How Long Will They Last: RNR Talks Tread Wear

Dear Bree,

A friend of mine was giving me tips on what to look for in my new tires, and he said I need to know something about tread.  All I know is that I need some.  What is he talking about?

Treading Water in Lakeland 

 

 

 

 

Dear Treading,

He could be a bit more specific, couldn’t he?  I think your vague friend is referring to the longevity of the tire based on tire tread, and how long your tires last comes down to several factors, like your driving habits, the weather and climate where you live, road conditions and the tire manufacturer’s tire longevity estimate. 

If you drive like a maniac, love to peel out and think breaks are for wimps (until you really have to stop), then your tires may not last as long as your grandmother’s new tires.  When you leave rubber on the road, it just makes sense that your tires will wear out faster, right?  If you live at the end of a road decorated with potholes or spend a lot of time winding around curvy roads, your tires will tend to wear out faster, too.

If you want some idea on how long a specific tire will last, you can check the tire manufacturer’s tire longevity estimate.  This is an estimate based on the testing conditions used by the manufacturer, and while it definitely gives you a jumping off point, the tests are not necessarily based on real-world conditions (like those potholes and curves we just talked about).  To get a better idea about how tires will wear in this case, take a look at the UTQG, the U.S. Department of Transportation's labeling system for the tread wear, temperature resistance and traction of each type of tire.  Here’s an example of how it works:  If you’re looking at a tire with a tread wear rating of 300, then it should last 3 times longer than a tire with a rating of 100.  Temperature ratings range from A to C, and traction ratings, from AA to C.  When you’re looking at longevity ratings between different tires within the same brands, these ratings are the most helpful.  The grading system between brands can be interpreted differently, so using the UTQG rating alone to determine the difference in longevity between tires of different brands may not be the best idea.

Generally speaking, the average tire life of an all-season tire is between 40,000 and 100,00 miles.  That’s a pretty big swing, but there are so many factors that come into play in determining a tire’s life, that our best advice is to do some research, read reviews, and talk to people in the know (like the guys at RNR!).  Tires are a big investment, and you want to get as much life out of them as possible, so put some time and thought into buying them. And don’t forget that RNR offers an easy rental plan to help you get back on the road without laying down a huge chunk of change right now.  Get the tires you need on a schedule you can afford.  Hope to see you soon!

Bree

RNR Custom Wheels and Tire Express Holds Steak and Beans Picnic

RNR Custom Wheels and Tire Express recently held a picnic to celebrate the winners of their Steak and Beans contest.  The contest was a six-week competition between stores, which were evenly divided and split into two teams, Team Fantastic and Team Awesome.  The picnic, which was held on September 15^th, 2013, at a remote lake house, brought both teams together; the winners, Team Awesome, were dining on a grade-A select steak, while the others were dished up a bowl of beans.  Everyone enjoyed the beautiful scenery and wildlife and was surprised later in the day when Steve Sutton, owner of an RNR store in Ocala, offered Team Fantastic a chance at redemption.  Steve created a game show-style competition where teams were pitted against one another to answer questions that tested their knowledge of all things RNR-related, like wheel fitments, bolt patterns, and a vast array of wheel and tire trivia.  Each team excelled, but in the end, Team Fantastic went home with the glory—and a sweet redemption. 

RNR enjoys bringing their franchisees and stores together, along with their families, for some   Randy Cabrera, Integrated Marketing Director, had this to say about the day, “The Steak and Beans picnic was a great time and the perfect opportunity to get all of our staff together to meet and mingle with each other and our families and children. Family is number 1 at RNR, and on September 15^th, we were one big family!”

recreation and fun, and the Steak and Beans picnic was the perfect opportunity to spend a day outside reconnecting with each other and relaxing.

 

 

 

RNR’s Mid-Year Conference to be Held in Atlanta

RNR Custom Wheels and Tire Express will hold their annual Mid-Year Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, September 11^th and 12^th, at the Renaissance Concourse Hotel Atlanta Airport.  The Mid-Year Conference is designed to give franchisees and operators an opportunity to come together and discuss concerns, share ideas, meet with vendors, discuss the successes and challenges of this past year, and plan promotions for the 1^st quarter of next year before the larger RNR Annual Conference to be held in late January in Tampa, FL.  Participants will spend their first day meeting with vendors, learning about new products and special RNR vendor packages, etc.  The second day will be spent in an open forum to allow franchisors and operators to discuss the upcoming January meeting, and/or pertinent concerns in the meantime.

The Mid-Year Conference is smaller than January’s Annual Meeting.  The Annual Conference tends to attract not only franchisees and operators, but managers, staff and even spouses.  Even so, at this year’s Mid-Year Conference, RNR is expecting to see at least one representative of almost every franchise, and they’re very excited about the turnout.  Vice President of Operations, Vince Ficarrotta, had this to say: “The Mid-Year Conference is important in our planning process.  It’s a great place to gather ideas for our Annual Conference in January, and it’s vital to planning our promotions for the first quarter of next year.  It really gives us a chance to hear from our franchisees about what’s working and give us their input as we move forward.”

 

Free-Wheelin’ It? Not When You’re Looking for New Wheels

A while back someone wrote in asking me to explain the  wheel “thing” to her.  She didn’t understand why her boyfriend wanted to spend money on such things, and I tried to explain the phenomenon to her using an analogy I thought she’d understand (she seemed like a shopper): shoes.  Think of wheels like shoes for your car.  After giving it a little thought, I wondered if maybe some people are curious about where they’d even start to shop for new wheels for their vehicle; I mean, if you wanted a new pair of shoes, you’d look for your size, shoes appropriate for the weather and occasion, etc.  So what do you need to know to pick out a new set of wheels:

1. 1.  Now, you wouldn’t go into a shoe store without knowing your size would you?  Yes, you might actually, and that’s okay because they can measure your feet and help you out.  If you know all of your specs (year, make, model and tire size) before you walk in the door, that’s great!  If you don’t, RNR can help—not to fret!

2.  What kind of wheel are you looking for?  Do you want to turn heads when you drive down the street or are you looking for a classy but understated step up from your original, factory wheel?  Want to add some color and sparkle?  Do you want something bigger and/or wider than your original rim or are you sticking with the same size?  Just what do you want the look of your vehicle to be with these new wheels?

 

3.  What material are you looking for?  Do you want shiny chrome (aluminum) or gold chrome (aluminum)?  Do you want black or another color of aluminum or are you looking at steel, which is stronger but not usually as flashy as some aluminum wheels?  Each kind has its own issues—some will need more polishing, some will chip more easily than others.  I suggest you choose your look, then start asking questions and doing your research.  If you’re not someone who wants to deal with a lot of maintenance, then you should know what it’s going to take to keep your beautiful new wheels looking beautiful.  If the wheels you wanted are more work than you’re interested in, then rethink your look or ask about alternatives.  Also, think about where you’ll be driving—out a long country road or suburban streets?  The places you go affect the condition of your wheels long term and the time and money involved in maintaining them.  Our guys at RNR know their wheels, and they can answer all of these questions.

 

4.  Know your bolt pattern.  I can almost hear you saying, “What?”  Your bolt pattern is the number of wheel studs you have and how far apart they are.  If you’re trying to buy online or maybe from a catalog, you’ve got to know this; if you come into RNR, we’ve got you covered.

 

These are your basic factors involved.  From here, it just comes down to personal taste.   If you’re a first-time buyer, we suggest you ask for help.  Come in and talk to us about your choices, make sure you’ve got all of the info you need so you get exactly what you want.  If you need to, we’ll set you up with a rental plan for your wheels, too.  We make buying wheels as easy and painless as possible at RNR.

Got more questions?   Drop me a line on our Facebook page or call or visit any of our stores!