1970 was a terrifying time to drive a car if you were a woman, just ask Goodyear. The manly tire company approved this ad which let American men know that its Polyglass tire would keep the little woman safe, even if she had to drive to the airport…alone! Slide over lady; let a man take the wheel.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
This incredibly detailed “nokian” tire is actually a cake created by a Russian artisan (or bakery, we’re not really sure) called Zhanna located in St. Petersburg.Though we don’t have any real details about the operation, we did find a whole passel of additional amazing confections by the talented baker, at the laughable haha.nu. We’ll admit that not all of these cakes have an automotive theme but we were too blown away not to share them with you. Our favorite has got to be the cash machine, enjoy.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Kumho Tires has designed an all-weather tire that replaces the smell of rubber with the sweet scent of fresh lavender. Yes, Kumho has designed a tire to smell like lavender.
The Ecsta DX Aroma, according to Tire Rack, is designed for “trend-setting, fashion-conscious drivers who enjoy products that will set their luxury coupes and sedans apart from everyone else’s.”
Kumho has developed a special mixing technology to synthetic oils that provide the scent into the tire compound. The heat-resistant oils are said to improve the viscoelasticity of the rubber; so not only does the compound smell nice, it improves stopping distance.
The lavender scent is said to last one year and, of course, smells stronger when the tires are warm. But, it all seems to be a moot effort, as gear heads and car aficionados alike, love the intense smell of burning rubber.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Ford’s headed to SEMA with a battery of Foci, a pair of Mustangs, and a set of the Fusion/MKS cousins. All will be customized with a range of aftermarket goodies including turbochargers, superchargers, big rims, bodykits, and of course loud stereos.
The Focus hasn’t been universally praised for its looks, and the aftermarket has certainly turned some beautiful cars into ugly ducklings in the past, so we’re looking forward to seeing these Foci in the flesh before we pass judgment. Hey, we’re just happy a few people have decided to add some power to their show cars instead of just coping out and running a 5000 watt stereo and ginormous rims.
Don’t forget the WINDING ROAD crew will be in Vegas for the SEMA show and we’ll have live updates for you in less than two weeks. Until then, enjoy this gallery of Ford’s SEMA vehicles. (Follow the jump to read more about each of the Ford vehicles that will be at SEMA this year.)
BMW owners looking for a little more performance no longer need to leave the dealership. BMW performance parts are designed to enhance the performance of your BMW and retain the full factory warranty, if installed by an authorized dealer at the time of purchase. Other installations still benefit from a two-year unlimited mileage warranty.
Sadly, the majority of 2007 and 2008 models aren’t supported by the current product offerings. Only the 3-series and Z4 lines are covered at this time. Owners of 2006 and earlier examples of the 3-series have the greatest parts selection.
Products meet safety and emission regulations for all fifty states, unlike some aftermarket components. The offerings include basic modifications like performance exhaust, a less restrictive air intake, an engine performance kit, shift kit, strut tower braces, suspension kit, lighter wheels, larger brakes, and a lower gear ratio for the rear differential. We regret to inform you the performance differential does not include a limited slip.
(Click through to read BMW’s full press release and see the performance gains for each product.)
Our friends at SEMA put the ‘urban-lifestyle’ segment under the microscope, to see what’s hot in the aftermarket, both in terms of accessories and the vehicles that consumers put them on.
SEMA notes that the market reminds somewhat of the rather stagnant sport-compact scene, devotees of which historically tended to spend as much (or more) money on appearance items than they did performance parts.
The organization’s Top 5 vehicles owned by segment enthusiasts are interesting in that they focus not on a specific iteration of a model, but rather multiple generations of the same product. To wit:
On the accessories front, custom wheels lead the way, with fully 77-percent of consumers opting for new rollers, with the number two accessory being an alarm system, which is probably just as well considering how much money urban lifestyle enthusiasts tend to spend on their rides to boost their visibility. (Click through to the jump for SEMA’s breakdown of accessory spending)
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is calling upon Foreign Tire Sales to recall some 450,000 Chinese-made tires. The manufacturer, Hangzhou Zhongce has admitted that a decision to omit gum strips (a bonding agent) in their tires has lead to tread separation woes, the phenomenon made infamous during the Firestone/Ford Explorer fiasco.
Foreign Tire apparently became concerned over potential tread separation issues more than a year-and-a-half ago, but it didn’t inform NHTSA until June 11. Federal pressure could push New Jersey-based Foreign Tire into bankruptcy, as there are fears that the importer could go under because of the estimated $50 million recall cost.
In the States, the truck and SUV tires in question have been sold under names including Compass, Telluride, Westlake, and YKS from as far back as 2001.
Much to the chagrin of hubcap collectors and salesmen everywhere, alloy wheels have really taken over all segments of the marketplace in the last ten years. But could their days be numbered?
German publication Automobilwoche reports that plastic or composite wheels may be the next big thing. The latter isn’t pie-in-the-sky stuff, as carbon fiber pieces from British manufacturer Dymag are already employed on pricy exotics like the Mosler MT900, Koenigsegg CCX, and Callaway C16.
A new simulator developed by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft research facility in Europe could further the cause, as its new testing equipment should allow designers to see if plastic and composite wheels meet industry safety laws.
So… why plastic? Down the road, such wheels could cost less, but the more immediate benefit is likely to be lighter weight, and as any racer worth his/her salt knows, minimizing unsprung weight is particularly important.
With tire-pressure monitoring systems as a federal mandate for all 2008 vehicles, the next logical step could be on-board central tire inflation systems, potentially doing away with the need for gas station air pumps.
The technology isn’t exactly new on production vehicles, as both the military and civilian versions of the Hummer H1 were so-equipped in order facilitate heightened off-road ability, and heavy-duty trucks have used similar systems for well over a decade. However, no manufacturer that we’re aware of offers a CTIS on a traditional automobile.
The folks at MAXAIR argue that this needn’t be the case, however. Their patented new ATMI (Automatic Tire Monitoring & Inflation) system employs a network of sensors tied to an onboard compressor that detects low pressure and automatically fills a vehicle’s tires. The company claims that their system is much more accurate than standard OEM tire pressure monitors, and that it is prepared to offer the system to automakers for around $200 per vehicle.
If the system is reliable, we’re all in favor of having something like it hit the market as optional equipment on new vehicles. That said, we can’t help but wonder if having one’s tires automatically optimally inflated would result in more and more people forgetting to check on the general roadworthiness of their tires (tread depth, etc.).
What do you think… if a hands-off “smart” CTIS system were available as an option on your next vehicle, would you consider purchasing it? Have your say in ‘Comments.’
On an overcast Saturday morning, One Lappers lined up to participate in their first event, the wet skid pad challenge. Here, each car was to do a total of six laps (three clockwise, three counter-clockwise) around the circular track (located just outside of The Tire Rack’s facilities), hoping to pull the highest lateral acceleration figures (G’s) overall and within their respective classes.
Overall, a Hennessy-prepped Porsche took top honors with 0.920 G (not too shabby on soaked tarmac), followed by a full-on race Chevrolet Cavalier with 0.898 G and an Audi S6 with 0.888 G. Full results for the event are available here.
We’ll be revisiting the back in one week when the drivers will run on the same skid pad, although the surface should be dry next time (unless Mother Nature dictates otherwise). However, the competitors’ cars will have the same tires mounted on them as when they started, which could prove troublesome for some competitors.
Click the images below for more images from the wet skid event.
The Tire Rack is not just a sponsor to One Lap, it is also the starting and finishing point of the entire ten-day event. The retail giant has been in business since 1979 and has quickly become Indy’s performance specialist.
TTR’s staff is well-regarded for their customer service skills, and legend has it that employees actually spend time behind the wheel of performance cars on their very own track outside of the South Bend facilities.
Most enthusiasts just know the company from their multi-page advertisements in seemingly every automotive publication, but their headquarters in South Bend actually has a large service bay where customers can drive in and get new tires, wheels, brakes, alignment jobs, and so on.
In addition, participating tire manufacturers are offering drivers a 25-percent rebate on tires purchased from The Tire Rack during One Lap. That’s not just pure generosity from the event’s title sponsor, as all competitors are required to purchase their specially-marked tires from the Rack. Fortunately, they’re generally regarded as being among the best in the business in terms of selection, cost, and service, so that’s usually not a hardship for racers. Drivers are allowed to purchase up to ten tires and get the rebate, though it’s not unusual to see racers stocking their trailers with extra sets on their return rides home at the end of the week.
Click the images below for a look inside The Tire Rack’s massive facilities.
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