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Archive for the ‘Accessories’ Category
Tue, September 9, 2008 12:35 pm By James Coolridge  Printer friendly version
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 Car rims also generally carry the name wheel rims. The different types of rims are spinning rims, chrome rimes, truck rims, American racing rims or custom rims. These rims do differ in design, price, size, weight and mounting options. The lighter the rims are in weight, the overall road performance of the vehicle gets improved.
Car rims are vital parts for the handling and performance of the vehicle. The wheel styles range from regular 5 spoke alloy wheels and wire wheels to the latest chrome spinning wheels. Many car owners try custom designed rims which enhances the look of a vehicle and lends it a bit of exclusivity.
Earlier car models used to carry steel rims. They were too heavy, adding unnecessary weight to the car, reducing the performance. Modern rims are more sleek and aerodynamic. Alloy wheels are a good choice for city commuting and are most common in the mainstream market. These wheels are light, dissipate heat rapidly and results in improved mileage.
Chrome wheel rims are generally popular among the car users due to their shiny exterior. Many other types of alloy rims have been introduced in the last decade. Custom alloy rims include magnesium rims that are x-rayed and heat tempered to ensure that they look good and are durable.
The size of the rim gets increased with the size of the car. Smaller cars carry rims that are 13 inches in diameter. Larger vehicles carry rims that can go up to 27 inches and beyond. Rear wheel drives vehicles typically need rims 2 inches larger in diameter than front wheel drive vehicles.
Increasing the size of the rim enhances the look, as well as the performance of the vehicle. “Plus sizing” is a term that refers to increasing the size of the car rim in proportion to the wheel. Plus sizing helps the driver in giving a better steering response and the ability to handle corners more efficiently. A larger surface area of the wheel arrives in contact with the road when the size of the rim is increased.
One of the latest trends today is car rims that carry spinners. These rims cause an optical illusion. The wheel seems as though it is still spinning when a vehicle is stationary. These wheels are designed to attract an onlooker’s attention. They don’t have any specific utility value, but are popular nonetheless.
Tags: Cars, mileage, tyre, car rim, alloy, chrome wheel, magnesium, x-ray
Fri, August 8, 2008 9:09 am By James Coolridge
 Are you a car owner? Worried about the way your car looks? Concerned over the interiors? Then no doubt, this article is meant for you.
Car seat covers are essential accessories that make the interiors of cars attractive and fascinating. It protects car seats from undesirable external and internal elements. A car seat cover not only protects a car seat, but also helps in retaining the new look of the vehicle. They are made out of foam and padded upholstery fabrics.
Car seat covers are available in two types - hand sewn seat covers and factory made seat covers. Just take care to choose the seat cover that fits almost any make and model. Most companies generally use durable upholstery style fabrics. Seat covers will have to be cut tight and pulled very taunt to fit, as it does not wrinkle when someone sits on it for the first time.
They are available in standard universal sizes designed to suit different purposes as well as custom patterns for most vehicles. Custom-made covers are tailored exactly according to a car’s measurements, while universal sizes are made taking into account certain standard measurements to suit almost all car types. People prefer custom-made car covers as it ensures better protection.Universal car seat covers fit a wide range of seats without modifications. It includes high back bucket seats or low back bucket seats.
The materials commonly used by car cover companies to make car sear covers are Noah Barrier Fabric, Weather Shield, Polycotton, Tan Flannel, Evolution Technalon, Sunbrella, Dustop, Soft Weave, Plush weave, and others. Noah Barrier Fabric and Weather Shield work great in both indoor and outdoor conditions, but Tan Flannel are best for indoors only. Dustop is believed to be extremely suitable for indoor uses, as it ensure excellent protection against dust and other particles. Storm weave suits all kinds of climatic conditions, including snow, rain, dew or industrial pollutants.
Popular car cover brands are CoverCraft, Auto Anything, Coverking, Lebra, Mopar, Bestop, and SmittyBilt among others. Most of the aforementioned brands assures guarantee ranging from a few months to a lifetime.
Well, now we think things are more clear to you. Just go in for the seat cover that you find is suitable for your car. Its now time to make the car interiors look fabulous and give them a real makeover!
Tags: Car, vehicle, seat cars, car interior, upholstery, factory, technalon
Sun, July 20, 2008 12:09 pm By James Coolridge
 The new cars have very long lives, and often are capable of running well past 100,000 miles. It is expected to last for 10 years. If you didn’t take care of the painting, or do not get garaged frequently, the paint will eventually develop”sunburn”. This will make it look old. Just to make your car look years younger it would be better to paint it from time. There are available a number of professional shops that will ensure a good paint job. Just try this to make you favorite vehicle look simply stunning.
Believe me; painting the car is not at all a hard task. Especially if you have replaced a bumper or other part of the car without damage to the rest of the car, doing a home paint job is a nice option. Painting the car can be done quite easily, as long as you have the proper materials. Never rush with the painting.
There exist three basic steps of painting. They are to remove the old finish, mask off the parts that should not be covered by paint, and then paint the car. The car will have at least two coats, the primer coat and then the finish coat. But in many cases they also may have a third coat called a clear coat. It is a glossy finish that is meant to protect the color coat.
Always take care to use a spray applicator to paint the car, because using a brush does not make a smooth enough surface for a car. It is possible to take on rent the compressors or bought which could be used to apply the paint. Auto paint also is available in compressed air cans. This can also be used, but there is a limit for the range of colors. Never forget to wear a respirator while painting the car as it will save you from breathing in the paint fumes as you are painting the car.
Tags: Car, paint, Car Painting, spray applicator, respirator, sunburn
Thu, July 17, 2008 1:29 pm By James Coolridge
 Driving a car is not an easy and simple task. You may drive like a saint, but what if the tires are not in good condition? If your part worn tires have not hit every kerb and been speed testing on the local car park gravel, then you are in danger. How do you know if you are safe? How do you know what you are getting, will the part worn tire be safe at high speed or in the wet? Just read out these tried and tested guidelines that will help you in making a decision. Always take into account your safety while driving.
While purchasing a used tire, the first thing that must be considered is aquaplaning. Always take care about a good grip. If any lapse on this part is done, then remember at a particular speed, the vehicle can lose control. Always take care to avoid mishaps.
The more tread you have it will be better for the tire. The patterns of used tyre are designed to clear water from the road surface so that it can make good contact with the road. The deeper the tread, it could clear more water from the road making the journey safe. Aquaplaning happens when a level of water gets build up between the road surface and the tire. This may prevent brakes and steering from working. If this happens, the anti brake system (ABS) and electronics will be of no use causing accident.
A part worn tire, with a not so deep thread will have less grip in nasty wet conditions which is simply lethal. All tires must wear indicators which are little raised areas between the tread.
The damaged tires may even come apart which will lead to accidents while you are on driving seat Beware, avoid risks to save your life.
Tags: Cars, Safety, accident, driving, tires, brakes, wheels, used tires, aquaplaning, steering
Sat, July 5, 2008 1:04 pm By James Coolridge
Motorized outdoor toys and lawn equipments often need occasional charging. Most of these equipments do not have an on board generator. In such situations, a portable car battery charger can act as a great tool to have. Here are the reasons why a portable car battery charger is an essential tool to carry with your car.
• Portable: You can take your portable car battery charger anywhere ‘coz they don’t occupy much space. All you need is a power source (an AC outlet) for your battery charger to start using it.
• Smaller: Portable car battery chargers have become smaller. They are small enough to fit into your toolbox.
• Cheaper: The marvellous lighter and smaller portable car battery charger is cheaper to produce; therefore, they manufacturers sell their battery chargers in lower prices. You can get a quality portable car battery charger just for $100 or even less! Best bargains can be found in the popular online shopping websites.
• Extends life of your battery: The newer portable car battery chargers can extend the life of your battery without potentially destroying your battery by preventing the boiling out of the electrolyte.
• Keeps your motorized toys ready: Portable car battery charger keeps your motorized toys always ready to use.
Tags: cost, cheap, recreational, toys, portable
Thu, July 3, 2008 7:00 am By James Coolridge
 Off the road spare parts are essential auto parts required to equip your rid on rugged terrain properly. Here is a check list of the most important off the road auto spare parts.
Lift kits:
Suspension lift kits are used for two purposes- height clearance and articulation. Lift kit is used to lift your car a few inches off the ground in order to provide the required height clearance. This enables all-round traction and gives you more room to clear obstacles. Articulation is the amount of allowed up and down wheel travel ability. More articulation gives way to more flex in the wheels when crawling over obstacles.
Winches:
Winches are very important off road auto parts that you should not forget to purchase. A winch is the life preserver for your vehicle. This is perhaps the best gear in the world that your ride could be equipped with.
Lockers:
Lockers are the biggest traction upgrade that you must invest in. Lockers offer unbelievable traction, and can be hauled on the fly to hold different situations and environments.
Protective Equipment:
Your auto parts may get a little banged up along the terrain. This damage can be mitigated using protective accessories. These protective accessories include skid plates, front and rear bumpers, sport cages, fender flares and other off road auto parts that can be used to protect your rig.
Other premium off road auto parts:
Performance-grade battery and a dazzling set of chrome wheels are other premium off road auto parts that can help you customize your rig.
Tags: auto, tires, Spare, parts, lift kits, winches, lockers
Mon, June 30, 2008 12:58 pm By James Coolridge
 Number plates are not new to the automobile industry. The use of number plates kick-started in late 1600’s when automobiles required a license for hire. According to Hackney Carriage Act of 1861, the stagecoaches had to be correctly numbered using number plates.
In early 20th century, the automobiles started to appear on the roads of Britain with number plates. In 1903, the government introduced the Motor Car Act of 1903 according to which every car owner was required to display a car number plate. It was on 1st of January, 1904, when the government declared that every motor vehicle on British roads required a registration. Local council assigned their own code. Initially, single letters were used. This was replaced with double-letter combinations.
Old numbering system for vehicles began to decline with the gradual increase in the number of cars. The three letters and three numbers system was introduced in 1932 and after the Second World War, this was replaced with three numbers and then three letters number system. These number plates picked up popularity. The price range of these number plates then started ranging from hundreds to several thousand, depending upon the letter/number combination.
An entirely new number plate system was introduced in 1963 with the allocation of a letter for each plate. This letter denoted the year of registration. For instance, ‘A’ stands for the year of registration in the number plate DWS 165 A.
Personalized number plates with special numbers or car model numbers soon gained popularity.
Tags: registration number, personalized, number plates
Fri, June 20, 2008 8:15 am By James Coolridge
Winter driving vould be wuite risky especially driving during snowfall or drizzle. Acclimitizing you car according to the safety standard is important; bot for you and for other cars on road. Here we are first going to talk about the foremost important thing- brakes.
Antilock brakes are manufactured by all leading car companies in order to assist us during winters or other kinds of unsafe driving conditions. Watch the video and don’t leave home without following the instructions, during the winters.
Tags: driving, winter, Antilock, brakes, hydraulic, computer, censors
Fri, June 20, 2008 4:41 am By Eric Sporer
 Seat belts are safety features of a vehicle that reduce the chances of getting injured in accidents. Hence, the proper functioning of seat belts becomes crucial. A major head injury can be avoided by wearing seatbelts, negligence of which results in death due to the severe head injury. Here are some features of a malfunctioning seat belt which should not be ignored.
Retractor failure: The retractor mechanism of seat belt locks during an accident which in turn keeps the seat belt from feeding out. If this mechanism fails to function, slacks are created in the belt which leads to malfunctioning of the seat belt, ultimately leading to severe injuries.
Protruding release button: Under normal driving conditions, a release button that sticks out from the buckle can be easily pressed by just giving a gentle bump. If this is the case, then the passengers should know that they are no longer protected and it is high time that the seat belts are replaced.
Defects in the design: Some seat belts work in an unsafe manner due to their mere design. Such seat belts should be immediately replaced because they are not safe.
Automatic belts: Many cars are now equipped with automatic seat belts. These seat belts automatically move into place the moment you get in and close the door. This is to make sure that you are wearing seat belts. However, automatic belts come with a shoulder strap without a lap belt. This makes the automatic seat belts dangerous. Moreover, the door belts can cause ejection from the car if the door comes open during a crash.
Tags: Safety, road, accident, Seat, belts, traffic
Mon, June 2, 2008 8:39 am By James Coolridge
 Horsepower, torque and zero-to-60 acceleration are generally related to a car’s performance. But, you may not know the fact that the suspension system and suspension bushes are also vital in deciding a car’s performance. Since it is hard to imagine the roads perfectly flat, without any ups and downs, the role of suspension bushes and suspension system has become even more important. Since the roads are far from flat, excessive force is applied to the wheels of your car which is bad for the overall performance of your vehicle. Here comes the need of suspension bushes, which are utilized to avoid the abnormal friction between the road and your car. Let us know more about these vital car parts.
The important function of suspension bushes is to maximize the normal friction between all the tires of your car and the surface of the road. The system ensures good steering stability, handing and increases the degree of comfort of the driver as well as the co-passengers. In addition to this, they act as noise and vibration absorbing barrier between your vehicle and the road. Hence, the suspension bushes are vital to increase the life of your vehicle.
Moreover, the speed is maintained for a long period of time due to these suspension bushes as your car experiences much lesser friction. You can find polyurethane suspension bushes which are widely used as they are a combination of high tensile strength and elasticity. This unique combination ensures immense durability even in the toughest conditions. They absorb the shock and prevent dirt ingress and wear.
Tags: Suspension, bushes, quality, system
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