Tire Safety and Maintenance
June 22, 2009
As the old TV commercial says, there’s a lot riding on your tires. Indeed, tires could well be the most important system on your vehicle, given that they affect every performance parameter from handling and acceleration to braking and ride comfort. So it’s no surprise that maintenance on your tires should command as much respect, if not more, than on all the other parts and systems of your car. Trouble is, most drivers just don’t think about the condition of their tires. A Department of Transportation study dating back to 2001 features some pretty eye-popping numbers: 60 to 80 percent of cars on the road are running tires underinflated by as much as 10 percent, 20 to 50 percent of them are driving with tires down in pressure by as much as 20 percent, and 10 to 30 percent of these cars have tires with pressure as low as 30 percent of the recommended pressure. Under inflation is just one reason a tire can fail. Here are four more. -Mike Allen
1. They’re Old
Check the tire sidewall for the manufacturer’s date code. It will be in the form of a four-digit number, stating the month and year the tire was produced. Unfortunately, there’s no equivalent to an expiration date. And it’s not a good idea to install tires on your vehicle that have been sitting on a warehouse shelf for many years. A decent rule of thumb is not to purchase tires more than five years old. And five years in service on your vehicle is plenty, totaling 10 years. Your mileage may vary.
2. They’re Underinflated
Tires that have too little pressure in them run hot-much hotter than properly inflated ones. The pressure in the tire keeps the tread and sidewalls from flexing. Friction from this flexing generates heat, and that degrades the rubber and the fabric construction of the tire. And don’t be fooled by the appearance of the tires. It’s impossible to see if your tires are underinflated without using a tire pressure gauge. The proper pressures are printed on a sticker on the driver’s door frame or inside the glove box. They are also in the owner’s manual.
3. They’re Overinflated
The tire inflation pressures printed on the tire sidewall are the tire manufacturer’s maximum permitted pressure, not necessarily what the vehicle manufacturer recommends. Overinflated tires will have poor grip, and the tread will wear prematurely in the center.
4. They’re Deteriorated
Ozone, road chemicals and ultraviolet light degrade the rubber. But this is probably more of a problem for RV and trailer tires mounted on vehicles that are stored outside in the sun, especially in the Southwest. Tire covers will keep the UV rays at bay longer. Avoid ozone damage by not storing unused tires near any ozone sources like electrical equipment or motors, pool chemicals or the like-especially indoors. Tire sidewall rubber is permeated with oils that are designed to leach out slowly and protect the rubber. Detergents or aftermarket protectents will remove these oils prematurely. A certain amount of weather-checking (alligator-like cracks in the sidewalls) is normal. If the cracks are down to the fabric sidewall plies, it’s time to retire that tire.
5. They’re Damaged
Any foreign object that penetrates the tire far enough to cause a leak is sufficient reason to require the tire to be removed from the rim and inspected by a tire technician for damage to the inside of the carcass. An externally applied plug or worm should be considered a temporary repair. A proper repair involves patching the tire from the inside with a plug that not only holds air but prevents water from infiltrating into the carcass’s belt plies. Water in this part of the tire will make it weaker. It’s not really possible to repair a tire sidewall.
Make sure that your automobile is up to date on its service schedule.
Click Here to schedule a service appointment at your nearest MileOne Service Center.
2010 Karma by Fisker Automotive
June 18, 2009
In the midst of the worse automotive industry crisis in a generation, a new car company is planning to emerge with an almost one million square-foot plant in Monroe, Louisiana. The new Fisker Automotive company, is rumored to produce high-mileage, gas-powered automobiles.
The plant is said to produce up to 1,500 jobs averaging $40,000 per employee. The estimated impact on the economy in the next 15 years could be up to $20 billion. The new brand boasts top end hybrid vehicles getting which could get up to 100 miles to the gallon running on a hybrid system.
This is great news, correct? Except that the cars are projected to retail for $87,900 and to only top out at 95 mph; not very spirited for someone paying big bucks for a luxury sports car. Although the average American will be unable to purchase such a high end vehicle, the idea that a car can get 100 mpg is incredible and is a step in the right direction.
Karma Automotive will be the world’s first to produce eco-chic cars created in equally eco-friendly facilities. The Karma uses Q-DRIVE plug-in hybrid technology, developed exclusively for Fisker 
Automotive by Quantum Technologies. A fully-charged Karma burns no fuel for the first 50 miles. Venture further and the gasoline engine turns a generator to charge the lithium ion battery. Once the 50-mile electric range has been exceeded, the car operates as a normal hybrid vehicle. This balance of electric and gas range makes it entirely possible that Karma drivers who charge their car overnight and commute less than 50 miles a day will achieve an average fuel economy of 100 mpg (2.4L/100km) per year.
Check out the new brand for yourself: The 2010 Karma by Fisker Automotive.
See more Hybrid vehicles at MileOne Automotive
How to Get your Car to Go the Distance
June 9, 2009
If you love your car, you might dream of making it to the one-million-mile mark, too. But can it be done? The consensus seems to be that with regular maintenance and the necessary parts replacements over the years, most modern cars can go the distance.
According to Edmunds, the top five ways to make your car run “forever” are: Follow your service schedule, check fluids and tire pressure regularly, go easy during startup, use a single high-grade fuel, and drive smart. If you don’t know much about maintenance basics, there are plenty of online resources available, as well as your car dealership or your favorite mechanic.
Most experts agree the best way to make your car last longer is to religiously follow the maintenance schedule in your owner’s manual. In addition, make sure to check vital fluids every three months (especially engine oil and radiator coolant), pay attention to your car’s gauges, regularly wash the car, and store it in a covered place. Even good driving habits can help minimize regular wear and tear.
Contact a MileOne service manager to learn more here.
Whether it’s routine auto service, tires, transmission servicing, auto diagnostics, wheel-and-tire packages, or squeaky brakes problems that brings you to us, you’ll be glad you came to a MileOne Service Center. See our testimonials
getBMWparts.com Joins “Two Million Dollar Club”
June 4, 2009
Pictured from left to right: Donnie Mitchell - Parts Manager, Jason Reighard - Internet Parts Manager, Michael Lucas - CEO of Intelligentz Corporation, Evan Winstead - Internet Parts Manager
Intelligentz Automotive Corporation is honored to announce that Mile One/Tischer BMW has reached a remarkable benchmark of over $2 million in parts sales utilizing TradeMotion Storefront with the getBMWparts.com website. Michael Lucas, CEO of Intelligentz Corporation, commemorated this achievement by presenting Internet Parts Managers Jason Reighard and Evan Winstead with the TradeMotion Blaze Award at Tischer BMW on Wednesday, May 27th 2009.
“This is a honor to be recognized for all our hard work and effort in growing our parts website. TradeMotion has been fantastic to work with, and we are excited to continue building and expanding our online brand.” – Evan Winstead
The TradeMotion Blaze award is proudly displayed in the new getBMWparts.com Internet Parts Department at Tischer BMW.
getBMWparts.com
powered by Tischer BMW
3211 Automobile Blvd. Silver Spring, Maryland 20904
1.888.471.7849
Hall MotorCycle Center, Virginia
June 2, 2009
Hall Cycle Center provides professional repairs for all makes and models of motorcycles. All of our motorcycle repairs are guaranteed for materials and workmanship for as long as you own your bike. We perform repairs for Motorcycle Owners and shops Nationwide.
Have you been in an accident? We got you covered! Hall Cycle Center also works with major insurance companies to get your bike back on the road faster than any other shop. Your Motorcycle is our priority! We repair all major brands of American, Metric and Japanese Motorcycles.
John Steadman – Director of Hall Motorcycle Repair Operations
With over 31 years in mechanical repair, John knows the importance of providing the best customer service. Being an avid motorcycle enthusiast you can be sure that he will get your bike back on the road as quickly as possible. Both he and his team are dedicated to providing quality repair at a reasonable price. John is quoted as saying – “We want to make your visit to Hall Cycle Center pleasant and professional. You will see that Hall Cycle Center is determined to make you a customer for life!”
Alex Panayiotakis – Chief Motorcycle Repair Technician 
With over 19 years in the motorcycle repair business you can be assured that Alex is very skilled in repairing your motorcycle. He is certified to work on all makes and models of Motorcycles from Harley-Davidson to Suzuki. Alex’s attention to detail has earned him the reputation for being the best in the area. He share’s the company’s vision for providing excellent service and going the extra mile to satisfy you, our customer.
We also have a large selection of motorcycle accessories and OEM parts in stock, including tires, batteries, oil, filters and much more. Can’t find what you are looking for? We can special order parts and accessories for you.
Give us a call today at 877.881.BIKE (2453) to set up your appointment!
Or visit our shop near our
Hall Chevrolet Automotive Dealership:
Hall Motorcycle Repair Center
3412 Western Branch Blvd.
Chesapeake, VA 23321
877.881.BIKE (2453)
