TIPS FOR ALL DRIVERS

TIRES YOU NEED FOR THIS WINTER

2007-10-17T09:59:00.000-07:00

Summer tires, winter tires, all season tires. The choice is up to you. One thing's for sure, though - Canada has four distinct seasons with four distinct types of driving weather. Here's some information from the Rubber Association of Canada to help you decide what type of tire to buy:

. Summer tires are designed primarily for dry and some wet driving; they are not for use in snow, ice or other winter or heavy rain conditions. They have a very smooth-looking tread design, with minimal or no sipes. Sipes are small slits in the tread that help improve traction.

. All season tires provide a good balance of quiet, comfort and handling for most Canadian drivers. The tread design has more grooves and sipes than summer tires, providing better wet traction. They can be identified by "M+S" branding on the side of the tire and can therefore be used in moderate snow and slush conditions.

. Winter tires offer a combination of specialized tread designs and compounds providing effective traction in Canada's difficult winter conditions (i.e. snow, ice, sleet, rain and low road-surface temperatures). At temperatures below 7°C, standard compound tires begin to lose elasticity, resulting in reduced traction.

Winter tire compounds retain elasticity to grip at much lower temperatures. Typical winter tread designs have larger grooves and tread blocks that have many more sipes than the typical all season tire.

Tires marked with the RAC mountain snowflake symbol molded on the sidewall have been tested to provide a minimum 10 per cent better traction in severe snow conditions. Many winter tires provide 30 to 50 per cent better traction in winter conditions.

. Caution - winter tires should be installed in sets of four. Failure to follow this recommendation could result in severe and dangerous handling conditions.

Visit betiresmart.ca or vehicles.gc.ca for more tips on tire selection and maintenance.
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TIPS FOR BUYING A USED CAR; AVOIDING ODOMETER FRAUD

2007-10-17T09:43:00.000-07:00

Used-car buyers could avoid being taken for a ride if they watch out for odometer fraud.

Odometer fraud-or the illegal act of rolling back a vehicle's odometer to make buyers think it has fewer miles than it actually does-costs consumers billions of dollars annually. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates the crime leads to the fraudulent sale of more than 450,000 cars every year.

Equally troubling is that digital odometers, once thought to be the solution to odometer fraud, seem to actually be easier to tamper with than traditional odometers.

"Unscrupulous people using relatively inexpensive software and devices-actually legal for recalibrating faulty odometers-can reprogram digital odometers," explains Larry Gamache of Carfax. "The value of a car can drop by as much as $5,000 if odometer fraud is detected."

Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself from odometer fraud:

• Ask to see the vehicle's title and compare mileage on it with the vehicle's odometer.

• Compare the mileage on the odometer with the mileage indicated on the vehicle's maintenance inspection records. Also, search for oil-change and maintenance stickers on windows or door frames, in the glove box and under the hood.

• Request a Carfax Vehicle History Report to check for odometer discrepancies in the vehicle's history. If the seller doesn't have a report, you can use the car's VIN number to order one online.

• Check that the numbers on the odometer gauge are aligned correctly. If they're crooked, contain gaps or jiggle when you bang on the dash with your hand, you may want to walk away.

• Examine the tires. If the odometer shows 20,000 or fewer miles, the car should have the original tires.

• Look at the wear and tear on the vehicle-especially the gas, brake and clutch pedals-to be sure it seems consistent with and appropriate for the number of miles indicated on the odometer.

For more information, visit www.carfax.com
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ROAD TEST PREPARATION

2007-10-11T03:20:00.000-07:00

Preparing and going for a road test for your driver's license is quiet easy but can be very tricky if you don't do your "home work" properly.

Drivers who are fully informed and prepared are more likely to pass their license road test. This tips gives basic information about knowing and understanding how to drive safely.You can use it to help prepare for your road test, and to preview what the test will be like. Also, be sure to practice each driving maneuver described in the DMV Driver's Manual or, for motorcyclists, the DMV motorcycle Manual.

To pass your road test, you show you can meet certain minimum standards for safe driving.After you are licensed, you will deal with situations and problems you may not have encounted before taking your road test. You can learn to handle this situations by using the driving habits and responsible attitudes you demonstrated during the road test.

1.GET ENOUGH PRACTICE
I recommend at least 30 hours of driving practice, with at least 10 hours in moderately heavy traffic. If you are under 18 years old , and have not completed driver education training and recieved a student certificate of completion, you are required by law in some states to have a minimum number hours of properly supervised practice driving. To take your road test, you must give the lincese examiner a completed "Certificate of X hours(check for your state) of Driving Experience"available from the DMV Internet Office, by request from a DMV Call Center, and at any motor vehicle office.

2.WHAT TO BRING TO THE TEST
a) Photo learners permit.You also must give your five-hour pre-licensing course completion certificate (MV-278) or your Student Certificate of Completion (MV-285),where applicable.

b) If under 18 years old,and do not have (MV285), you must give the examiner a completed "Certificate of 20 Hours of Driving Experience" (MV-262)

c) The test vechicle must be properly registered, inspected, insured and eveything including seat belts etc. must be in good working conditions. If you decide to drive yourself to the test, you must be accompanied by a driver who is atleast 21 years old with a valid driving license.

3.BE ON TIME
If for some reasons you cant make it there at the scheduled day or time, call your DMV office to reschedule your appointment.DMV may cancel road tests due to bad or poor weather.

4.AT THE ROAD TEST SITE
Be in line at the site and park not too close to the vehicle infront of you, just in case you are tested before the driver ahead of you. Move to the driver's seat when the examiner arrives.Make sure all mirrors are adjusted and seat belt fastened.

5.DURING THE ROAD TEST
The examiner will test your abilities needed in everyday driving and knowledge of traffic laws.During the test, the examiner will point out to you the mistakes and traffic violations you made and give you information on how to correct them.

This is a quick practice guide which when use properly with more information from the DMV office, will help you pass your test hands down.

Check my next issue on SAFE DRIVING TIPS DURING THE TEST.Also for great bargains on autos new or old visit us at AutoBargains for mouth-watering deals.

YOUR RIGHTS IN AUTO REPAIR (Part 1)

2007-10-11T02:39:00.000-07:00

You can help avoid trouble with an unreliable or dishonest repair shop by following these steps;

1. Deal only with registered shops.Check with your state to find out the the color of their registered sign post outside the shop as every state may vary and also check for a valid Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) registration certificate inside.

2. Ask your family, friends and co-workers for advice on reliable repair shops in your area, as well as those to avoid.

3. Keep all records, including estimates, invoicing, work orders, receipts, guaranties and warranties. Besides their importance in case you file a repair complaint, these papers serve as your record of service and could increase your vehicle's resale value.

4.If you authorize repair work by phone, write down the date and time, the name of the person you spoke with, any estimated price quotes and other pertinents details.

5.Dont be afraid to ask questions.A shop manager should explain required repairs and prices, discuss problems, and tell you about the training and experience of shop employees.

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