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How long do tires last? How long does tire tread last? Tire tread life is dependent on the durometer (the rubber’s hardness), tread design, type of roads its used on, whether the vehicle is properly aligned and how well you maintain the tire’s air pressure. • A harder rubber compound will wear slower than a softer compound. But generally speaking, it will provide worse traction in snow and ice conditions (although some modern tire compounds with added silica can improve cold weather traction. • An aggressive tread design can sometimes … Read More
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Tire repair guidelines from the tire industry Common tire repair questions Can you repair a puncture in the tire shoulder area? No. The U.S. Tire Manufacturer’s Association, the Tire Industry Association, and most tire manufacturers state that punctures can only be repaired in the tread/crown area. That excludes punctures in the tire shoulder, sidewall and bead areas. Can you repair a puncture using a string plug? No. A plug is considered a temporary repair. It is unsafe to drive for long periods on a plugged tire. A proper repair requires … Read More
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Windshield cracks and occupant safety — is driving with a cracked windshield a safety risk? The windshield is a structural component of your vehicle Many glass companies state that the windshield provides up to 60% of the strength of your roof and pillars in a rollover. I haven’t been able to find any scientific data to support that claim. However, there are scientific studies to support the fact that the windshield is indeed a structural component. Here just a few citations. The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) are U.S. … Read More
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The Mechanic Doctor – Resources for Amateur and Pro Auto Mechanics
Are you looking to buy a car but have a bad credit score? Unable to get a loan from a
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The Mechanic Doctor – Resources for Amateur and Pro Auto Mechanics
Are you looking to get the most out of your vehicle’s engine? If so, ECU remapping may be the solution
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The Mechanic Doctor – Resources for Amateur and Pro Auto Mechanics
Are you in the market for your dream car? Have you visited numerous car dealers but still cannot seem to
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Prevent catalytic converter theft Your catalytic converter contains expensive precious metals. When the price of those commodities goes up, catalytic converter theft rises too. It only takes about 5-mins for a thief to saw off your catalytic converter. The risk of getting caught is low and the price they’ll get at the recycler is high, in some cases as high as $300. Here’s how to prevent catalytic converter theft Several companies make steel skid plates that block the thieve’s access to the catalytic converter. Other companies make catalytic converter “cages” … Read More
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Lost car keys — best way to get replacements What to do when you’ve lost car keys All late model vehicle require some kind of programming to enter replacement keys into the system. So you’re limited to the dealer or an automotive locksmith that has scan tool capabilities to do that kind of programming. Some older vehicles allow you to program new keys yourself as long as you have two already programmed keys. That’s great to help you add more, but doesn’t help if you’re down to one key. Dealer … Read More
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Best fuel stabilizer What to look for in a fuel stabilizer? There are two ways to formulate a fuel stabilizer; 1) Formulate it to PREVENT oxidation and water infiltration, OR 2) Formulate it to REMEDIATE the effects of oxidation and moisture infiltration that’s going to happen regardless of how you try to prevent it from happening. To understand more fully how fuel stabilizers work, see this post How prevention fuel stabilizer products work (or don’t work) Products like Sta-Bil, STP, Sea Foam, and Lucas Fuel Stabilizer work under the prevention principle. … Read More
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