Automotive


January 19, 2010: 2:28 pm: CraigAutomotive

Recently my neighbor had a major blow out on the throughway. Both the back tires made this grenade explosion and caused him to pirouette his car across three lanes of traffic where it stopped just shy of the ledge where that small strip of cement protects drivers from swerving off the black tar veins that intersect cities throughout the United States. He left cursive lines of where the wheels snaked and squealed on the blacktop . It was kind of beautiful and I was kind of out of my head after that Coney Island Wonder Wheel ride on four tires so I took a bunch of photographs. He told me I was weird, but I think car catastrophes make you weird.

He needed to buy tires after that. We searched a bunch of different places from small independent automotive shops and corporate locations. You know, the Bulk Club places where you can buy a hundred rolls of toilet paper and leave the cash register wondering about your stomach health. There were actually a lot of cool things to photograph in there, but my friend told me not to whip out my camera: he was still recovering from my latest shot at his tire blow out ride. I loved the stacks of tires, the automotive equivalent of huge Roman columns holding up on high places of political and religious importance that were now just crumbs. They were lined up in neat rows. It reminded me of those Chinese statue soldiers guarding that dead empower.

There were really weird stains on the floor too. Gum, oil, rubber had all made their mark throughout the years there. I thought that the marks were like some sort of secret code for the rubber tire soldiers, so started to traipse around them and making up a story from them because my fried had already taken an hour to get tires. He still did not have them in an hour, and I was bored enough to make a story from Bubble Yum and old Castrol oil. I work at a library where I read to children: it just sort of got into me to start telling stories at any hour or minute of the day after working there about a month. My friend likes to listen to them though he does dislike my photos. He says the stories told in the photos are not as good as the stories I make up from tires and other things.

September 1, 2009: 11:37 am: CraigAutomotive

The discount tires of a motorcycle or a car play a large role in the safety of the vehicle.  Decisions will need to be based according to the conditions in which one will be driving, as well as to the make of the bike or vehicle.  This should always be a consideration, but one should take special care in the times of the year when the temperatures at the extreme, such as summer time in Florida, or the winter months in Minnesota.  If one is dealing with ice and snow and slush, the traction is very important to consider.

The Cooper tire corporation takes special care in producing tires that will be best suited and safe give various environmental circumstances.  Have the right tires for one’s situation can mean the difference of avoiding an accident, and a potentially life and death situation.  There are simple steps to considered when choosing the right tires, this is not as complicated as it may seem.  The first aspect in tire selection is easy, simply look towards the manufacturers recommendations regarding the size and kind of tires they suggest for your particular make and model.  This is to be found in the ownership manual.

Tires meant specifically to handle icy or muddy conditions will mean the difference in the owner’s ability to maneuver through the snow and sleet.   In some cities it is necessary to buy two different sets of tires, the snow tires with the metal spikes for the ice and the regular tires for the remainder of the year.  Though one must check the laws of their home state, as ten states now ban the metal studded general tire.  It is important if at all possible to have all four tires mounted at the same time, and to make certain that they are all the same type and size.  Paying attention when purchasing tires will mean a long life for the tires, as well as safer roads ahead for the driver.

July 22, 2009: 11:43 am: CraigAutomotive

A decision went down a couple of weeks ago regarding the United States International Trade Commission voted to impose duties on as much as 55 percent of Chinese tire imports. These are car tires that are offered at very low costs.

The United States International Trade Commission voted on this because they felt these Chinese tires are affecting the United States tire market. The United States market has been affected by the economic downturn, and there is worry that not imposing duties on the cheap Chinese tires will hurt the United States market even more.

President Barack Obama has to approve the vote if the tariffs are beneficial or not to the market.  Opponents of the duties say that by imposing them the market will continue to suffer. China is the largest provider of tire imports to the United States and they sell for about half of what American made tires sell for. Therefore, they are very attractive to consumers, especially those needing large truck wheels.

The United Steelworkers Union filed the case, citing that the cheap Chinese tires are taking a real bite out of the United States market.  Opponents say that the duties will just be passed onto the consumers who are purchasing the tires, and they will not have as many options as they once had in the past, before the duties.

Will doing this really save domestic jobs? Or is this just an industry that is not able to keep up with the times and the current economy? It’s difficult to take sides on this one, consumers need cheap tires, especially now, but families need those jobs. It’s a tough call.

In a country where our truck rims are more expensive than the tires around them, what is more important? American jobs or cheap tires for consumers, it’s an interesting debate.

June 15, 2009: 3:19 pm: CraigArts & Culture, Automotive, Economy, Employment, Finance, Food, Health, Sport, Travel

The various neighborhoods of Singapore, are one of the unique aspects of the culture on the island.  There is rich heritage and a great diversity in that heritage.  While there is this contrast, there is also a blend that is harmonious, be it in the variety of the Singapore restaurants, the architecture, and the arts.  This little island offers the of the Eastern cultures and traditions and the best of the Western as well.  In one tour, one will go from the future, to the past in a single day, from conservative business centers to exotic market places.  One may pass a Hindu or a Chinese Temple, a Muslim Mosque, or a Catholic church all side by side on the same city street.  One may start the day with breakfast as the Singapore Zoo with the orangutans, have afternoon tea at one of the traditional tea houses, and then dress up for a night at the Opera or with the Symphony.  Every day brings something new and different in the city. In the Little India neighborhood, one will feel as though they are truly walking through a smaller version of Goa or Kerela.  The streets are filled with spice shops, palm readers, and the incredible scents flowing out of the kitchens and the restaurants.  Many of the Indians that have immigrated throughout the years live in this enchanting sector.  Little Arabia, (http://www.the-inncrowd.com/littleindiawalk.htm)is filled with mosques, notable the Sultan Mosque which is an architectural wonder.  There are many market places selling everything from vintage Arabic clothing to scarves and jewelry.  This, as in all of the neighborhoods of Singapore, is filled with a variety of options for delicious meals.  The architecture of the Mosque varies incredibly from the style of the Saint Andrew’s Cathedral.  Colonial style is indicative in the spire and the grand white columns.  Then, just down the way is the Renaissance building, the Church of the Good Shepherd, with is the oldest Catholic church throughout Singapore.  All three of these buildings are among those that are most photographed and most admired.

May 11, 2009: 1:57 pm: CraigAutomotive

The Purcell Tire & Rubber Co. has acquired the assets of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.’s Wingfoot OTR Retread Business. The two Wingfoot plants, located in Minnesota and North Carolina, manufacture a combined 40 OTR retreads a day, according to Modern Tire Dealer’s “Top 100 Retreaders” list.

The acquisition of the OTR Retread Business is a key step in Purcell’s strategic business plan, says the company, and will increase the size of one of its core business segments from 120 OTR retreads per day to 160 per day.

Purcell already was the largest OTR tire retreader in the U.S.; the acquisition jumps the company from number three on the “Top 100 Retreaders” list (which includes truck and light truck tire retreads as well) to number two, behind Goodyear and ahead of Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions. Purcell also produces an average of 1,300 medium truck tire retreads per day.

“This acquisition is a win for new and existing customers,” says Keith Butcher, executive president of Purcell Tire. “This is a core business for Purcell Tire and we are committed to investing and growing this business. We continue to invest in retreading as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly product class for our OTR customers.

“Our customers have felt the effects of a challenging economic cycle — as we have — and it is our responsibility as good partners to do anything we can to help them optimize their operations.”

“We’ve made a significant investment in helping our customers recycle tires and save money,” says Purcell Tire founder Bob Purcell. “Recycling tires, especially large OTR tires, reduces costs and saves resources. By helping our customers to reduce operating costs, we are also helping them reduce their carbon footprint,” he adds.

Purcell Tire will operate the business out of its centrally located, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Potosi, Mo. The addition gives Purcell seven retread plants in the United States. They feature Goodyear’s Unicircle, precure, mold cure and Flexcure processes.

A retread is a previously-worn tire which has gone through a remanufacturing process designed to extend its useful service life. Ask your tire specialist about your wheel and tire package options if this process is right for your service truck tires.

February 21, 2009: 3:48 pm: CraigAutomotive

Of all the vehicle types available, the van has perhaps the most colorful associations, at least in the United States. While each country has its own definition for vehicle types, in the US, a van is a box-shaped four wheel vehicle. While usually the same length and width as a large car, vans tend to be higher from the ground and much taller than cars. The North American definition can include any truck that has a rigid cargo body attached to the cab. This can include box-shaped semi-trailers or trailers used to haul goods.

Cargo vans will have front seat and then a large empty space for transportation of goods. A “dry van” is used for hauling most items while a “reefer” or refrigerated van is outfitted to carry cold items.

Passenger vans are furnished with additional seating behind the front seats. In the case of a “Wagon” van, the van is purchased with the seating provided by the manufacturer. A conversion van is outfitted for passengers with comfort items like elaborate entertainment systems and beverage storage. The conversion may be done by a second company or by the van owner.

In the US, the term can also describe a Minivan. These have similar passenger capacity, but their smaller size and powertrain make them more economical to drive. While they get better fuel economy, they do not have the same cargo space or towing capacity of traditional vans.

Conversion vans gained popularity in the decadent 1970s in the US. Used as traveling bedrooms by some, they were also ideal for road trip parties, drive-ins, and outdoor festivals. Vans in the United States also have a nostaglic association with hippies and drug use. Some of these relic can be found at a local used van dealer pretty much anywhere in the US.

January 28, 2009: 3:01 pm: CraigAutomotive, Business, Economy, Finance, Industry

Almost all businesses that have customers at some point receive complaints from these customers. Often these complaints are perceived as an inconvenience. To some they can even be a major concern. You should note that complaints are not necessarily a bad thing. They are an opportunity to improve. Many quality systems such as ISO identify complaint handling as necessary.

Collection and processing can be one of the biggest challenges associated with customer complaint handling. This is because complaints often arrive into the business in many different ways – letters, emails, sales reps, phone calls etc. This results in the fact that often complaints get ignored, mishandled or lost. The ultimate solution is to have procedures developed so that all complaints can be processed and recorded.

Central customer complaint handling systems such as complaint handling software is often used. This type of system means that staff throughout the organization, and out in the field, a way to record and store each complaint they receive in real time. The software can include methods to attach documentation and also to assign tasks to others for investigation and resolution. It can also be used to record corrective actions, root causes and outcomes. The result of using specialized complaint handling software is that the history of each individual complaint is recorded from the initial contact through to final resolution. Production or service improvements can be determined from this type of information.

October 26, 2008: 10:43 pm: CraigAutomotive, Entertainment, Travel

West Yorkshire is a county located within Yorkshire in England. It has a population of 2.2 million. The area includes the cities of Leeds, Wakefield, Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale. As well as cosmopolitan areas there area also includes agricultural countryside, nature reserves and desolate moorlands.

The city of Leeds includes many attractions for visitors. These include the Royal Armouries, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Harewood House, Leeds University, and the City Art Gallery. To get around it helps to have a car so visit one of West Yorkshire Car Dealers.

Leeds is a sporting city and hosts multiple cricket, rugby and football matches. On the cultural front there is a multitude of galleries including Leeds City Art Gallery, the Henry Moore Institute, the University Gallery and Liston Studios featuring many great works of art.  The nightlife in the Leeds area is vibrant and many people visit these and other West Yorkshire Nightclubs.

The Guided Walks are very popular with visitors and these include the City Centre Walks. These walks reflect the history and culture of the city and include Kirkstall Abbey, the Canal Gardens, Middleton Railway, the Town Hall, and Tropical World.

: 6:20 pm: CraigAutomotive

The East Riding of Yorkshire is located in the county of Yorkshire, England. The area is diverse and beautiful.  The scenery attracts people from around the world.  The East riding of Yorkshire is also known as North Humberside and East Yorkshire. The area has many historic cities and market towns.  Major cities and towns in the area include Hull, York, Selby, Doncaster, Ryedale, and Scarborough.

The East Riding of Yorkshire has some beautiful scenery and so it is a great place to travel through.  If you are looking for suitable transportation you may want to seek out an East Riding car dealer.  The heritage coastline is well worth visiting and you may want to check out some of the smaller traditional fishing villages.  The moorland area is also popular with visitors intent on discovering the views and rolling landscape featured in many popular books, TV shows and movies.

May 22, 2008: 2:15 pm: CraigAutomotive

Few things can increase the value of a car more than great car rims.  They add a lot to the appearance of the car and they make it seem like the owner spends a lot of time on his or her car so it must be in great shape. Cheap rim can be bought for any car and they look great.

Another way to increase the value of your car is to invest in a nice paint job and keep it cleaned. The new paint job tells people that you spend money on your car and that purchasing it would be okay since it most likely will not break down. Now that is a lot that a paint job says. Also, choose a color that most people like. Something blue or silver. Most people do not like yellow cars and the like. A color that most dislike will decrease the value because the person will think that they have to pay to have it repainted.

And if you have an SUV, get SUV rims. It will make it look sleek and well kept. Also, consider getting new upholstery if yours is worn. That will increase the value by a lot. So, there are several small things you can do to help increase your car’s wealth.

April 11, 2008: 1:23 pm: CraigAutomotive

I love to spend my weekend at car shows. So many people spend almost all of their time improving the aesthetic of their cars’ appearance and improving how the engine works. I love to look at the paint jobs because of the individual aspect of it. I mean that having a green car says something about the owner just as having a black car does.

My son loves to look at the tires. He takes notes on the tires that he sees and he’s planning on getting some for his car once he makes up his mind. Right now he is deciding between Cooper tires, Toyo tires and a set of General tire.

My other son likes to look at the interiors of all of the cars. He likes the velvet ones but he’s going to get suede for his car because they’re more practical.