The Wheel Warehouse Inc. - About Us - Over 15 years in OEM wheel sales and rim repair or reconditioning
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This section is a group of articles about wheels and other related industries. It is here to inform visitors and bring light to popular subjects surrounding wheels, rims and the automobile industry in general.
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Man uses shotgun on lug nut, with bad results
A man trying to loosen a stubborn lug nut blasted the wheel with a 12-gauge shotgun, injuring himself badly in both legs.
The 66-year man had been repairing a Lincoln Continental for two weeks at his home northwest of Southworth, Wash., and had gotten all but one of the lug nuts off the right wheel by Saturday afternoon, Kitsap County Deputy Scott Wilson said.
From about arm's length, the man fired the shotgun at the wheel and was "peppered" in both legs with buckshot and debris, with some injuries as high as his chin, according to the to the sheriff's office report.
"Nobody else was there and he wasn't intoxicated," Wilson said.
The man was taken to Tacoma General Hospital with injuries Wilson described as severe but not life-threatening.
Associated Press - Nov 13, 2007
How to Read a Tire Sidewall
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Pontiac used Grand Am chrome wheels
Wheel and Rim Purchasing "Do's and Don'ts"
"Wheel & Rim Purchasing do's and don'ts"
Never buy a used auto rim or used automobile rims without knowing if the wheels have been spin tested!
Never buy used auto rims with a disclaimer that there is a few bumps and bruises. (A few bumps and bruises is short for saying that the used wheel has a little bend and a small crack).
Never buy a used car rim if the seller only accepts money orders.
Do not buy a new car wheel from anyone that does not have a return policy.
Do not buy used auto rims that have had cracks welded.
Never purchase a repaired car wheel that has signs of having been beat with a sledge hammer as it may have weakened and prone to cracking.
Do not buy a used car, truck, or SUV rim that has irregular or wallered out lug ports as this wheel is unsafe, It will not hold torque when installed.
Do not buy a used car wheel that has corroded bead seats, as it will leak.
Do not buy used car wheels without a Quality Assurance Guarantee.
Never buy a Motorcycle, Auto, Car, Truck, SUV, or any used rim or wheel that has not been checked for bends, cracks, surface corrosion, lateral & horizontal run out, lug seat integrity, Vibration, bead seat deterioration and overall appearance.
A Used car, truck, SUV, or Motorcycle Rim or wheel can provide years of service if it is in good condition before you buy it.
OR IF YOU CHOOSE TO PLAY IT SAFE YOU CAN BUY YOUR NEXT NEW, USED, OR RECONDITIONED WHEEL OR RIM FROM AN ACU-TRU AUTHORIZED DEALER AND LEAVE ALL THE HASSLES AND WORRIES TO THEM...
The Dayton Daily News - featuring The Wheel Warehouse Inc. "High school memories prompt man's dream car purchase"
Bob Stemple has an interesting, if not unique, reason for buying his 1970 Pontiac Catalina.
"Back in high school in Parkersburg, W. Va., this really cute cheerleader's dad had one. I liked the girl, and I loved the car. Well, now I've got the car, but I never dated the girl. My wife isn't gonna like this answer, but it's the truth," Stemple said.
To make the story unique, this gold, two door hardtop is virtually original.'
"I bought it three years ago in Springfield at a car show. I'd been looking for one for quite a while, and this one had everything I wanted," he said.
The car originated from the Bill Edwards Pontiac dealership in Athens, with a sticker price of $4,685.
Temple replaced the tires and shocks in the car, had the vinyl top dyed red due to some fading, and had clear coat applied to the paint. The Wheel Warehouse Inc. refinished the rally wheels, which are very hard to find. JP Auto Trim in Fairborn fixed a spot on the dash and repair a burn in the driver's seat.
visit the alloy wheel repair section
"The guy at JP had original Pontiac material and vinyl in his shop. He only replaced what he had to, and it's the real stuff. You can't even tell where he did the repair," Stemple said.
Stemple, a retired U.S. Air Force crew chief, suggested that the car be photographed in the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
"I was crew chief on C-141s and C-130s during my tour, and I spent a lot of time working on, and flying in the Hanoi Taxi, one of the more famous C-141s, "he noted. "Working on unique airplanes and old cars is pretty similar; each has its own little characteristics, which you learn by doing."
The Catalina has a little more than 48,000 miles on it. It is powered by a 400-cubic-inch V-8 with a two-barrel carburetor.
"She's got some power, but she drinks only high octane gas. It's always over $3 per gallon, and on a good day I get 17 miles per gallon. That's not really so bad. I get the same mileage on my 2006 (Chevy) Silverado pickup," Stemple said.
By any standards, the Catalina is a big car.
"It easily sits six, and the trunk is big enough to hold all of the luggage for six," Stemple laughed.
Stemple takes the car to local car shows, and makes sure it gets exercised at least once a week.
If you see the car at a local show, make sure to check out one of the few period correct accessories Stemple added, such as a perfect-condition Channel Master 8-track tape player.
As Stemple notes, "It was the Cadillac of tape players in the '70s."
written by Skip Peterson from the Dayton Daily News - May 12, 2007
Tire Maintenance - Taking Care of Your Investment
Proper tire maintenance is the key to maximizing the life of your tires. It is recommended that you rotate your tires every 6,000-8,000 mile. This helps equalize tread wear. It is also important to check tire pressure once a month; more often during the winter;as the temperature drops, so does the pressure in your tires. According to the EPA, properly inflated tires are safer and more fuel efficient.
Avoid Treacherous Potholes
In many areas, the repeated freezing and thawing of moisture during the winter seeps through road surfaces and produces treacherous potholes in the spring. Hitting a pothole can throw your car's front end out of alignment. Damage to your tire and/or the metal wheel of your vehicle can occur when you hit a pothole. The impact on tire increases dramatically depending on the speed at which your vehicle travels. For these reasons, it is best to avoid potholes entirely. If that is not possible, avoid braking during pothole impact. Less severe damage occurs when a tire rolls over a pothole than when it skids during braking.
Cleaning Wheels
Have you ever bought a wheel cleaner from your local auto parts store, only to have it bleach out the finish on your wheels? It happens all the time. Here are 9 steps to properly cleaning your wheels.
Nine Steps to Wheel Care
- Wheels should be cleaned with warm water and mild non-detergent soap, using a cotton cloth or soft sponge applicator.
- Do not use spray wheel cleaners, which can contain caustic chemicals that could stain and/or spot the finish of your wheels.
- Let the wheel cool down completely before applying any cleaning product. Failing to do so may result in unwanted spots or stains.
- Do not use tire cleaners containing harsh chemicals (any acid based cleaner), which can also stain or spot wheels.
- Use only 100% cotton cloths; this avoids scratches caused by synthetic rags or cloths.
- Always use a quality wheel polish
- Carefully polish with the grain of the wheel. Baby powder in the final wipe down will remove fingerprints and oils left from polishing.
- Occasionally clean the back side of the wheel to remove road grime, road salts, brake dust and grease.
- For the final finish, apply a thin coat of car paste wax. Allow to dry and wipe off with a cotton cloth.
visit the alloy wheel repair section
The Big Fix-A-Flat Debate
When your tire fails to hold air pressure and there’s no immediate source of air around, it’s become common practice to run to the truck and grab a can of Fix-A-Flat or any of the other competing “temporary” tire inflator product. While the product does come to assistance and works quite well, it should only be used in cases of extreme emergency as the use of this temporary “band-aid” can actually create a whirlwind of problems for those with aluminum after market wheels.
Now, note that we do mention “aluminum” because the use of this product (if left for a prolonged period) will deteriorate and flake the chrome as well as possibly destroy the seal on three-piece wheels. If left on for way too long, the corrosive properties of the chemicals found ion these cans may also lead to the actual aluminum being “eaten” away. So if you use the product make sure you clean it off and bring it in for service “ASAP”, and again these types of products were built as a temporary fix so it should never be left in.
If Fix-A-Flat is left inside the wheel for an extended period of time, the aluminum wheel itself will also start to deteriorate and eventually begin to leak. This leak will be a slow leak, and in most cases will ruin the tire from under inflation. The only way to fix the leak is to remove the chrome with a heavy brush, have the wheel sealed with silicone (which is a temporary fix) and have it checked periodically.
The simple solution to this problem is very basic. If you have a Fix-A-Flat type product, make sure that you get your tire replaced or repaired as quickly as possible. Make sure that you tell the tire technician or salesperson that you have used the product (it’s a real mess for the tire technician otherwise) and that you would like for that person to clean the Fix-A-Flat product off of the chrome. Even if it is cleaned from the tire, the wheel will need a good “bath”, if you will, to ensure that there are no future problems.
from the 2007 Wheel and Tire Guide
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The Wheel Warehouse Inc | 1-800-941-6400