Tires are not completely round. Where they meet the road there should be a flat centre which is the point at which the power of your engine is transferred into the road. If your flat centre is too large, because the tire is under inflated, then the tire will have more grip on the road. As the tire begins to rotate, it will undulate between stretching to cover the flat area touching the road and shrinking back to the rounded shape of the rest of the tire. This continuous change in pressure will cause the tire to heat up and will lead to a blow-out after a long enough period of time.

Tire pressure is also affected by the load in the vehicle. If you take on extra passengers, attach a trailer, or add another weight then the effect on your tire pressure will be detrimental to your fuel consumption and tire wear. Over or under inflation will also lead to irregular wear on your tires.

Here is how to check the pressure and make sure your tires are properly inflated:

1. Park your car near anair compressor. Every petrol station should have a tire pump to enable you to adjust the pressure in your tires. Park close enough to reach all four tires with the hose and allow space for yourself to move freely between the pump and your car.
2. Discern the recommended tire pressure for your car. This information should be written on the driver’s door jamb, the engine bay, the glove box, and the user manual. Note that the pressure written on the tire itself is a maximum inflation PSI, not a recommended pressure for your vehicle.
3. Remove the valve caps from your tires and place them all in a safe place so that you can replace them later.
4. Place the pressure gauge on each of the tire valves. If you hear air escaping then you need to push harder to get an accurate measurement. Make a note of all of the pressures as you take these readings.
5. Inflate tires to the specified level by applying the compressor head to the valve and opening the lever. When filling tires it is important to do so in small stages and to keep rechecking the pressure so that you do not over inflate them.
6. If you do over inflate the tire at any point then you can deflate it by pressing on the centre prong of the valve. Most gauges will have a point built in to do this with, but failing this a door key will suffice.
7. Replace the valve caps when the tires are at the correct pressure.

Remember to check tire pressure before any long journey and whenever adding an unusual load to the vehicle. Tire pressure is a crucial element of car maintenance which becomes very costly if neglected.

Author Bio: Tom Mallet is an Australian freelance writer and journalist. He writes extensively in Australia, Canada, Europe, and the US. He’s published more than 500 articles about various topics, including Bearing.

A road trip, where you can have complete flexibility over those who come with you on your journey, the places you’ll visit and how long you stay, is a fantastic option. Particularly if you use a rental car service that will allow you to drop the vehicle off at your last destination, rather than worrying about driving it all the way back again!

Before you set off however, make sure that road tripping really is the right method for you. Here are some pros and cons to consider:

PRO: Great Flexibility.

Have you ever arrived off the plane somewhere, excited to head out and explore, only to discover there isn’t all that much happening in the town you (mistakenly) thought was going to be the dream holiday destination?

Well, if you have chosen to drive everywhere, you can be as flexible as you please over how long you spend in each place – maybe it’s one night, maybe it’s 3 weeks – it’s all up to you, because you don’t have to worry about changing flights or train tickets at the last minute, or waiting for the rest of your tour group to come to the same conclusion.

CON: Not the Fastest Option.

If you only really have one or two major destinations in mind for your travels, driving will probably be an unnecessarily long method of transportation.

Furthermore, depending on the climate and driving conditions, you could find your journey very slow because of traffic, expensive due to parking rates, and possibly even slightly dangerous because of unforeseen road hazards (make sure you have travel and car insurance so you are covered for such hazards!).

PRO: Complete Control.

If you choose a route that is easily navigated and set off with great traveling companions, then the extra traveling hours that it will take to get from place to place will be worth it:

You can stop wherever you choose, play music as loud as you wish, and take turns driving so that you all can have an opportunity to stare out the window and take photos of the beautiful countryside.

CON: Cabin Fever/Motion Sickness.

If you don’t have a car with decent air conditioning or heating, and the routes you’ve chosen aren’t particularly beautiful or convenient, then you’ll soon find yourself regretting having set out on this “drive of your life.”

Counter this by making sure you aren’t the only one driving, and booking night’s accommodation and planning rests frequently along the way. The last thing you want is to have to spend all your time inside the car, driving, rather than relaxing or exploring.  You’d be too exhausted to enjoy your end destination!

PRO: Trip of a Lifetime.

If you love driving, if you have great traveling companions, and a considerable amount of time up your sleeve, then there could be no better way to explore.

Wherever you choose to drive, your road trip will mean you discover towns and beauty away from the typical tourist tracks, will mean you can take as much time as you need, and will be a journey you can talk about with friends and family for years and years.

Author Bio:- Tom Mallet is an Australian freelance writer and journalist. He writes extensively in Australia, Canada, Europe, and the US. He’s published more than 500 articles about various topics including car service.

There are some key points to keeping your tyres in good condition and in the process making sure they last for as long as possible. Not only does this ensure safe motoring, but it also saves you money in the long run.

Tyre Pressure: Incorrect tyre pressure is what causes most wear on tyres. It is important to check your vehicle manufacturer’s handbook, which will give pressure ratings depending on whether it is just you, passengers or a big load in the car. Also check the recommended pressure on the sidewall of the tyre itself. It’s a good idea to have a tyre pressure gauge handy at all times so if the tyre is getting a little low, add some air.

Use The Correct Tyre: Your car will have guidelines for the types of tyres that best suit it. Don’t ignore this because the wrong rubber can have an influence on ride and fuel economy. A tyre expert can provide you with the best advice when it comes to tyres, but if you are considering something different because of looks or performance, always make sure it complies with your vehicle. Also, when getting car insurance quotes for your vehicle, make sure any modifications such as tyres won’t affect your policy.

Check Your Tyre Regularly: This is no more important than when heading off on a long trip. Check your tyre for wear (the minimum legal tread depth is 1.6mm), any nicks or cuts or foreign objects, such as nails and screws, that may be embedded in the rubber. All of these have the potential of causing a blowout, and that’s a pretty scary thing to happen when cruising down the highway at 100kph.

Alignment: Another major cause of tyre wear is the incorrect alignment of your front wheels. The tell-tale sign of bad alignment is irregular wear on the inside or outside of the front tyres, and a pulling sensation to one side while driving. A tyre expert will be able to tell if your tyres need an alignment, but prevention is always the best medicine so it’s worth having your car checked every six months.

Don’t Neglect The Spare: It’s there to be used in times of emergency, but quite often the spare tyre can be in worse condition than the driving wheel it needs to replace. Maintain your spare tyre as if it were already on your car – check the pressure, its tread and for any cuts or holes regularly, even if you haven’t used it. The last thing you want is to get a flat, only to find you are stuck because the spare tyre hasn’t got any air in it.

Author Bio: Tom Mallet is an Australian freelance writer and journalist. He writes extensively in Australia, Canada, Europe, and the US. He’s published more than 500 articles about various topics, including car insurance and car service in Sydney.

What’s next? The fully automated cars like those in the movies?

As technology becomes more advanced there are more things that can go wrong with it. Some of the advances are expected to be available across all car ranges within 10 years and they are somewhat exceptional. This could see people selling their cars and buying newer ones with more technology in them. The new technology includes:

Active Safety Systems

These systems include radars and cameras that watch for dangers ahead. They anticipate any upcoming hazards and either intervene or warn the driver of the hazard. Some cars are already available with such devices on them. In the future there may also be the technology for the vehicle to contact the emergency services in the case of a driver being incapacitated.

Keyless Entry
Keyless entry into cars has already been implemented on many models such as the Renault Laguna and Megane. This technology will become standard as the credit card keys will replace car keys. There are also systems out on the market that allow the car to start as long as the key is somewhere in the vehicle. This will stop you fumbling around in your pockets or handbags for your keys.

Navigation Systems

Although these are already in most newer vehicles they will become more sophisticated. Eventually they will have the capability to connect to PDA’s, mobile phones and other devices. These on board navigation devices will be the running of the car eventually.

Enhanced Data Collection

This technology will give vehicles the capability to collect data. This data can then be shared with service personnel and will enable them to perform remote diagnostics, kind of like a remote dial in on your network PC. This may also help troubleshoot for a broken down motorist which could help the recovery services.

Cameras

Cameras are already widespread but they will become even more sophisticated. They will aid in the detection of blind spots. Many cars already have this technology at the front and rear of the vehicle to help see things from a different perspective when parking.

Drive by Wire

This means that the vehicle will not have a physical connection from the brake and accelerate pedals to the engine. Instead the drive by wire system will send an electronic signal to the engine; this could help to protect the cabin more. Eventually the handbrake will also be replaced by electronic controls too, although some newer vehicles like the VW Passat already have the push button hand brake.

Basically, the enhancements that are being worked through by car manufacturers will inevitably make the roads a safer place to be. So will people start to sell their cars and become more upto date with the technology, hopefully saving many lives in the process.

So can all this technology really be a bad thing?

• Hummer limo – This massive monster is perhaps one of the most common kinds of limo seen on roads today. Pretty unattractive if you ask me (but good if you want to make a statement), its passengers are generally assumed to be compensating for something. Witnessing a pink Hummer limo is like seeing a beefy bodybuilder in a pretty dress; it just doesn’t fit.

• Mini limo – This kind of defeats the point of a Mini. The old version is hardly going to provide its passengers with a particularly luxurious exterior, while the new one is still going to end up pretty cramped (if long). Whether it’s a Mini Cooper or one of the classic models, Minis should stay mini!

• Police limo – For all those occasions when you want to pick up crooks in style. Having a giant police car is probably not the best of ideas if you plan on being effective in a cross-city chase, but if you’re finally bringing in that big mob boss then perhaps picking them up in a limo will save you from a horse’s head in your bed the next day.

• Monster truck limo – Also known as a redneck limo, this beast is certainly far from subtle (indeed, it makes the Hummer limo look positively petite). Essentially an extended pickup truck on enormous wheels (or, in the case of this picture, the shell of a rather unfortunate limousine), a graceful entrance and exit is pretty much out of the question with this limo. You’ll definitely need some gap insurance for this baby.

• Now you’re just getting silly… – This is apparently the world’s longest limo… but why? What’s the point? It’s hard enough driving a normal limo (you even need a special licence), but attempting to drive one that is effectively two and a half limos stuck together? Madness. The only real thing that it has going for it is the number of people it can carry.

My advice? Just get a normal car via personal car leasing!