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Getin toch wit your tires durinhg te witr As the only part of the vehicle that wlth proper driving practices to best tread-life." tively compact the show. A worn touches the road surface, tires are a handie, the seasonal elements of rain, Tire maintenance begins with tread pattern severely limits the tire's critical factor when driving in snow and sicet. checking each tlre's inflation pres- ability 10 operate effectively in these adverse weatber conditions, especial- "Driving in adverse conditions sure every three to four'weeks with conditions. [y in winter. requires preparation, and a good an accurate gauge, Brennan says. Tires, also help channel water. The Therefore, it is important to place to, start is wlîb the tires," says Since air contracts in cold -weather, shaip edges of tread blocks and small include tires as part of a vehicle's Rick Brennan, manager of consumer tires tendý to lose pressUlre more slits in the tread (cafld "sipes") act routine service. Fortunately, routine products at 'Yokohama Tires. "Visgal qikytaintewrmer spning. as.a squeegee in wet weather. As the tire care is both simple and inexpen- inspections, comblned with regular and, sumnier months. tread, tontacts the road, these sharp sive. maintenance, will maximize a tire 's Regular visual inspections wîll edges push the waterout of the way, Tire manufacturers recommend performance capabilities in ail types reveal cuts and other signe of tire enabling the rubber to grip the road combining regular tire inspections of weather and help ensure long" wear. Tires are more susceptible to' surface. Put mutual funds- to work Investing in stocks and bonds cmn be intimidating. Most of us don't have the tim or expertise to manage our money effectively. That's why mutual funds have become s0 popu- tar. Many people let mutual funds do the work for them. But while mutual funds offer diversification and professional man- agement, not aIl of them are appro- priate for you. You still need to do your homewoik before you invest. First, your objectives should match those of the fund - conserva- tive, aggressive or somewhere in between. Next, you should compare perfor- mance of funds with similar objec- tives. Be careful though - what seems to be an outstanding track record may be the resuit of one or two unusually good years. Even the most poonly managed funds occa- for, you sionally have good years. Don't be tempted to invest in toilay's winner. Look instead at the long-term total returns. There are many sources available to help you evaluate and choose a fund. Make sure though that you understand how the sources you use rank or evaluate the funds. "Do they include the impact of sales charges on the investor's return or adjust the ranking evaluation for risk? For example, if you're a conservative investor, avoiding risk (or fluctua- tions in the price of a fund's shares) is an important consideration and many fund evaluations are not adjusted for risk. For more information on mutual funds or to help choose the fiziancial package that is right for you, contact TPA Investment Planning at 666- 0896. cuts during wet weather, heçause rubbr is more easily damaged when it is wet.- Additionally, steel cords exposed-bycuts cn corrode, leadling to ah additional idriving 'faz ard. "'Inspect your tires often and immeêdi- ately repair any damage Ahat is found," Brennan says. Tread ' depth should also be checked visually, as.it determines a tire's tracti1.on capabil ,ities. Snow tires, forexample, derive their snow-ý gripping ability from the precise edges of the tread pattern. Because the grooves in these tires pusb against the snow for traction, it requires enough tread depth to effec- "Aft 'er all, rubbe.r sticks to pave- ment and not to water," Brennan says. To help identify tread depth, some -tire companies. istall a wear indica- tor that beconmes even wlth the tread surface when the tire is worn to the minimum legal tre*ad depth,;which is 2/32 of an inch~ .Tires.shxould also be rotated ever y 12,006 to 15,000 km, ahdvehivles should always be piop- erly alignedto ensure even tread- wear. "Tire care is an ail-season opera- tion," Brennan says. "But it is partic- ularly important in the adverse driv- ing conditions of fail and wiinter." New and Nea.rly New Childrens & Maternity Fash ions a.nd More... If you have good quality clothing, toys, children's books and furniture... Drop in today and -turn your merchandise 1nt$$,$ 101'), Mary St. W., Whlby <Pepsn Lanes> bW'KIDSl 115437) Have a Happy and Safe Hol i day Seas. on Vour Friends at Your Downtown and the Whitby Dowtown BIA P Fi na ilci al co iý,,%îîs,