Are your headlights cloudy? While it may appear to only be a cosmetic issue to your vehicle, it actually can severely impact the amount of light your headlights are able to provide resulting in a risk to your safety. Reduced visibility can cause an accident and put you, other motorists and pedestrians at danger.
It’s no wonder our headlights become dirty and clouded as they are subjected to the elements including sun, rain, and snow and UV rays. Replacing a headlight can cost upwards of $100 but luckily there is a simple solution that you can do on your own at home using a Mothers Power Ball 4 Light Headlight Restoration Kit. The Kit includes a Polishing Tool, 8 oz. PowerPlastic®, two Restoration Pads and a microfiber towel and is designed for use on plastic and acrylic headlights. This easy to use product can clean yellowing, stains, scratches and smudges to restore your headlights to like new condition.
Using the kit, follow these simple steps to clean your headlights:
• First, mask off the paint surfaces surrounding your headlight lens, attach the PowerBall 4Lights®to any variable speed drill. Now tighten the drill chuck and set ...
It’s no secret that the rivalry between the University of Michigan and Ohio State University has been intense, but that has not prevented a few individuals from participating on both sides of the field as players or coaches. What famous University of Michigan Coach also has ties to the Buckeyes? That would be the legendary, Bo Schembechler.
Schembechler’s Ohio roots run deep as he was born in Barberton, Ohio on April 1, 1929, graduated from Miami of Ohio in 1951 and obtained his master’s degree from the Ohio State University in 1952. While at OSU he served as a graduate assistant under his mentor Woody Hayes. Schembechler and the Wolverines went 11-9-1 against the Buckeyes during his tenure as head coach. Any fan that follows the rivalry has heard of what is referred to as the “10 Year War,” the prime years were 1969-78, when Schembechler opposed his friend and mentor, Hayes. Michigan prevailed in those meetings, going 5-4-1. Bo passed away on November 17, 2006 but his legacy at the University of Michigan lives on.
Want to experience the rivalry first hand from the comfort of the new Wolverine Den at Crisler Arena when the University of Michigan Men’s Basketball ...
Obviously, the best way to stay safe during this type of weather is to avoid driving during a storm unless absolutely necessary. In the winter months it is important to stay abreast of winter storm warnings and there are even weather applications such as AccuWeather, Weatherbug and the Weather Channel that can be downloaded on your mobile device to alert you of an incoming storm.
Follow these tips to increase your visibility and drive safely during a heavy snow fall:
Before you get behind the wheel for a long road trip, take a minute to answer one question that is important to your safety and the safety of your passengers: How old are the tires on your vehicle?
There is an easy way to identify the date a tire was made by reading its Tire Identification Number, which is also referred to as the tire's serial number. Tire Identification Numbers are batch codes that identify the week and year the tire was created.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) require that Tire Identification Numbers are on every tire. DOT serial numbers make up a combination of the letters, followed by ten to twelve letters and/or numbers that identify the manufacturing location, tire size and manufacturer's code, along with the week and year the tire was manufactured.
All tires made after 2000 have four digits representing the week and year each tire was produced. If a tire has a number code only three digits long, the tire was made in the 1990s.
You can determine the age of a tire by looking at the last four digits of the Tire Identification Number. The first two digits identify the week and the last two digits to identify the year.
Finally, when you buy new tires, hold on to your sales receipt. Some tire standard manufacturer warranties cover their tires for four years from the date of purchase or five years from the week the tires were manufactured.
Let's say you have a receipt showing you purchased new tires that were manufactured exactly two years ago. The tires will be covered four years from the date of the purchase for a total of six years since they were manufactured. If you lose the receipt in this same case, the warranty coverage for your tires will end five years from the week the tire was produced resulting in the tire manufacturer's warranty.
For additional convenience, Belle Tire provides customers their invoices via email with the warranty coverage listed. The warranty information provided can be for either the number of miles or years that the warranty is covered.
Visit a local Belle Tire store to speak with a tire expert who can help answer any questions you may have regarding the age of your tires.
Not all drivers are ready to buy a more fuel-efficient car but there are a number of ways to save money, whatever vehicle you drive. Here are three easy to remember fuel saving tips.
Lighten Up
Weight is one of fuel economy's main adversaries, so removing unnecessary items or passengers from your vehicle can equate to real fuel savings.
Keep in mind that roof top carriers, bike and ski racks don't do your cars fuel economy any favors, even when they are empty.
Watch Speed and Acceleration
No matter what kind of car you drive, you can save fuel immediately by going easy on the accelerator. Quick starts and full-throttle acceleration can boost fuel consumption. Saving fuel is all a matter of degree – light acceleration can save more than medium acceleration and full-throttle jack-rabbit starts.
Also, remember that top speed plays a part. Each car reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed; however, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, gas mileage usually decreases quickly at speeds above 60 mph. For each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph, it is like paying 5%-30% more per gallon for gas.
Inflate Your Chances at Prevention
Keeping your car tires inflated properly is critical to fuel efficient driving. Underinflated tires can lower the gas mileage a vehicle even if they are off by just a single psi.
Proper tire inflation can improve mileage up to 3.3% or $0.11 per gallon according to the United States Department of Energy. Check your owner's manual or the placard in the vehicle's doorjamb for the proper inflation pressure. If your car's tire pressure monitoring light is on or you need assistance, visit a local tire store to have an expert check your tires and fill them to the correct pressure.
Don't just stop with checking your tires because keeping your engine running efficiently is just as essential to save gas. Even if your car seems to be running well, that perplexing check engine light could represent a dead oxygen sensor or some other emissions control problem that can cause the vehicle to waste several miles per gallon.
Limiting your cars weight, maintaining posted speeds, keeping your tires properly inflated and maintaining your engine can all help impact savings on gas. It can also be great for the environment. One gallon of gas produces 19.4 pounds of CO2, so by following these three easy tips it can keep money in your wallet and CO2 out of the air we breathe.
If you have any questions about any of these tips, stop in to speak to the experts at any Belle Tire location.
Made of a leather upper and rubber bottom, L.L. Bean’s signature boot, was the first item created by Leon Leonwood Bean in 1912. The product would go on to launch the Freeport, Maine based business that now brings in nearly 2 billion dollars a year in sales.
The Bootmobile will traverse the country throughout the year to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of L.L. Bean’s founding. In case you should happen to see it during its trek, here are a few interesting facts you can whip out to impress your friends. Bootmobile Facts:
After ...
Do you normally wait until the warning light comes on before fueling up? Me too! I dread filling up my tank while standing in the freezing cold and blowing wind so I put it off as long as possible. This bad habit can also become very inconvenient, especially when you’re running late. It can be tempting to put off getting gas during our cold winter months but it is important to keep your gas tank filled at least halfway for multiple reasons.
As the temperature drops, keeping your gas tank at least half full allows the extra gas to reduce condensation that can potentially plug your fuel line with ice, stall your engine and possibly damage your fuel system. In newer cars the fuel pump is located in the gas tank and uses the fuel in your tank to cool itself. If you’re on E you are running the risk of your fuel line potentially freezing up and in turn burning up your fuel pump. The engine block houses the fuel pump in older cars and as your gas tank rusts, you will circulate the rust through your fuel injector and carbonator, which can cause damage to your vehicle as ...
You may hear Crisler Center referred to as “The House that Cazzie Built,” after Michigan’s two time All American and NBA player, Cazzie Russell. Russell and the Wolverines won three consecutive Big Ten Conference titles from 1964-1966. Their success and growing fan base prompted the need to relocate the team from Yost Fieldhouse (now known as Yost Ice Arena) to a much larger facility and what would become Crisler Center.
Want to catch a game for free in the comfort of the new Wolverine Den? Enter our contest for a chance to win 2 Tickets to watch the Wolverines ...
Our customers are constantly surprised at the tremendous difference that can be made just by investing in a set of winter tires. There are many benefits to buying a set of winter tires for your vehicle including:
• Increased mobility and traction in winter conditions including snow and ice.
• Improved gas mileage as winter tires can actually help you get more miles per gallon.
• Decreased wear on your all-season tires that can spin during winter driving conditions and increase their wear.
• Another potential savings is the cost of a tow truck should you need to be pulled out. While winter tires aren’t perfect they can definitely reduce your risk of getting stuck this winter.
Check out our other blogs posts on winter tires: A Time for Winter Tire and Wheel Packages and Give Your Car an Edge with These Great Winter Tires. Come in and see one of our Tire Experts at your local Belle Tire and we can help determine the perfect tire for your vehicle.
Source: National Motorists Association
Businesses that support Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and employ ASE-certified technicians subscribe to the Code of Responsible Automotive Servicing Practices and the ASE-Certified Technicians' Code of Ethics.
These standards require vehicle repair and service shops to maintain the finest quality auto repair services in the industry every time. ASE Technicians provide first-class workmanship, are continually learning, provide honest services, and always work in the best interest of the customer.
As a business that supports ASE and employs ASE-certified automotive technicians, discount tire retailers such as Belle Tire subscribe to the Code of Responsible Automotive Servicing Practices, such as:
There are more than 350,000 professionals ...
To ensure the best tire price and inventory selection for your area, please enter your zip code.
::adCenter::
