Tips for Saving Money on Tires

Knowing when to replace your tires is an important part of being a car owner. Overall vehicle safety is affected by tires that are in bad condition. But everyone knows that replacing tires is expensive, and is not always a task that can be done with ease financially.

This article from AOL Autos gives drivers tips on how they can save some green when it comes time to replace your tires. Now you'll have a safe car and your wallet won't be empty.

1. Determine if it's time for replacement 

To determine whether you even need new tires, do some simple checks on your current set. First, take a penny and place the edge into the groove of each tire. Insert the edge of the penny into the tread upside down, with the top of good ol' Honest Abe's noggin going in first. If the top of Lincoln's head is covered by tread, that means you still have an acceptable and safe amount of tread. Do this test at various points around the perimeter of the tire. If the top of Lincoln's head is visible at any point around the tire, it's time to go tire shopping. You can see an example of how to do this test here. 

Check to make sure the edges of the tires don't show excessive wear, and that the tire pressure is correct. Your owner's manual should have the recommended tire pressure, and most gas stations have an air compressor with a tire gauge in the event that you need to fill them. 

2. Don't replace all four tires unless unless absolutely necessary 

The front tires of a car will often wear out faster than the rear tires. This is especially true if you don't often rotate the tires during your vehicle's life. If your local tire shop insists that you need a new set, inquire about the condition of the rear tires before agreeing to the whole thing. Replacing four tires costs twice as much, and your rear pair could still have thousands of miles of life left. 

If you do buy two tires instead of four, it's better to put the new tires on the back, rotating the older ones to the front position. The newer tires will help the car remain stable if you need to swerve out of an emergency situation. Do not buy one tire at a time. If a single tire is damaged, always get another new one for the other side of the car. 

3. Big brands are not always the best value 

Most people can name two or three tire brands from advertisements and marketing campaigns. The big brands typically produce quality tires, but there are many lesser-known brands that are just as good. The lesser-known brands can save over 50 percent compared with the name brands, and can deliver the same tire life and level of comfort.
You can get recommendations on different brands from a site like Tire Rack. 

4. Get an alignment 

Getting an alignment every time you install new tires is crucial to extending the life of the tires. When your wheels are properly aligned, the tires will wear evenly as they were designed to do. If you install new tires and you wheels are out of alignment, the uneven wear can cause you to need a new set of tires prematurely.

Click the link to read the full article from AOL Autos: http://aol.it/1l1760F

In-Car Entertainment is Going Global

Remember when you were a kid and family road trips consisted of "I Spy Games", singing, and asking "Are we there yet?" to pass the time. That's not the case for families these days. According to Kicking Tires many traveling families now rely on mobile devices to keep children, as well as adults occupied on long trips.

A new online survey by research firm Harris Interactive on behalf the manufacturers of the Scout GPS personal navigator polled 2,044 adults last month and found that personal electronics now overwhelmingly dominate in passing the doldrums of family holiday car travel. Only 27 percent of parents said old-school-style games and sing-alongs helped fill the hours on their trips. The most popular distraction for kids is video games, with 54 percent of parents saying so — including 36 percent of parents with kids age 2 or younger, and 62 percent with kids ages 3 to 5. Meanwhile, 46 percent say their youngsters watch movies, and 30 percent say they text or access the internet on mobile devices. 

But the kids aren't the only ones with their noses in their smartphones and tablets. Researchers report that 62 percent of adults who own mobile devices check email during holiday road trips (13 percent say they check "constantly," defined as every 10 minutes). Moreover, 72 percent of respondents say they're using their mobile devices to take road-trip photos or videos — one-third, constantly — while 41 percent report posting or uploading photos to social-media sites like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter while in the car. Nearly a quarter post three to 10 photos on the road, while 3 percent admit to "oversharing."

When listening to music on the move, 27 percent said they favored songs downloaded onto a mobile device, 18 percent preferred streaming music services such as Pandora and Spotify via mobile device, and 18 percent opt for satellite radio. Still, more traditional choices remain highly popular, including AM/FM radio (69 percent) and CDs (39 percent).
In addition to the way we keep ourselves entertained, GPS navigation also has revolutionized how holiday road-trippers find their way. How much have things changed? Remember stopping at the gas station to ask for directions? In 2013, 10 percent of people say they've never in their life stopped for directions — and that percentage doubles for 18- to 34-year-olds.

Click the link to read the full article from Kicking Tires: http://bit.ly/Jt3YNg

What to Do in a Fender Bender

Nobody wants to get into a car accident. But sometimes fender benders happen. How you handle the situation afterwards can affect your personal health, how your insurance carrier will handle the incident, and the overall outcome of the accident.

There are a few general things to consider doing after a car accident. This article from Cars.com lists the steps you should take to ensure that all parties involved in a fender bender are taken care of physically, legally, and emotionally.

1. Think safety first.
It's a given to think safety in a more serious crash, but the after affects of fender-benders can be dangerous too. While in many states, the law requires you to stop after a collision, it's important to pull out of any driving lanes, even if the traffic behind you is stopped. This is to avoid a secondary collision, as well as to not impede traffic flow. 

If you are the front car in a collision, motion to the other driver and have him follow you to the closest spot where there's room for both of you to pull over safely. If you are parked in the breakdown lane, be sure to stay as far away from moving cars as possible as you exchange information and assess damage. 

If you can't move your car out of traffic, stay in the car with your seat belt buckled and call 911. No matter where you are stopped, turn your hazard lights on or put out flares or an emergency triangle if it's safe to do so. 

2. Check for injuries. 
Even in a relatively minor collision, people can be hurt. First, look at yourself, in a mirror if possible. While your adrenaline will be flowing hard, stop and think about if any part of your body hurts or if you are dizzy, short of breath or have other symptoms of an injury. Once you decide you are okay, ask the others involved if they are hurt. If anyone is injured or even seems like they might be, call 911. Unless you have first aid training, don't move anyone who is injured unless they are at risk of further injuries because of their location. 

3. Consider calling the police.
In many states, if no one is hurt, the cars involved are not blocking traffic and damage is under $1000, reporting the accident to the police is not required (New York and Massachusetts are two such places), but you may choose to make the call if you want a police report taken. If you think getting a report of the accident would be helpful in establishing fault or because you suspect fraud, then certainly make the call to request police assistance. 

Sometimes, especially in cities where officers are busy responding to calls of injuries and lawbreakers, the police may not respond to this request for a minor accident. Even if they don't respond, you may be required to file a report yourself, if anyone is hurt or if the damage exceeds a certain amount. Check with your local police, Department of Motor Vehicles or insurance company to find out. Keep in mind though, that in many states, if a police report is filed, your insurance company will be notified of the accident, which could derail you if you have plans to keep the accident quiet, though not reporting it is illegal in many states. 

4. Look for eyewitnesses. 
Noting any eyewitnesses to the collision is a smart move, especially if there's any question of fault in the collision. Go to the eyewitnesses as quickly as possible to get the full name, street address and day and evening phone numbers for each witness. Even if no police report is taken, you can provide this info to your insurance company. 

5. Make a plan if your car is being towed.
If the damage to your car is severe enough that it needs to be towed, take a few minutes to make a plan your next steps. Where do you want the car to be towed? Having it delivered to a dealer, mechanic or body shop you trust is ideal, even if you need to pay a bit because it's being towed further away. If you car is taken to the towing company's yard or other nearby location and you'll want it to go somewhere else later, you could end up paying for a second tow. 

If your car is being towed, make sure to get all of your personal belongings out of it first. If these items are stolen, they won't be covered under your auto insurance, plus they may be things you need later. 

6. Make notes.
In addition to the contact info of any eyewitnesses, take a moment to jot down the time of day as well as the street or highway where the collision occurred and the nearest cross-street or exit -- your insurance company will ask you for these details. It's also a good idea to note the road conditions, the weather, the speed limit sign, traffic signals and accident results, such as skid marks, since your insurance company may ask that information as well. 

7. Take pictures.
If you have a camera, even in a cell-phone, take pictures of the damage (or lack of it) of all the cars involved, as well as any pictures that can help the insurance company understand how the accident occurred and possibly determine fault or fraud. If possible, photograph each car by standing at an angle from each wheel, so one side and either the front or rear of the car is visible in the frame. Take close-up pictures of any vehicle damage (from this accident or not) and, if appropriate, of any people involved. You might also want to photograph the items you took notes on. 

8. Double check the other party's information.
Everyone knows to exchange information, but do so by writing down the info yourself by copying it from the person's driver's license and insurance card versus having them write it down for you. As you copy the info, ask if this is the person's current address and also compare the vehicle description, including the VIN, from the insurance card to the car itself. Make note of any discrepancies. 

9. Call your insurance company. 
Even in a fender bender with minimal damage, you are going to want to call your insurance company (and, in some states, you may be required to do so). Repair costs for even a new bumper and taillight can easily exceed a low deductible, and even seemingly minor damage to a car's exterior can reveal underlying damage once a body shop looks at the car more carefully. Be very cautious if you opt to try to handle the repair costs between the parties involved, check your state laws on this and decide in advance how to handle it if your car repair costs go up if they find more extensive damage once they have your car apart or if a person decides they are injured later. 

10. Consider visiting a doctor.
Even if you are not seriously hurt, it may be wise to see a doctor within the day or so after the crash. Soreness and stiffness can be signs of a more serious injury and if they are, it should be diagnosed and treated promptly. While it's not right to take advantage of the system, it is appropriate to ensure that any medical issues that are a result of the accident are taken care of by the at-fault party. You don't want to wait until months later to discover the lingering problem you have is a result of the car accident.

Click the link to read the full article from Kicking TIres: http://aol.it/1lHbFkx

Drowsy Driving

Did you know that 1 in 24 people admit to nodding off recently behind the wheel? And that's only the people that admit it. Health officials believe the number may be much higher. That means the driver next to you on the highway might be sleeping! That's a scary thought.

This article from Cars.com explores drowsy driving and how drivers can combat it.

This could give you nightmares: 1 in 24 U.S. adults say they recently fell asleep while driving. 

And health officials behind the study think the number is probably higher. That's because some people don't realize it when they nod off for a second or two behind the wheel.
"If I'm on the road, I'd be a little worried about the other drivers," said the study's lead author, Anne Wheaton of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

In the CDC study released Thursday, about 4 percent of U.S. adults said they nodded off or fell asleep at least once while driving in the previous month. Some earlier studies reached a similar conclusion, but the CDC telephone survey of 147,000 adults was far larger. It was conducted in 19 states and the District of Columbia in 2009 and 2010.
CDC researchers found drowsy driving was more common in men, people ages 25 to 34, those who averaged less than six hours of sleep each night, and - for some unexplained reason - Texans. 

Wheaton said it's possible the Texas survey sample included larger numbers of sleep-deprived young adults or apnea-suffering overweight people. 

Most of the CDC findings are not surprising to those who study this problem.
"A lot of people are getting insufficient sleep," said Dr. Gregory Belenky, director of Washington State University's Sleep and Performance Research Center in Spokane.
The government estimates that about 3 percent of fataltraffic crashes involve drowsy drivers, but other estimates have put that number as high as 33 percent. 

Warning signs of drowsy driving: Feeling very tired, not remembering the last mile or two, or drifting onto rumble strips on the side of the road. That signals a driver should get off the road and rest, Wheaton said.

Even a brief moment nodding off can be extremely dangerous, she noted. At 60 mph, a single second translates to speeding along for 88 feet - the length of two school buses.
To prevent drowsy driving, health officials recommend getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, treating any sleep disorders and not drinking alcohol before getting behind the wheel.

Click the link to read the full article from Cars.com: http://aol.it/1eewsb9