Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Driving Emergency - Run-Off-Road


                                                    Driving emergency tips from AAA

Sunday, January 29, 2023

We Are Star Tech European

 

We are a European Automotive Service and Repair facility. We specialize in Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Porsche, Jaguar, Audi, Volkswagen, Volvo, and Mini.

From minor services like oil changes to major repairs, we are skilled and ready to service your vehicle with care and thoroughness. With over 40 years of experience, we have the knowledge to give you the best service possible.

Unlike most repair facilities, Don Westhaver the owner of this facility is the head mechanic!


                                             23 Union Way

                                            Vacaville, CA

                                            707-455-8870



Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Top 10 Most Expensive Car Crash Tests Of All Time


For most car manufacturers, a crash test often means sending about a dozen cars to a crash test facility where the vehicles will be tortured, destroyed, and abandoned in most cases. The more expensive the car is, the more money its maker has to spend for the tests. Here are some of the biggest spenders in the industry. ---------------------- 10) Range Rover Velar 9) Audi Q8 8) Tesla Model S 7) Porsche Taycan 6) Mercedes-Benz G-Class 5) Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG 4) Lamborghini MurciƩlago 3) Bugatti Veyron 2) Koenigsegg Regera 1) Pagani Huayra

Sunday, January 22, 2023

2023 BMW i4 | Talking Cars with Consumer Reports #393


You'd be forgiven for thinking that if a car is electric, it has to have a minimalist design, with weird door handles and every function controlled through a touchscreen. But the BMW i4 both looks and feels very much like a traditional sports car. But is that a good thing? We discuss the BMW i4 M50 we purchased for our test program, how it performs on our track, its questionable range, whether it carries on the "ultimate driving machine" lineage of its parent company, and how it compares to EV competitors from Tesla, Genesis, and Hyundai.


Thursday, January 19, 2023

The 2022 Jaguar F-Type R still has a SUPERCHARGED V8!


2022 Jaguar F-Type R review by The Straight Pipes. The Jaguar F Type R is putting down 575 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque from a Supercharged 5L V8. At $136,760 CAD, would you take it over the Porsche 911, Lexus LC500?

Friday, January 13, 2023

10 Things Everyone Should Know About Tires


By Eric Peters, Automotive Columnist

You probably know tires are made of rubber — but how much more do you know? Here’s a run-through of some important tire-related terminology:

1) Aspect ratio

This technical-sounding term refers to the relationship between the width of a tire and the height of the tire’s sidewall. High-performance “low profile” tires have “low aspect ratios” — meaning their sidewalls are short relative to their width. This provides extra stiffness and thus better high-speed handling and grip — but also tends to result in a firmer (and sometimes, harsh) ride. “Taller” tires tend to provide a smoother ride and better traction in snow.

2) Contact Patch

As your tires rotate, only a portion of the total tread is actually in contact with the ground at any given moment.  This is known as the contact patch.  Think of it as your tire’s “footprint.” Sport/performance-type tires are characterized by their wider footprint — more tread is in contact with the ground — which provides extra grip, especially during hard acceleration on dry pavement and during high-speed cornering.

3) Treadwear indicators

These are narrow bands built into the tread during manufacturing that begin to show when only 1/16 of the tire’s tread remains. Also called wear bars, treadwear indicators are there to provide an obvious visual warning that it’s time to shop for new tires.

4) Speed ratings

An alpha-numeric symbol you’ll find on your tire’s sidewall that tells you the maximum sustained speed the tire is capable of safely handling. An H-rated tire, for example, is built to be safe for continuous operation at speeds up to 130 mph. Most current model year family-type cars have S (112 mph) or T (118 mph) speed ratings. High performance cars often have tires with a V (149 mph) or  ZR (in excess of 149 mph) speed rating. A few ultra-performance cars have W (168 mph) and even Y (186 mph) speed-rated tires.

5) Maximum cold inflation load limit

This refers to the maximum load that can be carried in a given vehicle with a given type of tires — and the maximum air pressure needed to support that load. In your vehicle’s owner’s manual, you should be able to find the recommended cold inflation load limit. It’s important not to exceed the load limit (or over or under-inflate the tires) as this can lead to stability/handling problems and even tire failure. Always check tire pressure “cold.” Driving creates friction which creates heat; as the tires warm up, the air inside expands, increasing the pressure. Measuring air pressure after driving can give a false reading; you may actually be driving around on under-inflated tires.

6) Load index

This number corresponds to the load carrying capacity of the tire. The higher the number, the higher the load it can safely handle. As an example, a tire with a load index of 89 can safely handle 1,279 pounds — while a tire with a load rating of 100 can safely handle as much as 1,764 pounds. It’s important to stick with tires that have at least the same load rating as the tires that came originally with the vehicle — especially if it’s a truck used to haul heavy loads or pull a trailer. It’s ok to go with a tire that has a higher load rating than the original tires; just be careful to avoid tires with a lower load rating than specified for your vehicle, even if they are less expensive. Saving a few bucks on tires is not worth risking an accident caused by tire failure.

7) Radial vs. bias-ply tire

Bias-ply tires have their underlying plies laid at alternate angles less than 90 degrees to the centerline of the tread; radials have their plies laid at 90 degrees to the centerline of the tread. That’s the technical difference. The reason radial tires are dominant today is that they help improve fuel efficiency and handling; they also tend to dissipate heat better than bias-ply tires. No modern passenger cars come with bias-ply tires these days and their use is generally not recommended. (Exceptions might include older/antique vehicles that originally came equipped with bias-ply tires. Some RVs also used bias-ply tires, etc.) It is very important never to mix radial and bias-ply tires; dangerously erratic handling may result.

8) LT and MS tires

These designations indicate “Light Truck” and “Mud/Snow” — and are commonly found on tires fitted to SUVs and pick-ups. LT-rated tires are more general purpose, built primarily for on-road use — while MS-rated tires typically have more aggressive “knobby” tread patterns designed for better off-road traction.

9) Temporary Use Only

Many modern cars come with so-called “space-saver” tires which are smaller and lighter than a standard or full-size spare tire. They are designed to leave more room in the trunk and be easier for the average person to handle when a roadside tire change becomes necessary. However, they are not designed to be used for extended (or high-speed) driving. Your car will probably not handle (or stop) as well while the Space Saver tire is on – and you should keep your speed under 55 mph and avoid driving on the tire beyond what’s absolutely necessary to find a tire repair shop where you can have your damaged tire repaired or replaced.

10) Treadwear, Traction and Temperature ratings

Each tire has three separate ratings for Treadwear, Traction and Temperature.

Traction ratings run from AA to A to B and C — with C being the lowest on the scale. The ratings represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement under controlled testing conducted by the government. C-rated tires are marginal and should be avoided. Never buy a tire with a Traction rating that isn’t at least equal to the minimum rating specified by the manufacturer of your vehicle.

Temperature ratings from A to B to C — with C being the minimum allowable for any passenger car tire. The ratings correspond to a given tire’s ability to dissipate heat under load; tires with lower ratings are more prone to heat-induced failure, especially if driven at high speeds (or when overloaded). As with Traction ratings, never buy a tire with a Temperature rating that’s less than specified for your vehicle.

Treadwear ratings differ from Traction and Temperature ratings in that they aren’t a measure of a tire’s built-in safety margin. Instead, these ratings — represented by a three digit number — give you an idea of the expected useful life of the tire according to government testing. A tire with a Treadwear rating of 150, for example, can be expected to last about 1.5 times as long as a tire with a Treadwear rating of 100. These are just guides, however. Your tires may last longer (or not) depending on such factors as how you drive, whether you maintain proper inflation pressure and rotate the tires per recommendations — and so on.

Comments?

www.ericpetersautos.com


Tuesday, January 10, 2023

20 Most Expensive Cars In The World


Cars aren’t cheap. We all know that. But some cars? Some are so pricey that will literally drain your bank account of all funds. The price of the cars in this video will make your eyes water and your wallet cry. These are the most expensive cars in the world!

Saturday, January 7, 2023

BMW XM - Walk-around


BMW M CEO Franciscus van Meel and Head of BMW Design Domagoj Dukec present details of the BMW XM. Discover the Expressive Lifestyle with the XM. More information: https://www.bmw-m.com/en/all-models/o...

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Meet the Volvo EX90


A new era has begun. Hear first-hand from the people leading us forward, as we introduce you to the Volvo EX90. See more of the new, fully electric SUV at https://volvoca.rs/3NOBdN0

Sunday, January 1, 2023

World's Coolest Concept Car - Mercedes AVTR


This is the Mercedes AVTR, the coolest concept car in the world. This car can crab walk, be driven in both the left and right seats and has a million cool features. Today we show you around why this car is so special and even get to drive it in Dubai. Thanks to @MercedesBenz Presenter: @Sergi.Galiano