Ever wonder why adverts say that their tyres can save you a lot of money? With technology we are finding ways to save as much money as possible. One of the main expenses that we have in our daily lives is paying for fuel. As we run out of the fossil fuel it gets more expensive.

Tyres are engineered to give the driver a smoother ride. Every day they design a tyre with a tread or material that can be used to make your drive less bumpy and rough.

The main factors that cause a high usage of fuel are the heavier cars. Not only does the shaft have to give a great force to pull the car along but it also has to be able to grip onto the surface.

When it comes to the faster, higher performing cars the tyres need to have more contact with the floor and a narrower tread. Although these cars already use quite an amount of fuel, the tyres will help the car from consuming too much.

The less you have to rev your car the less fuel will be used in the process of driving. An example of over-revving would be accelerating the car over 3000 RPM when it's not necessary. Some cars won't need to use all this power because their cars grip to the floor and tar very well.

When it rains you will notice that your car will slip and slide especially if you don't have the correct tyres for that kind of weather. If there is no way for the water to escape through the tyre it will cause the car to slide. You will automatically put foot down on the brakes to avoid slipping. This is another reason how fuel can be wasted. The correct tyres will allow the car to travel normally in wet conditions with minimal skidding.

The amount of fuel used is also up to you and how responsible you are when you drive. For example, if you are driving at a normal speed you can just let the car cruise on low acceleration. When you need to slow down for a traffic light, you can release the acceleration slowly and start applying the brakes to save fuel.

Always make sure you get the correct tyres for your car and maintain them often. Pressure can have a great impact on the performance of the car.

Many people do not realize this, but the driving in the rain could be more dangerous than when driving during a snowy day. The reason is that many people would be careless during the rainy season and just think it is okay. 

Over the years, more statistics show that more people end up with accidents during the rainy season in various countries. If you learn more about how to drive safely during the rain, then some of these accidents can easily be averted.

Let us get to check out some of the common safety methods for you to use this rainy season.

Keep the car well maintained

It is the simple things you do that can save your life during the rainy season. Some of the simple stuff you could do for maintenance include checking your oil level, and the tire treads. If you have to change the oil, consider using the best oil. It can work great for such rainy conditions.

The tire tread is quite important at all times for those looking to have an easy time driving in the rain. The tire tread should be enough, according to the various road authorities in your country. In most cases, having less than 1.5 millimeter tire tread remaining will be unsafe for rainy conditions.

Drive slowly

As much as many people would not want to drive slowly, it is always important that you get to slow down during the rain. It can be dangerous driving fast in the rain, as it makes the tires lose traction. The wet road will have less friction as compared to a dry road. With the less friction between the road and the tires, you can now easily start skidding if you are not careful.

Keep distance from other cars

Even when it is not raining, you would want to keep a safe braking distance from the car ahead. You should double that distance as many people always panic in such weather where they cannot see clearly. It is possible that during such weather conditions, you will always get more traffic on the roads because of accidents sometimes. You can be cautious and get home late, or be fast and end up in an accident.

Turn on your lights

Turning on your lights is something basic that driving schools teach when training you for a driving license. As much as that is the case, people often find themselves forgetting to do it. The lights help other people see you during the rain due to increased issues with visibility. The other drivers will now know that another car is coming behind them or in front of them. It is not just for the other drivers; you too could benefit from seeing clearly in the rain thanks to the light.

As you can see, driving safely in the rain will always get you to your destination. Whether it takes to have the right oil or simply making sure that your brakes are working properly, they are all important to keep you driving your car safely in a rainy season.

Unfortunately, your vehicle, just as all material things put into the active use, will show the signs that it needs to be fixed up before you can continue driving it. Whether your engine refuses to function correctly and gives you hard time while you try to start your car or drive it smoothly, or makes your vehicle stop in the middle of nowhere, produces weird noises that creep you out and sounds like something terrible is about to happen, you should not ignore those signs.

Drive straight to the auto repair shop to get your car examined for some internal malfunction and eliminate the latter before it deteriorates to the point when it influences other systems in a bad way and breaks down completely.

5 main signs your car is due for a tune-up

1. Engine lights on the dashboard. Those rarely light up when your car is perfectly fine. They only show up when the diagnostic system of your vehicle detects an issue you haven’t managed to notice yet or reminds you of a required maintenance procedure you should never miss. Thus, don’t ignore that annoying lights and make them disappear by tackling the problem at the right place and time. 
2. Increased fuel consumption. If you’ve been driving the same vehicle for a while, you know how much gas it uses to run a certain number of miles and how often you need to fill the tank up. However, if you notice that your car runs out of fuel faster than before, thus its energy efficiency has declined, you may consider that fact as a side effect of a major hidden breakdown that has to be discovered and repaired by an experienced auto repair pro.
3. Your car refuses to start right away. The increased difficulty when starting the car might indicate a number of issues that aren’t that hard for an average driver to eliminate on his own. It could be just a dying battery you need to charge after forgetting to turn the lights off that doesn’t let you start your car as you normally do and makes you late to work. But, a faulty ignition switch might also be the culprit of the issue, especially if it is paired with the weird spurting at the higher speed. And, similar symptoms might indicate starter motor troubles and numerous other problems you should not leave unsolved. Thus, if you have to turn the engine over a couple of times before your vehicle decides to start, you have definitely something to look into.
4. Your vehicle occasionally stalls. Stalling is a major red flag, as it not only warns about the upcoming need of a tune-up, but it’s also quite dangerous on the road. So, if it often happens that you press the acceleration pedal and notice the delayed reaction of your car (it lags before actually moving forward), you’ll most likely have to get your ignition system checked.
5. Black smoke coming out from the exhaust pipe. It refers to the fuel efficiency and means that your car’s engine is burning too much gas. Most likely, it’s the improper fuel to air mix that makes your car exhale black stinking clouds. The things the mechanics will probably check are the air filter, sensors, fuel injectors, fuel pressure regulator and fuel return line. And while this issue is one of the easiest to tackle, it’s not the reason to put off the visit to the auto repairs to save some cash, as you’ll waste on the excessive fuel consumption much more that you’d spend on a quick tune-up.
6. Knocking sounds and lower power when going uphill. They usually indicate general engine and sparks system issues you won’t be able to determine and repair without special knowledge and equipment. And, as these tendencies deteriorate the driving safety, you should stop them as soon as possible by bringing your vehicle to the experienced pros to get it tuned up.
7. Rough gear shifting. It’s the sign of a faulty transmission system that has to be fixed before your transmission gets too ruined by the rough gear shifting and requires costly replacement.

So, those were the main signals you should pay close attention to while driving your car and consider them as the direct invitation to the auto repair shop. Obviously, if your car stops in the middle of nowhere, you’ll have no other choice than calling towing services to deliver it to the mechanics. But it’s better to be proactive and get your car examined and tuned up on a regular basis to prevent major issues and road accidents caused by a faulty engine.

There are all kinds of used vehicles out there, from the “beater” to some that are barely broken in because the owner got a newer model. You may consider yourself diligent because you asked the owner lots of questions about the vehicle, but the sad reality is, people tend to lie, embellish or exaggerate when they are trying to get rid of something they have to make a sale, whether it’s a vehicle or an item at a garage sale. The obvious tip is to make sure all systems are working properly, but the key is in making sure you check more than that.

Don’t fall in love with the looks of a vehicle upon first sight. You have to look underneath. You may not know exactly what you need to look for, or understand much of what you see. Take a friend who is mechanically knowledgeable, even if it means slipping him a cash token. It will be money well spent in the long run, trust me. If you don’t have a mechanic friend, some shops will do this for you for a small fee. Things to look for are leaks and damage, or if repairs have been done previously, check the area for further damage or if repairs were actually done properly. Check the brakes, drive shaft, steering components and U joints. An older vehicle will most likely have some rust on the axles, springs and frame. Make sure a hole cannot be poked through any parts of the metal and that it has not become weak or brittle. If this is the case, you need to decline this sale.

Shiny does not always mean new. Any auto body tech can make a car look good cosmetically, but why was it newly painted in the first place? It could be hiding rust and issues with the body of the truck. There is a possibility that the owner just wanted to get a few bucks more for it and all that was wrong was some surface scratches or fading. This is where you may not be told the truth, so without a professional eye, you may not get the info you really need. In that case, it would be worthwhile to have a service do a history report on the vehicle, which not only can tell you if it’s been in an accident, but also if there are recalls on the vehicle and other valuable information. This report is not a guarantee that the vehicle is totally perfect mechanically, but will reveal more than what the eye can see.

Get your ducks in a row before shopping to avoid an impulse buy that you will most likely regret after time. If you will never be hauling a boat or RV, do you really need a bigger engine that will give you less gas mileage? Do you need passenger room on a regular basis, or is the vehicle mainly for you and work? Will you be going off-road, in which case 4 WD could be necessary, but if not, you may be able to get along with 2WD for your needs. Make decisions beforehand regarding manual or automatic transmission, petrol or diesel engine, cloth or leather upholstery and bed size. Too often, if you leave yourself open to a sales persons’ dance, you may end up waltzing when you would rather be jitter bugging.