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Phoenix Rim Repair | Express Wheel Repair & Powder Coating

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Brown Tires Making You Frown?

9/1/2020

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Brown Tires Making You Frown?

This month we are talking about tire care. Part of basic auto upkeep includes giving your tires regular TLC. This is assuming you’ve already gotten your rim repair or wheel color coat done here at Phoenix Rim Repair. Once you have spiffy wheels, the next area of focus will have to be your tires. 

Having old, ratty, brown, or dirty tires definitely takes away from the overall look of your vehicle. Not only that, but it is smart to keep tires free of debris and regularly examined so you can ensure an optimal tire life and safety on the road. Be sure your ride is equipped with the right tires and inspected often for wear throughout the year.

If your tires have an unsightly brown glow to them, that is likely due to the antiozonant in the rubber surfacing over time. This is called “tire bloom”. Antiozonant is a chemical added to tire rubber to help preserve the tire surface and integrity. Once this element meets the ozone in the air, the oxidation then turns it brown. Luckily, this process can be improved by regular cleaning, conditioning and tire protectant, as explained below. 

Tire Cleaner
Tire cleaning doesn’t have to require any special products. A simple do it yourself “DIY” method will suffice. First spray down the tires with a strong garden hose. Next, add one teaspoon of dish soap per gallon of warm water. Apply the solution with a rag or spray bottle to saturate and let the soap do its job. Let set for a few minutes before rinsing and then dry with a towel or cloth.
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Tire Conditioner
After a good cleaning, it is beneficial to use a tire conditioner you trust. A tire conditioner is a deep penetrating, and hydrating solution which is often formulated with UV inhibitors, it protects your tires from future sun damage as well. 
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Tire Protectant
A good tire protectant keeps tires looking newer, longer. There are all-in-one protectant products for any parts of your vehicle that include rubber, finished leather, plastic, vinyl, PVC, gel coat & fiberglass surfaces. A good tire protectant offers a decent defense against fading and cracks over time with regular use. And to give your tires a quick gleam between deep cleans, you can make an easy DIY tire-shine solution yourself. 

Don’t Ignore Tread
Lastly, during all this tire lovin’, it is important to monitor your tire’s tread when you are in the process of cleaning. A tire tread study done by Consumer Reports found that common tires can last as many as 70k miles before needing to be replaced. This is not to say that there aren’t exceptions to this – if you race your vehicle or typically drive on rough terrain or off-road – tires will endure much more wear and tear. Keep in mind that tires can vary in lifespan depending on the quality and how or what you drive on, so be sure to check the tread regularly. 

Check out our post on how to care for your wheels. 

We recommend this tire TLC 1-2 times a month, or even once a week if possible, for best results. Just as not all drivers are the same, not all tires are the same, so results may vary. If you want healthy long-lasting tires with less “blooming”, a commitment to regular tire care will help a lot more than you might think.

PS. The current pandemic and less vehicle use means it is a great time to drop your car off for a wheel color coat, wheel repair or refinishing. What are you waiting for? Fill out our quick quote form and leave the rest to us. We are the best in Phoenix – click here to see why. 
phoenix tire care tires tire shine tread clean
Photo Credit: Tim Meyer
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Your Wheels Are Two-Faced, Part 2

8/28/2019

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​Your Wheels Are Two-Faced, Part 2

Picture
Photo Credit: Taras Chernus
This month, we continue with our discussion about wheel hardware and design from last month.

At Phoenix Rim Repair, we are familiar with wheel structure because we work with naked wheels (wheels without tires) every day. There is a lot to wheels and rims that the lay person is completely oblivious to. Behind the visible cosmetic face (outer facing wheel surface) there are many important components making up a good wheel and its relationship to your vehicle. What are these? Read on to learn more about the secret life of your wheels.

Dish
The exterior of a 3-piece wheel, the dish is the portion of the wheel that sits beyond the spokes. In contrast, a “deep-dish” wheel spoke sits below the outer lip and is mainly for aesthetic purposes. Important to note here is that the deeper the dish, the more susceptible the wheel face is to damage from impacts. The wheel can become bent on the outer edge or crunch the dish against a spoke causing it to crack. This kind of crack is difficult to repair to the level needed because it’ll lose some of its original strength and integrity.

Spokes
Wheel spokes are located between the plate and outer wheel edge. Spokes support the wheel’s edge and help it to resist impacts. As you are probably aware, spokes vary greatly in appearance - from the typical 5-spoke pattern to more minimalist designs, and even some unusual wheel concepts. These designs are responsible for its resistance to damage, so not only is appearance important, the material integrity is equally so. In certain cases, a welding repair could possibly make the wheel a detriment to safety and performance.

Bolt Circle
Self-explanatory, the circle design that the wheel lug bolts appear is called the bolt circle. The Bolt Circle Diameter, or BCD plus the number of bolts used makes up the “bolt pattern”. For instance, 5 lug bolts at a 5.25-inch BCD can be described as a 5x5.25” bolt pattern. Bolt patterns vary between auto manufacturers, model types and years. For example, despite earlier models, many BMW wheels are 5x120mm. On the other hand, most Mercedes wheels are 5x112mm bolt pattern. This is why it is typically impossible to cross-mingle wheels between other car brand and models.

If you missed the first part of our list, click here to go to last month’s post.

Call or fill out our quick quote form and see what wheel improvements we can do for you!
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Your Wheels Are Two-Faced, Part One

7/24/2019

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​Your Wheels Are Two-Faced, Part One

At Phoenix Rim Repair, we are familiar with wheel structure because we work with naked wheels every day. There is a lot to wheels and rims that the lay person is completely oblivious to. Behind the visible cosmetic face (outer facing wheel surface) there are many important components making up a good wheel and its relationship to your vehicle. What are these? Read on to learn more about the secret life of your wheels.

Plate
First things first, the essential core. Around the center bore is a hefty metal plate with the function of connecting all the major players in the wheel  - the lug bolts/holes, wheel core, and axle. This sweet spot spoons the surface of the rotor. This configuration happens at the center of the wheel and is responsible for the integrity of the entire wheel-axle setup.

Valve Stem
Not to be forgotten, is the stem used to air-fill tires that must protrude through the wheel surface. This consists of a small hole drilled in the wheel to make way for the air valve. This hole can make one side of the wheel lighter than the other, meaning a good spin balancer will have to compensate for it. Valve stems come in all types, from snap-in rubber stems to fancy metal stems with rubber gasket seals.

Center Bore
Anything but a bore, the circular hole in the middle of the wheel is perhaps the most exciting aspect of wheel fit and performance. The center bore refers to the size of the hole where the spigot/axle fits through. This bore is also known as spigot size, and refers to the diameter of hole, usually measured in millimeters. The wheel’s center bore must match the spigot size of the car's axle seat.

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) wheels are made to fit snugly on their original axle seats of their designated cars. However, when dealing with aftermarket wheels, care must be taken to ensure that the size is the same or slightly larger than the OEM center bore size - large enough to fit over the axle. Many aftermarket wheels are designed to accommodate this and will have center bores larger than the OEM size. Hub-centric spacers can be used to fill the overage and keep the wheel functioning properly.

Our list continues next month, so stay tuned…

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How to Survive a Road Trip this Winter

1/7/2019

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​ How to Survive a Road Trip this Winter

The last slightly measurable dusting of snow in the Phoenix area happened in 1998, but that doesn’t mean that places just a few hours away like Prescott and Flagstaff don’t get a good share of snowfall every winter.

Many people choose to forego the crazy airport chaos and instead decide to drive to see family and friends over the holidays or during a winter vacation.

We want to help you out with safety on the road in snowy and wet conditions, (after all we wouldn’t want you to be in an accident, and ruin those wheels!).

Tire Tread & Pressure Check
Start by checking the tread of your tires. A quick check can be performed with a penny. Insert your penny into the tread groove with Lincoln’s head upside down, facing you. If you can see all of Abe’s head, your tread has worn down to less than the recommended 2/32 inch and it’s time to replace your tires.

Next, check your tire pressure – as temperatures drop, so does the pressure in your tires. For every 10 degrees the temperature drops, your tires will lose air pressure. Having properly inflated tires is not only good for your safety, but also good for gas mileage.

Invest in Good Wipers
It’s difficult to drive safely if you can’t see. Don’t wait to replace your windshield wipers if yours are streaking, skipping, or smearing. Most auto shops and retailers can look up the proper size for your year, make, and model of car. The last thing you need is to be on a slick road with poor visibility.

Slow and Steady Wins the Winter Road
You and everyone else on the road who is stuffed full of eggnog and holiday food (or eager to go eat it) just want to get to where you are going. We get it. However, speed is your enemy in rainy or snowy conditions. It’s time to slow down and use caution. This can help increase traction in the slush and snow. Everything will take a little longer on wet pavement than on dry pavement, so when turning, stopping, and when driving in general, slow it down.

Avoid Cruise Control
Using cruise control in inclement weather conditions is not recommended. Road hazards (including other inexperienced-in-weather drivers) are heightened and your foot needs to be ready for action! In addition, using cruise control while driving on wet roads can increase the chances of hydroplaning.

Headlights Help
Visibility in the winter is often low thanks to daylight savings time, fog or mist. Keep your headlights on to increase your visibility to other drivers and to avoid low visibility dangers.

Take a Raincheck
If the weather is particularly nasty, try to wait it out or avoid it all together. Fewer people on the road during less than ideal conditions improve safety for everyone, and can provide just the excuse you needed to have a cozy day inside by the fire/space heater/radiator sipping spiked eggnog.

Lastly, winter and rainy conditions can cause minor scrapes and dings to your wheels because it can be harder to control your vehicle in those conditions. We are always here to repair or refinish your wheels should they succumb to any damage on that winter trip you took.

Don’t delay! Snap a couple of photos of your wheels and fill out our quote form and we’ll respond typically within a day.  
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