Did You Know? - The Wheel Warehouse - Used Wheels, Used Rims, Factory Original Wheels, Used OEM Alloy Wheels, Used, Rims, Alloy Wheel Repair, Motorcycle Wheel Repair and Steel Wheels, alloy wheel repair, bent rim repair, aluminum rim, aluminum wheel, bent wheel repair, antique rim and wheel repair in Dayton, OH
Did You Know?
This section is a group of articles about wheels and other related industries. Here we will inform visitors and bring light to popular subjects surrounding wheels, rims and the automobile industry in general.
Article - "Fun Facts About the First Wheel"
Believed to be one of the most important mechanical inventions of all time, the wheel or theory behind can be found in nearly every mechanized system built since the Industrial Revolution. From tiny watch gears to automobiles, jet engines and computer disk drives, the principle is the same.
Based on diagrams on ancient clay tablets, the earliest known use of this essential invention was a potter’s wheel that was used at Ur in Mesopotamia (part of modern day Iraq} as early as 3500 BC. The first use of the wheel for transportation was probably on Mesopotamian chariots in 3200 BC. It is interesting to note that wheels may have had industrial or manufacturing applications before they were used on vehicles.
Egyptian chariots used a spoked wheel for the first time around 2000 BC and it appears to have developed in Europe around 1400 BC without influence from the Middle East. Because the idea of the wheel appears so simple, it’s easy to assume that the wheel would have simply "happened" in every culture when it reached a particular level of sophistication. However, this is not the case. The great Inca, Aztec and Maya civilizations reached an extremely high level of development, yet they never used the wheel. In fact, there is no evidence that the use of the wheel existed among native people anywhere in the Western Hemisphere until well after contact with Europeans.
Even in Europe, the wheel evolved little until the beginning of the nineteenth century. However, with the coming of the Industrial Revolution the wheel became the central component of technology, and came to be used in thousands of ways in countless different mechanisms.
Article found at http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/wheel.htm
The Wheel Warehouse Inc. Awarded "Best of Business
Congratulations to The Wheel Warehouse Inc., The Small Business Commerce Association (SBCA) is pleased to announce that The Wheel Warehouse Inc has been selected for the 2009 Best of Business Award in the Wheels, motor vehicle category. The SBCA Best of Business Award Program recognizes the best of small businesses throughout the country. Using consumer feedback and other research, the SBCA identifies companies that we believe have demonstrated what makes small businesses a vital part of the American economy. The selection committee chooses the award winners from nominees based off information taken from monthly surveys administered by the SBCA, a review of consumer rankings, and other consumer reports.
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"Take Off" Facts
Are your wheels perfect? The answer is that no take-offs are ever perfect. Take-offs are "new" wheels and tires that are removed when a dealer or customer upgrades his car to aftermarket wheels. Most vehicles stay on dealer lots for months before being sold; therefore, are washed two to three times a week, leaving water spots and/or scratches from cleaning rags. As take-offs go, if you can't see it in a picture, it is considered perfect, just as you would not see imperfections when looking at your wheels from three feet away. Other scratches to wheels come from dealer personnel removing the wheels, and leaving the caps upside down on the ground before putting them in a bag with the lug nuts, or removing wheel weights to dismount the tires when removing the sensors. Stacking wheels and tires face up also creates a potential for scratches when the top wheel is put in a vertical position to show a potential customer, the tires having picked up dust and dirt. Used wheels are always sold with "light dings and scratches" mentioned in the ad for the same reason, but amplified by months of use. We do our best to highlight small visible damage, but surface nicks and scratches are normal when buying used items. Please keep in mind, we buy all these items "as is" from dealerships and wheel stores, and unfortunately pass along the imperfections created along the way to the end buyer. As evidenced by our feedback, we do all in our power to describe and photograph all items as best we can, and ask for a chance to solve any problem that might have slipped through our quality control inspection, prior to leaving feedback. Thank you for your business, please send us your referrals!
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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| DOT...the tires meet or exceed the Department of Transportation's safety standards. MA...code number assigned by the DOT to the manufacturing plant. L9...code that represents tire size (in this case P195/75/R14). ABC...group of symbols (opt. with manufacturer) to identity the brand or other significant characteristics of the tire. 036...the date the tire was manufactured; the first two numbers designate the week & the last number(s) indicates the year. In our example, the 3-digit code represents the 3rd week in 1998 and the 4-digit code represents the 3rd week of 2001. |
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.
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"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.
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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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