Driving 101: the most important aspect of driving is safety. Sure, we all understand the fundamental safety tips which include obeying the speed limit, using turn signals to change lanes, knowing your surroundings, and not multitasking – especially now since using your cell phone is illegal! But what about changing a tire? If you do not know how to change a tire, waiting for an auto club response vehicle is very unsafe. Anyone learning to drive should learn how to change a tire to stay safe when on the road. If changing a tire is new to you, follow these steps on your way to successfully changing your first tire:

1. When you realize you have a flat tire, pull off the road as far away from traffic as possible, making sure you are on a solid, flat surface. Place the car in park and apply the parking brake. Do not change your tire on a hill or on soft ground. Chicopee Nissan recommends to all customers wanting to perform maintenance on their own, remember one thing: safety first.
2. Remove the spare tire and the jack from your vehicle to begin. They are most likely stored in your trunk. Your owner’s manual can also be of assistance and should be stored inside your vehicle.
3. Place the jack under your vehicle on the frame and raise it until it is supporting the vehicle, not lifting it.
4. Loosen the lug nuts by turning the socket wrench counterclockwise.
5. Next, raise the jack until the tire is off the ground. Now you can remove the lug nuts completely and then the tire from the wheel.
6. Once the flat tire is off the wheel, you can now put on the spare tire. Align the rim of the tire to the bolts of the wheel and then apply the lug nuts.
7. Tighten the lug nuts by hand until they are snug on the wheel.
8. You can now lower the car to the ground but do not put full weight on the new tire until you tighten the lug nuts as much as possible with the socket wrench.
9. Lower the car completely to the ground, remove the jack, and tighten the nuts once again.

The final step of the process is to put the flat tire in the trunk along with the jack and all of your tools so you can take the tire to a mechanic for repair. It is not advised to drive excessive distances on the spare tire.

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Visit our auto repair blog for more information.

Recent data shows that more and more people are buckling up. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), seat belt usage has increased to 84 percent, a new record high. Each percentage point is said to represent 280 additional lives saved from these crucial safety device.

Seats belts have been widely used for over a decade, and since 1994 deaths stemming from unrestrained passengers have decreased dramatically. Many states now have laws enforcing seat belt use which has helped to improve how many users are using seat belts, and the fatality rate is also lower in those states. Seat belt usage also varies by region points out one dealer specializing in Pittsburgh used Mercedes-Benz, with the highest usage rates in Western states.

Seat belt use also varies by the type of vehicle as well. For example, a higher percentage of seat belt use is found among passengers of minivans and SUVs which does not surprise Pittsburgh Nissan dealers. Occupants of minivans and SUVs typically include families and those who purchase a car with child safety in mind.

Pioneered by Volvo, the three-point safety belt is by no means a new safety device. However, Boston Toyota believes that the seat belt will continues to be regarded as the most important automotive safety device. And with wider seat belt use, fatalities are decreasing which just goes to show how important this device is despite the range of more recent technologies and safety innovations.

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More stories on auto safety are coming your way.

At some point or another, everyone needs to find tires for their vehicle. Different tires wear at different intervals, and driving patterns also contribute to variable wear and tear. But depending on the brand of tire, the mileage rating, and how many tires you actually need, tires could become very costly, and you might need some tips to help you find the best deals.

Newspapers usually have weekly ads from tire companies and other auto service facilities that have specials on new tires. By starting to look early, rather than waiting until the last possible minute to find tires, Auto Body Pittsburgh say it increases your chances of finding a really good deal on new tires.

The next step is to right down your current tire size. Take the number to a few tire different places to determine which has the best deals for the exact tires you need. There are general service centers, car dealers, or tire-specific retailers such as a BMW dealer Los Angeles that carry tires. Even if you don’t absolutely need to replace all four tires, there are usually better deals available when replacing them all at once. You may also want to inquire as to any additional fees that are included on top of the total price of the tires, which Toyota Accessories Online warns is a common problem that arises among smaller garages that are often less than forthcoming about such information. These fees may include tire balancing, the disposal of your old tires, or a warranty included with the new tires.

You may also find that so called discount tire places may not necessarily have the best deals if you do your homework. Checking weekly ads will be a good way to help you find the best price on a set of new tires. Increasingly, online retailers such as TireRack.com may also offer competitive deals and convenience.

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Stores about new car safety features coming soon.