunction with this legislation are guidelines for repairing tires, and here’s what’s recommended:  The Patch/Plug Wire Pull-Through.  This little device is a kind of combo of the patch and the plug with a pull-through wire that is used to guide the plug into place.  The patch/plug is inserted from the inside of the tire, so the tire has to be removed from the vehicle, the patch/plug inserted, and then sealed/cured so that the patch/plug essentially becomes part of the tire.  RNR welcomes this new legislation because this is the way that we repair tires already.  We use this method because it is the best and safest way to fix a damaged tire, and we want only the safest tires (used or otherwise) rolling along our roads everyday.  If your tire cannot be repaired from the damage, and you’re part of our Road Warrior plan, your tire will be placed (within the terms of your agreement).
Don’t roll around on borrowed air!  If you’re going to get your tired repaired, make sure that it’s being fixed in the safest way possible.  That traditional tire plug might live longer than your Chihuahua or it might not make it longer than a carnival goldfish—you never know.  Think about a road-side assistance plan, as well, like our Road Warrior plan that will replace a damaged tire.  You pay a little up front, but if you happen to have the bad luck to damage your tire in a way that can’t be repaired, you’re not shelling out a lot of money for a brand-new tire—you’re already covered.
When you’re faced with a leak in your tire, Tiffany, just remember why Richard Gere always insisted on the penthouse suite (because it’s the best!), and make sure your that tire is repaired in a reputable repair shop using the patch/plug!  Better yet, just come see us at RNR!

Bree

Summer Tires and a Winter Package: RNR Breaks it Down

Dear Bree,
I’m shopping for a new car and I ran into a snag.  I was with the dealer and they did a search for me to see if there were any cars in the general area with the all of the features that I wanted.  When the dealer came back to me, he said they’d found one!  Great, right?  Not quite. He said they’d found one but that it also had “summer tires,” and he wanted to know if I was interested in that package.  I smiled and acted like I knew exactly what he was talking about, then said I was still weighing my options and I’d get back to him.   Fake it ‘til you make it, I always say.  So, tell me, Bree, what the heck are summer tires and why in the world would I want a car with “summer tires” when I requested that the stinking car have the winter package?!  That just makes no sense!  Am I supposed to change the tires with the season or forego my seat warmers and move south?  All I want to do is haul my kids safely around town and maybe take a road trip every now and then.  I hate feeling like an idiot, especially when I went in feeling fully researched and well-informed. 

Thanks!
 Clueless in Cleveland

Dear Clueless,
I can see the blank stare and the panic from here, girl.  I’m sure you covered just fine, and I know how you feel.  There was a time when someone asked this redhead what kind of engine I had and I said, “Come again?”  I wanted to say, “The kind that runs on gas and makes my car go,” but somehow sensed that the man asking was looking for something more specific.  I finally had to fess up that I had no idea, and he had to go out to the car to check.  Seems mechanics need that kind of information.  Now, I know and I'm here to help you!
So, here’s the skinny on “summer tires.”  Summer tires are also called high-performance tires, and there are reasons for and against them.
The difference between high-performance or summer tires and all-season tires comes down to rubber (or compound).  High-performance tires are made from a softer rubber than all-season tires, and so they grip the road better in dry or damp conditions and improve handling, braking and acceleration.  They tend to handle better in rain for this reason.  In deep water at high speeds, we have to talk about tread pattern and how it affects handling and a car’s ability to hold the road (good tires are more than just rubber); but for everyday, the softer rubber in high-performance tires makes a difference.  The problem with summer tires starts with snow (hence the term “summer”).   The softer compound of summer tires tends to harden in temperatures below freezing, so that extra traction that they had in warmer weather is gone.  All-season tires are made from a different compound that doesn’t harden in cold temperatures, so they offer a bit more traction in snow.
Another issue with high-performance tires: They are significantly more expensive (hence the reason they are a separate “package” on your new car) than all-season tires, and they tend not to last as long, so you’ll be shelling out more money more frequently to stay safe on the road.  If that’s not an issue for you, and you don’t need the added traction in cold weather provided by all-season tires, then maybe high-performance tires are for you.  They certainly have their benefits—that can’t be denied—but neither can the reality of price and longevity.  It’s up to you to find that balance.  I see that you live in Cleveland which gets pretty darn cold, so weather would be a consideration.  I’d want the seat warmers, too.
My best advice? Find out what the manufacturer recommends for the car that you’re looking at, weigh your future maintenance costs and the demands on your tires, and make your best decision.  If you’re still not sure, come in and talk to one of our experts at RNR.  You can research online all you want, but sometimes it’s that one-on-one with a person who knows through experience that can make all the difference.  Your family’s safety and comfort are important, and when it comes to your car, both of things are riding on your tires.  Good luck, girl!

Bree

P.S.  I didn’t go into the aesthetics of high-performance tires because it doesn’t sound like that’s a priority to you, but the look of a car’s wheels and tires can be very important to some people.  If that’s a consideration for you, then definitely come see us.  We can show you lots of options and help you find the look you want.

How To Be a Road Warrior (Without Looking Like Mad Max)

In my last blog, I told you all about how to change a tire because everyone should have the know-how to rely on themselves in an emergency; BUT if all else fails, you should also be able to call for help.  The Scottish poet, Robert Burns, said, “The best laid schemes o' mice an' men/ Gang aft a-gley, [often go awry],” and he was right. 

You could have your tool kit packed, spare tire checked and ready to go, and still have these problems:  a.) your first ever broken wrist, b.)  the flu,  c.)  a big, fat rainstorm,  d.)  petrified lug nuts.  Remember when you were 20 and you thought 30 was the "Land of Old Maids"?  I bet at one point, you seriously considered a “back-up plan” with one of your best guy pals—“If neither of us is married by the time we’re 30, we’ll just marry each other.”  You were thinking ahead, right?  Fortunately for you, RNR has a better back-up plan.  It doesn’t have anything to do with matrimony, but it may very well save you.  We call it (drum roll, please!):  Road Warrior.

To take part in Road Warrior there are a couple of things you need to do:  First, you need to get your tires from RNR, and then you need to have them filled up with nitrogen.  Pretty easy, huh?  Isn’t that what you came to RNR for in the first place?  The nitrogen part is important and I’ll tell you why:  Nitrogen can dramatically increase your fuel economy, tire life and safety (AND reduce your carbon footprint!).  Why doesn’t everyone use nitrogen, you ask?  We have no idea, but if you do, you’ll qualify for Road Warrior (you choose the level), and we’ll be there to save your butt (strictly tire-related, of course) for a year.  So, come into RNR, pick out your new tires and get a plan.

Here’s what you have to choose from:

Basic:  You get your new tires and we fill them with nitrogen. Your tires last longer, you stay safe, the world wins.  If you’re using our convenient Rent-to-Own program, this is included in your rental agreement.

Plus:  Initial nitrogen fill, 1 year of nitrogen refills (if needed), and one year of roadside assistance, including: lost key/lock-out service, towing, battery service, delivery service, theft/hit-and-run coverage, trip-routing service and travel benefits.  If you rent four tires with RNR, this service is included in your agreement.

Premium:  The Premium Road Warrior includes nitrogen refills for the life of the tires and all of the above for one year, PLUS one year repair or replacement of your tires (up to $800) due to a flat or failure of the tire(s) due to a road hazard.
Let me say this, girls:  There are a lot of roadside-assistance plans out there, and you should look into them, but we make it really easy to stay safe at RNR.  Sign up for our program with 4 new tires and you’re covered for a year.  Know what that means?  All you have to remember to do in the end is keep your phone charged--we’ll be that close when you find yourself in a situation that’s a bit too much for you.  Let’s face it, girls—we’ll all be there at some time.
The Road Warrior Program is available at most RNR stores, so call your local store and ask about it.  They can answer all your questions and help you figure out which plan is best for you.  There’s no shame in asking for help, but there’s glory in being the smartest girl on the block.  Get a back-up plan!

Bree

The Tire Fairy Won't Save You - Change It Yourself

Last week, I told you all about how to know if you need new tires.  Coupled with your new-found knowledge about tire pressure (why it’s important  and how to check it), you’re more than halfway through my list of the Top Five Things Every Woman Should Know to Save Her Own Butt (Tire Version).  Here’s the biggie, girls: how to change a tire.
Now, I know some of you are reading this and thinking, “I know how to change a tire--call AAA, call my husband/boyfriend/brother, etc.,” but I know you can do better than that.  This list is all about how to save your own butt, remember?
Picture it: A beautiful redhead is driving down a deserted stretch of 301 somewhere between Jacksonville and Tampa, FL.  She’s all dressed up for a wedding she just went to, but to be honest, it’s been a bad day.  As she’s driving along, suddenly her truck starts driving itself and she puts the brakes on and struggles to get it stopped without losing control.  What happened, you ask?  She blew a tire.  Did I mention the lonely stretch of 301 and how she’s all alone?  Yes, she has a spare, but she doesn’t have one tool to help her use it.  Oh, and at the time—no cell phone.  If I were tweeting this, I’d use the hashtag #screwed.
This redhead got lucky and was saved by, not one, but two truckloads of Du Pont angels in work boots.  They had an air compressor to jack up the truck, some fancy-schmancy power tools to remove the lug nuts (and put them back on), AND a blow torch to get the rusty lock off the spare that was stored under the truck.  Note:  If you keep your spare under your truck and lock it up with a pad lock, occasionally check to make sure it hasn’t rusted on for all eternity.  These worker-bee angels even had a cooler full of Coke, which they gave the redhead when they found her bawling on the side of the highway trying to decide what would kill her first—a serial killer or the gators she was sure were lurking in the canal next to the road.
Is the message sinking in yet?  Take a lesson from the Boy Scouts and be prepared.  First tip:  Make sure you have a spare tire and it’s in good condition.  You know, take a peek at it every now and then and make sure it’s usable if you need it.  Next, get some tools together and keep them stashed in the trunk, behind your seat, wherever you can find some space.  Tools are your friend.  The basics are:  a jack, a lug wrench with a socket on one end and a pry bar on the other, and a spare tire.  Some other things you may want to have: a rain poncho, a flashlight with extra batteries, gloves or hand wipes, a smock, old shirt, etc. to save your wardrobe,  a tarp or mat to kneel on (wardrobe again, and knees), a 12X12 inch piece of plywood to stabilize the jack if the ground is soft, some road flares or reflective triangles so other drivers know you’re there and don’t run over you, and a tire pressure gauge.
So, you’re sitting on the side of the road and you’re faced with a flat.  Here’s what you do.

Step 1
Take a deep breath. You can totally do this.

Step 2
Turn on your blinkers, put up some road cones—let the world know you’re there!

Step 3
Cover up your nice clothes with the smock, t-shirt, etc. and lay the spare tire flat on the ground.  If you have it, lay something down on the ground to kneel on—towel, tarp, whatever—your knees and your cute outfit will thank me.  Get your spare tire out and put it beside the car but make sure the tire’s not on the road, just safely off to the side.  Don’t lean the tire up against your car, just in case.  It could get wedged under the car when you jack it up, and at this point, you don’t need any more trouble.

Step 4
Check your owner’s manual to find out where to place the jack.  You don’t want to damage your vehicle by putting the jack under a weak spot.  Jack the car up just a bit by either turning the crank or pushing the lever up and down.  If you’re a small fry, think about purchasing a hydraulic jack.
 
Step 5
Once you've got the car lifted a little (but not so much that the wheel spins freely), use a screwdriver or pry bar to get the wheel cover off.  Your nails aren’t going to do it.  Then use your lug wrench to remove the lug nuts (remember: righty tighty, lefty loosey) and put them somewhere safe, like your pocket, the front seat, a cup holder, or anywhere they won’t roll away and get lost.

Step 6
Pull the tire straight off the wheel, and be aware that it’s going to be heavy.  If you have to drop it, try your best to move your toes and drop it straight down so that it lands rubber to road, the same way it would if you were driving it.  Roll that baby to the back of your car and lie it flat on the ground, out of the way.  Don’t worry about hefting it back into the trunk just yet.

Step 7
Take the spare and match the holes up so that they fit onto the lug bolts on the wheel and slide the tire on.  Again, it’s going to be heavy.  Use your knee to help you if you have to. Manuevering things that are too heavy for you isn’t new, girls.  You know how to do it.

Step 8
Screw the lug nuts back on by hand first, then use the lug wrench to give them an extra squeeze, but don’t tighten them all the way just yet.  Using the jack, lower the car back down so that the tire can't spin freely but not quite all the way, and then tighten the lug nuts, making sure they’re evenly tightened by tightening one and then moving to the one directly across from it (also known as the Star Method).  Do the same with the other nuts. Don’t forget to remove the jack.

Step 9
Position your wheel cover correctly and give it a good smack on each edge to get it on. If you’re having trouble, use the towel, t-shirt, or whatever is else is handy to protect your hand and do it again.  I know you'll want to kick it, but save that as a last resort.  Stick to the opposite side method, and you should be good to go.

Step 10
Pack it up and go home!  Make sure you’ve got all of your tools, the original tire, the jack, etc., and use those baby wipes to clean up.  You’re done!  Success!

If you’re small, consider carrying a cordless impact wrench for lug nuts that have been tightened mechanically.  It’s not always easy for women (or men) to get those lug nuts off, and the cordless might come in very handy.  Just as you shouldn’t go hiking with nothing but a GPS to guide you, you shouldn’t take your lug wrench out of your tool kit just because you have some power.  Technology fails and you need a back-up that doesn’t require batteries.
So there you go!  Make your kit and be prepared.  I know you can do this.  If you need a new tire, you know where to go.  Come see me at RNR and I (or one of my associates) will take care of you.  It’s never a fun thing to get stranded somewhere all alone with a flat tire, and honestly, sometimes it can be downright scary.  Take these instructions and practice changing a tire, so if you ever have to, you know you can.  Put a copy of this blog in your glove compartment or tool kit, and if that flat ever comes, you can take a breath and take care of yourself.
Still feeling unsure?  Then let's talk about roadside assistance. When you use RNR's Rent N Roll plan you get 12 months of Road Warrior Roadside Assistance for free (at participating dealers).  Do you need it?  You just might.  We'll talk about that next time!

Bree

Wearing Thin: How Abe Lincoln Can Save Your Life

My last two blogs have been all about tire pressure: how to check it  and why.  So, what’s next?  You have to be able to tell when you need new tires.  Ignore your tires, and at best, you’ll end up stranded somewhere with a flat, and at worst, you’ll end up in the hospital after one of your tires has blown.
Did you know that the N.H.T.S.A. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) estimates that nearly 400 fatalities every year are caused by tire failures?  Tires are designed to provide similar performance throughout their life, but at some point, that performance level drops and they need to be replaced.  Nothing lasts forever.  Here’s how you know if you’ve come to the end of the road, tire-wise:

Shake it, Shake it, Shake it, Girl
A little bit of vibration when you’re driving is unavoidable, but if you’re braking and feeling like you can skip the gym because your arms are getting a workout, you’ve got a problem.  Or how about when you’re driving down the highway and you can’t even reach to adjust the rearview because your steering wheel wants to pull you off the road?  That’s a problem; it could be that your alignment is off or your tires are unbalanced, but it could be other things as well, and guess what?  Most of those things are hurting your tires and wearing them out before their time.  Get the problem fixed!

Check It Before You Wreck It
If I’ve said this once, I’ve said it a hundred times.  Check your tires and see how they’re wearing in general.  If the alignment is off, they aren’t wearing evenly, and you need to find out how bad they’ve gotten.  Here’s a quick and easy way to test your tire tread:
Find a penny (the Abe Lincoln version), and stick it between the treads on your tires head down, if old Abe’s head is still peeking out at you, you need new tires.  You can also go out and buy a gauge to measure the tread depth, but in a pinch, put your pennies to work.  Abe is a bare-minimum test, girls, so don’t push your limits here.  The treads on your tires are what keep your car safely on the road and out of the trunk of the car in front of you.  Use the “Abe Lincoln Rule” mentioned above to check the depth of your tire tread, but be sure to check in several places and see how evenly your tires are wearing.  When you’ve reached that 1/16 mark, you’ve reached the end, ladies.  Start shopping.

Tread Wear Bars Are Not For Drinking
That brings us to treads and what you should be looking out for.  All tires sold in the US (and lots of other countries) have what are called “tread wear bars.”  You probably won’t see these little helpers when the tires are new, but as the tires begin to wear down they appear, like little bridges that run perpendicular to the direction of the treads on the tires.  When you start seeing 1 or 2 of these, consult Abe, but it may be time to check with a professional as well and see about getting some new tires.

Cracks and Grooves aren’t Groovy
All your tire problems don’t go back to the tread, although it may seem that way.  Keep an eye on the sidewalls of your tires as well (luckily, this isn’t too hard to do).  If you start seeing cracks or grooves in the sidewalls, get them checked out.  Cracks could lead to a leak in the tire or even a blow out.  This is not the blowout you pay your stylist for, sisters, this is you swerving like a madwoman to get control of your car when your tire blows out.  Got it?  Flat tires are bad, blow outs are worse.

The Battle of the Bulge is a Losing Battle
Sometimes when a tire begins to wear out, it might get a bulge or a blister.  If you see this, get some new tires pronto!  Here’s my favorite bulge/blister analogy:  If you went to the doctor and they noticed a bulge in a blood vessel, otherwise known as an aneurysm, what would happen?  You’d get your behind thrown in an ambulance and rushed to the hospital before you blew an artery, right?  Same thing with tires. Don’t play around with bulges and blisters—get them checked out and your tires replaced.

I know I keep saying and saying it—your tires are one of the most important safety features on your car—but it’s worth repeating.  Keep an eye on them, notice how they are wearing and where.  If you suspect a problem, but you’re not sure, there’s no shame in asking.  Check our RNR website  to find an RNR location near you and drive on in.  We’ll check out your problem and give you our best advice—that’s what we’re here for.  If you need a new set of tires and the thought of the bill chokes you a little, don’t sweat it.  We’ve got a plan for you, and we’ll get you back on the road—safely.
Talk Soon,

Bree

Tire Pressure: When Too Much In Not Enough and Too Little is Too Much

Last week, Lost in the Tire Department asked me to give her the short and dirty list of things every girl should know on the car-front, or as I call it, “The Top Five Things Every Girl Should Know to Save Her Own Butt (Tire Version).”
I went over how to check your tire pressure step by step, so if you need to refresh your memory, check it out.  This week, I’m going to tell you why maintaining the proper tire pressure is so important.  The first thing you should know about tires is that they are one of the most important safety features on your car, so maintaining them isn’t just important, it’s vital to you and your family.  Let your tire maintenance get away from you and you may be shelling out more hard-earned cash sooner than you want for a new set or you may end up injured (or worse) in an accident.
Tire pressure is the measure of the amount of air in a vehicle’s tires.  Pretty simple, right? Well, so is maintaining the correct pressure.  Each vehicle will have the recommended tire pressure listed in its manual or on the car itself.  The maximum pressure listed on the tire is not the recommended pressure, it’s the amount you shouldn’t go over, and there’s a big difference.  The reason you want your tires to be at the recommended level is that you want the best performance out of them and the longest life.  So, what happens when your tire pressure is too high or too low?

Your car with too much air in the tires...

If your tire pressure is too high, less of your tire will touch the ground or hold the road, and you’ll end up with a bumpier ride.  Now, your kids might enjoy the feeling of being on a roller coaster every day on the way to school, but it’s not safe for you, for them, or for your wardrobe.  Extra bumps mean extra spills, girls.  You know you stop every morning on the way into work for your Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, etc.  Keep that pressure too high in your tires and you’ll be wearing your coffee by the time you reach the office.  Even worse than your drying cleaning bill or extra laundry is the fact that when less of your tire meets the road, you have less traction and stopping distances suffer.  You’ll need more time to avoid that car in front of you that slammed on its brakes, but will you get it?  Not if your tire pressure is too high.

Now, if the pressure is too low, you’ve also got a problem. When the pressure in your tires is too low, more of the tire’s surface area is touching the ground and creating friction (and heat).  All that extra friction can make your tires wear out before their time and possibly overheat.  Do you know what happens when tires overheat?  The tread can separate and you can find yourself in a very nasty accident or stranded on the side of the Billy Graham Parkway in Charlotte because some divine force took pity on your stubborn behind and made you pull over to check that disturbance in your tire force before you killed someone else or yourself.  (Thank you, Billy Graham!)  What will you do if this happens to you and your highway is not so particularly blessed?  Let’s not find out.  Check your tire pressure!  One easy sign that your tire pressure may be too low is this:  When you turn a corner, your tires squeal.  That’s only cool in the movies, so check it before you wreck it.

Don’t just wait until you suspect a leak to check the pressure either.  Did you know that tire pressure changes with the temperature?  If the last time you checked your tires it was 85 degrees in July, and now it’s minus 10 in February (hello Minnesota!), then your tires could have lost a significant amount of pressure.  Here’s a little math fact for you: Tire pressure decreases by about 1 pound per square inch for every 10-degree drop in outside air temperature.  Get your calculator out if you need to, but check your pressure just to be safe.  As my grandmother would say, “Better safe than sorry, girl!”  Another option if you want to avoid a math problem is nitrogen.  A lot of folks are discovering the benefits of running nitrogen tire inflation. When you increase the nitrogen level in the tire above 95%, it runs cooler.  The molecules in nitrogen do not seep out of the tire the way oxygen molecules do, so the ultimate benefit is losing less air than normal and checking your pressure less often.  (P.S. Many people have reported slightly better fuel economy using nitrogen fill, too!)  Nitrogen needs its own post, actually, so keep your eyes on this column for all the scoop on nitrogen tire inflation!  It’s coming soon!

Next time, I’ll tell you how to figure out when to buy new tires.  In the meantime, if you have questions, run on into your local RNR.  They’ll answer every question you can come up with and tell you things you never even thought to ask.  Talk to you soon!

Bree

Top 5 Things Every Girl Should Know To Save Her Own Butt (Tire Version)

Dear Bree,
I’m about to send my daughter off to college out of state, and I’m making a list of things she should know—you know, everyday stuff to get by in the real world.  She’s taking a car with her, and here’s what I’ve come up with so far on that front:

How to check tire pressure

Never take the cap off the radiator when the car’s hot

How to change a tire

It’s pretty basic, huh?  So is my knowledge of anything car-related.  I have no idea how to do any of this--I don't even know what her tire pressure is supposed to be!! Or why it’s important!  I know flat and not flat, and I want to know more.  I want more my girl to know more.  Help me out Bree!  Give me the basic “What every girl should know about tires” list!

Lost in the Tire Dept
In Marion, IL


Dear Lost,
Sister, I know where you’re coming from on the flat and non-flat front.  Your list is a good start, but there’s more to know about taking care of your tires than tire pressure and changing a flat, and I’m going to tell you about all of them.  Once upon a time, Bree was just like you—more likely to call a man to change my tire than risk a good manicure.  But no more!  Let me tell you a story:

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful redhead named Bree.  She woke up late on a Saturday craving ice cream (she was young, it was college--you know, when you could still eat ice cream for breakfast and feel okay about it), so she jumped in her car, and ran over to the local Kash and Karry.  She grabbed two kinds of ice cream, just in case, and trotted back out to her car, ready to race home and relax.  What did she see when she got there?  She saw a flat tire--not quite a pancake but pretty close.  Bree hadn’t noticed it before because she hadn’t gone around to that side of the car, and she had a habit then of turning the radio up when she sensed a problem while driving.
What to do?  She hauled herself back into the Kash and Karry to call AAA, then went and sat beside her car and watched her ice cream melt while she waited.  Just then, a Kash and Karry cart collector walked by and said, “Hey, you got a flat?  Why don’t you call your boyfriend?”  Bree wasn’t born yesterday, she knew the answer he was looking for, so she said, “AAA is more reliable!”  And she meant it—and he moved on.  The moral of my rambling?  AAA is reliable but a girl ought to be able to rely on herself for more than dialing a phone.
So, let’s help your girl out.  I’ve got a very basic list that I like to call “The Top Five Things Every Girl Should Know to Save Her Own Butt (Tire Version)”.  Here goes:

1. How to check tire pressure.
Basic, yet important.  First, get a tire gauge.  You can get one at any automotive store; heck, you can probably find one at Target or Walmart, for all I know—just get one.  If you have no idea what one looks like, ask someone to help you.  Ignore the condescending smile they give you and take it home.  You and your daughter are going to know enough soon that you’ll be advising them.
Check the pressure when the tires are cold, that means before you go driving all over town.  Do it first thing in the morning or at least a half hour after the car’s been driven.  Now, you need to find the tire pressure level appropriate for your car.  Look in the owner’s manual or on the doorjamb of the driver’s door.  Don’t blindly follow the maximum tire pressure listed right on the tire—that’s the max, not the recommended pressure!  There’s a difference.  Then, find the valve (think about pumping up the tires on your childhood Schwinn—you know what to look for) and take off the cap (a word of advice, put the valve cap in your pocket—those little suckers have a nasty habit of disappearing).
Press the tire gauge onto the valve stem for a couple of seconds and then check the reading.  Don’t get freaked out by the little hiss of air that comes out when you check the pressure—totally normal.  Check the pressure a couple of times on each tire just to make sure you’re accurate.  Maybe only one tire looks low, but just be safe and check them all--and don’t forget to occasionally check the pressure on your spare.  It would not be good to get a flat and realize your spare is flat, too. If you think you’ll forget the pressure on each tire, write it down.  Checking your tire pressure is a pretty quick process.

Next time, I’ll tell you why it’s important to know how much air to put in your tires.  Problems happen when you over or under-fill tires and your daughter (and you!) need to know what they are.  Remember—next to brakes, tires are the most important safety device on your car.  You need to know how to take care of them and when to replace them, and I’m going to tell you.  In the meantime, check out our RNR Custom Wheels and Tires website or stop in to talk to one of our specialists--they'll help you with anything tire-related that you need to know! Talk to you soon!

Bree