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- PAGE C * f»L*INDEALER-FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, \VI% r Know differences in tires before you buy replacements So you're going to buy a new set of "shoes'* for your car. Welcome to die world of radial, bias-ply and belted-bias tires. Sound confusing? It isn't, once you know the basics of tire construction. Learning them won't make you a tire ex­ pert, but it will help you when you go to your local tire dealer to talk tires. There are three basic types of tire construction;- radial, belted-bias and bias-ply. RADIAL TIRES The radial tire provides an excellent combination of wear, handling and over-all perfor­ mance. It is the most popular tire in the original equipment and replacement passenger tire markets. A radial tire has a body made of coids which run straight up and over in "hoop" fashion from rim-edge to rim-edge. To provide puncture resis­ tance, long, life and tread stabil­ ity, two ormore very stable and strong belts are run around the tire's circumference under die tread. This combination results in a tire with extremely flexible sidewalls and a strong stable tread area in contact with the road surface. Radial tires deflect more than bias or belted-bias and there­ fore have a soft or "under- inflated" look. This is why it is extremely important to check a radial's air pressure with an air pressure gauge and not by merely look­ ing at the tires. Radial tires are produced with various combinations of rayon, polyester, nylon, fiberglass, steel or aramid fiber in plies and belts, j Because the manufacturing process for a radial tire is more complicated, it costs more than other types of tires. The differ­ ence in initial purchase price will frequently be compensated for through greater tread wear and improved gas mileage. Because radials have a quicker steering response, they should not be mixed with other types of tires. BIAS PLY Before the arrival of the belted-bias concept, the majority of all tires were ply. The term "bias" simply means that the plies, or layers of fabric coid, are applied in "criss-cross" fashion from rim-edge to rim-edge. strength to thTtirebodrin *11 directions. A bias tire can be made with either two or four plies of nylon, rayon or polyes­ ter. BELTED BIAS The belted-bias tire offers high mileage and generally greater resistance to road hazards than bias-ply tires, plus excellent traction. Basically, the belted-bias is an extension of the bias-ply tire which is constructed with two or four plies of a strong inner fabric to which the rubber sidewalb and tread are bonded. The belted-bias tire begins in the same way, with inner plies like a bias-ply tire. Then before the tread is applied, the belts which encircle die circumfer­ ence of the tire are added^ •_ .• v .• r ' v A tire with belted-bias con­ struction keeps its tread firmly on die road, thus gready reduc­ ing tread "squirm," a major cause of 'tire wear. The belts make die tire more resistant to punctures, cuts and bruises. A belted-bias tire can be made of several combinations of materials. It is the construc­ tion principle, die combination of bias angle body plies and belts--more than the materials--which gives the tire its many advantages. Plies and belts of various combinations of rayon, nylon, polyester, fiberglass and steel are used with belted-bias con­ struction. The belted-bias tire, though more expensive than a bias tire, usually provides greater value for the motorist. Pump it yourselfers often neglect service Patrons of self-service gasoline stations can save money, but the practice can be costly if regular maintenance is neglected. The operator of a Los Angeles service station, who has both full-service and self- service islands, recently checked the cars of 100 cus­ tomers who pump their own fuel. Of the 100 cars he found: 56 were at least a quart low on oil 34 needed radiator coolant 33 had at least one tire well below recommended pressure 29 needed power steering fluid 28 were low on brake fluid 27 were low on battery water All of these items are so easy to check and so inexpensive to remedy that a motorist is being very unwise to neglect them. No tools are needed for any of these engine-compartment checks and the tires need only a pencil-type gauge which can be purchased for a dollar or two. When checking the tires don't forget the spare in the trunk. All of those points can be checked in just a few minutes. Oil should be checked weekly and the other items every two or three weeks. Also, when you have the hood up, occasionally check the air filter to see that it's not dirty, the hoses for cracks or small leaks, and the belt for fraying and proper tension and clean the headlights. If you pump your own gas, here's a quickie remind­ er list of things to check weekly or biweekly. Oil level Radiator coolant Tire pressure Power steering fluid Brake fhrid Battery fluid Answer: It isn't. The best anti freeze or coolant, as it is more correctly called, is seldom effective after a year, or 12,000 miles. Coolants not Only offer protection against freezing, they inhibit corrosion and system-clogging rust particles To keep your cooling system in the best condition, we recommend a yearly drain and pressure back flush of the system, and the installation of fresh coolant. Don't put it off. Have your coolant checked at least once a year by the cooling system specialists. We're always ready to serve you. FALL SPECIAL •Flush System •Install New Thermostat •Install New Anti-freeze •Check All Hoses & Belts •Pressure Check Cooling System Visibility is important in coming flays Perhaps the most important thing about winter driving is visibility--to be able to see where you are going. No matter what die weather may be doing, check your water reserve and add a windshield washer anti-freeze ' to the washer-unit. Keep paper towels ready for cleaning win­ dows and mirrors' and a can of de-icer to combat windshield ice and poor visibility. It's a good idea, particularly if you live in the snow-belt, to put together a "Get Your Car Ready for Winter" kit which would include all of the above mentioned products plus a snow brush to keep windshield and windows free of snow and a battery-operated light with a blinker for the unexpected nighttime emergency. Also make sure your defros­ ter vents are unobstructed. • * • * _ How much time do you spend trying to live like your neighbor? VISE ADVICE A well-equipped shop may have a metal-working vise mounted at the left side of the workbench and a woodworking vise at the right. But the most commdhly used is die utility vise, a lighter dpty version of the machinists' vise. It usually has pipe jaws located below the flat jaw facings and comes in jaw widths from three to five inches. •