Wheel Refinishers - World of Wheels

Check Your Tires with a Quarter

2008-07-14T07:01:00.000-07:00

Here is a great article I found from Tire Rack:

"Quarters are safer than pennies when it comes to checking your tires, according to new tests conducted by Tire Rack, the country's largest independent tire tester. With much of the summer travel season remaining and a change of season looming, now is especially important for drivers to be aware of their tires' condition.

For decades the tire industry has taught drivers to use the so-called Penny Test as a simple way to tell when tires were worn out. But experts at Tire Rack say that popular lesson is outdated, compromises safety, and should give way to the Quarter Test.

In the old Penny Test, seeing the top of Lincoln's head while holding a penny upside down in a tire tread groove indicated a tread depth of 2/32-inch (1.6mm) or less, and that the tire needed replacing. Instructions on how to properly check tire tread depth can be found at www.tirerack.com/treaddepth

In driving tests a late-model pickup truck riding on tires that passed the Penny Test - legal in most states - averaged 499.5 feet to stop from 70 miles per hour on wet pavement. That's equal to about 12.5 school busses, or nearly a tenth of a mile.

However, the same vehicle riding on tires that passed Tire Rack's proposed Quarter Test stopped almost 122 feet (24%) shorter. These tires had treads measuring 4/32-inch (3.2mm) deep, as measured from the edge of a quarter to the top of Washington's head. Not only were braking distances significantly reduced, overall grip noticeably improved. Dramatic footage comparing Penny- and Quarter-Tested tires is available online at www.tirerack.com/baldtiredangers

"The Penny Test was an indirect result of tire warranties," explained John Rastetter, director of tire information at Tire Rack. "It is to that depth (2/32") that most warranties remain valid, encouraging drivers to drive longer on tires that don't provide enough wet-weather traction." Tire Rack tests showed that doubling the tread depth at which warranties are voided will improve safety by cutting braking distances and improving traction in the wet. "We know these changes won't happen overnight so we're encouraging drivers to pay more attention to their tires now," he said.

Wet/Snowy roads + Worn tires = A real problem

In 2005 584,000 car crashes occurred in the rain, causing 169,000 injuries and 2,914 fatalities, according to the most current data from the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA). Another 264,000 crashes occurred in snow and sleet, accounting for another 53,773 injuries and deaths.

Rastetter and his team feel many of these incidents were likely related to worn tires since NHTSA data also show some 20 million vehicles have at least one bald tire. In addition, less than one in three (31%) drivers doesn't know how to tell if their tires are bald, according to the Rubber Manufacturers Association, a tire industry trade group. A bald tire is one with less than 2/32-inch of tread depth.

Tire companies spend millions of dollars developing tread patterns that channel water away from under a rolling tire. This channeling allows the tire to stay in contact with road surfaces, especially at highway speeds.

As tires wear, their ability to displace water and grip snow is diminished, increasing the chance of hydroplaning. Hydroplaning occurs when tires are forced up off the pavement by water trapped under the tire. The result is a complete loss of traction that leaves drivers helpless to control their vehicles. By the time a tire is near the end of its service life it can displace a tiny fraction of the water, and grip little of the snow, it could when new.

"Riding on worn or bald tires in rain and snow is like trying to ice skate in dress shoes," said Rastetter, "you're going to lose control.""

Remember if you need new tires, consider buying them and having Wheel Refinishers install them. This is a money saving option!

Those pesky German car wheels.

2008-04-15T03:50:00.001-07:00

Most modern wheels, in particular high-performance aluminum wheels on German vehicles, are painted with the same type of paint and clearcoat used on the body of the vehicle. While durable, the wheel's clearcoat finish is subject to damage from acid compounds, including acid rain, hydrocarbons and acidic cleaners. Likewise, polished and anodized aluminum wheels, not typically protected by a clearcoat, will react (dull or corrode) to both alkaline and acidic conditions.

To properly clean wheels, the car care industry has developed two groups of wheel cleaners: acid and acid-free.

Acid-based wheel cleaners are widely used by detailers and car washes, who need to clean wheels in a hurry. Acid-based cleaners are typically 2% solutions of oxalic, phosphoric and hydrochloric acid. An acid cleaner has no place on any aluminum or fine after-market wheel.

Acid-free wheel cleaners are mild solutions of alkaline solvent, usually ethylene glycol, with a wetting agent. These solutions creep under dirt and brake dust to loosen and lift. Non-acidic cleaners usually require some surface agitation, but are safer to use and will not etch the wheel's finish. Visit our site here to put in a request for wheel repair or call us today to take care of that built up damage and get you on a regular schedule for normal cleaning.

Clean ‘em when they’re dry.

2008-02-16T14:18:00.000-08:00

Most wheel cleaners work best on a dry wheel. Spray the cleaner on the wheel and work evenly into all areas of the wheel with a soft cloth, soft sponge or wash mitt. Try to smooth out any drips or runs so there is an even coating of cleaner over the entire wheel. Allow the wheel cleaner some time to work (3-5 minutes) and gently scrub the wheel with your cloth/sponge/mitt. Some areas of a dirty wheel may require gentle brushing with a soft brush to dislodge the dirt. If areas need additional cleaning, respray with wheel cleaner and gently brush. I repeat the warning, the keywords here "soft" and "gently". The finish on many wheels is acrylic enamel or a high temperature lacquer that is relatively soft and may scratch. Once the dirt/brake dust is loosened, rinse thoroughly with water and dry.

2008-01-22T10:51:00.000-08:00

Wheel Refinishers announces award-winning wheel technology.

SmartWeight Balancer
Using SmartWeight® technology we can provide a tire assembly “road test” while mounted on the unit. This wheel balancing technology locates and eliminates virtually every cause of wheel vibration relating to the tire and rim. We’ll eliminate tire-related pull problems by balancing lateral forces on the front axle and SmartWeight® Balancing Technology.

Wheel Refinishers new balancer solves vibration and tire pull problems balancers and aligners can’t fix.

Going far beyond the traditional functions of a wheel balancer. We measure radial and lateral tire forces and provides instructions for solving ride and handling problems that other balancers and wheel aligners cannot fix.

TC3500 Tire Changer
-New Features Help Service Large Wheels that Others Can’t!

Wheel Refinishers new changer’s exclusive features operate in unison to easily and safely change the world’s toughest new performance tires and wheels. It is the professional’s “standard,” specified and field-proven by car and tire manufacturers, service shops and racing teams.

TC3500 Features
Polymer mount/demount head is a wearing component designed to protect tire and rim.

The floating 3-point Articulating Mounting Arm makes it happen.

Unlike conventional rim clamp mounting arms, there is no swing arm obstruction when servicing extremely wide wheels and tires. By removing the potential of steel-head-contact damage it rides closer than steel-head designs and reduces stress to beads on low-profile tires. No wheel is too big, no profile too low!

Visit wheelrefinisher.com to request wheel repair or refinishing services today!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS!

2007-12-13T06:12:00.000-08:00

We at Mobile Wheel Refinishers are very thankful for having the opportunity to service our customers. Our ambition is to serve every customer beyond their needs. Thank you for allowing us to service your needs, and we look forward to our continued relationship in 2008. HAPPY HOLIDAYS to you and your family. May all of your dents, bends and scratches become like new!

Sincerely,
Dave and The Mobile Wheel Team

Watch Out for Winter Wheel Problems

2007-10-23T10:09:00.001-07:00

Virtually all alloy wheels are painted with silver paint and/or clearcoated. Wheel-balancing weights that clip on scratch that paint, letting corrosive moisture and road salt get to the underlying aluminum. Ditto for any scratch marks — either made by a careless technician who pops off a tape-on weight with a casual flick of a screwdriver or from the occasional brush with road debris or curbs when parking.

Once pitting has gotten a good hold, you’ll need to protect them this winter and eventually have those wheels refinished. Never sandblast alloy wheels, or any other aluminum alloy component — the coarse surface left behind is great for holding paint, but represents millions of tiny stress risers. Those stress marks will degrade the strength of the wheel. Acceptable methods include glass-beading or blasting with crushed walnut shells, polymer media or baking soda, as well as chemical paint remover. Any corrosion pits need to be sanded down, not just filled in with Bondo. Your best bet is always a professional like us.

The biggest tip to not take on further damage this winter is this: Severely corroded wheels can fail, so don’t neglect them. A generous layer of wax will help repel water and salt.

Visit WheelRefinisher.com to contact us for a pickup if your wheels need any fall or winter damage repaired.

Also,

Beware of automatic car washes. Some washes use acid cleaners either before or during the wash to remove dirt and grime. Others use stiff brushes for cleaning wheels and tires. Both of these processes could harm your wheel's finish. Ask the employees or manager of the car wash about their equipment and procedures before entering the wash.

Custom Designed Wheels - Now at Wheel Refinishers

2007-08-27T08:15:00.000-07:00

Hi all -

I just wanted to let everyone know about an awesome new service that we just launched for all of you car, truck and motorcycle enthusiasts. We recently invested some serious money into equipment and infrastructure to begin creating our own custom rim designs. We have many sizes and specs available, so by all means, let us know if you have any thoughts on what you'd like to see....OR, just tell us you need some sweet new rims and we'll hook you up with a design that we feel suits your ride.

Read more about it here: http://www.wheelrefinisher.com/custom_alloy_wheels.html

Dave

p.s. This service is now available at all locations, including Maryland and Michigan locations.

If Only It Could Prevent Hitting Potholes and Curbs...

2007-07-31T08:18:00.000-07:00

Hi all you automotive enthusiasts. I just thought you might get a kick out of reading this article I read in the Baltimore Sun. It's pretty good - but I doubt seriously it will affect our business, because to my knowledge, there has been no pothole warning device installed on today's cars and trucks!

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.dresser30jul30,0,2704304.column

Not Just Wheels

2007-07-31T08:09:00.000-07:00

Hi folks -

Just making sure everyone knows that we also do custom painted parts for cars, trucks and motorcycles. We're not just wheels! Here are some recent examples of the parts we've done in-house:

Don't forget - we're doing these services and more wheel stuff at our new location in Burton, Michigan!

Dave

Wheel Refinishers Expands!

2007-07-31T06:50:00.000-07:00

Wheel Refinishers, Inc has opened a location in central Michigan, just Northwest of Detroit. This full-service location will have the capacity to handle nearly twice as much work as the original Annapolis, Maryland location. This will allow Wheel Refinishers to reach out to some areas of Ohio and Indiana, where car lovers abound.

Wheel Refinishers will begin work immediately at the Michigan location. Here's a full list of services we're offering at the Michigan location:

Rim repair
Rim refinishing
Powder coating
Chroming
Wheel painting
Hub cap painting and replacement
Custom wheel designs
Mobile mount & balance
Wheel & tire sales

So if you're near Burton, Michigan, give us a call at 810.715.1020 and we'll take good care of you.

Thanks!

Dave
3108 East Bristol Rd
Burton, MI 48529
www.wheelrefinisher.com

Do We Sell Wheels?

2007-06-24T19:06:00.000-07:00

I've been getting that question a lot lately. And the answer is YES! That's right, not only do we fix your worn out, damaged and un-aesthetically pleasing wheels and make them brand new, if the damage is too severe to be fixed, we can also source you a new wheel. But even better than that, we offer very competitive pricing on new sets of wheels from your favorite manufacturers.

Here are some of the brands we offer:

5Zigen
Rev Wheels
ASA
Racing Hart
Rota
Volk
BBS
Work Wheels
Roja
Weds
Buddy Club
A Tech
Oz
Motegi
Prodrive
Enkei
Sport Edition
SSR
TR Motorsports
Kazera
Breyton
AMG
AT Italia
ASA
American Racing
Kosei
Moda
Borbet
Rial
Gram Lights
Granite Alloy

We offer free price quotes on rims, so by all means, give us a call. 888.602.wheel

Super Light Wheels - Carbon Fiber and Magnesium

2007-06-24T18:54:00.000-07:00

Check these out, guys. I was following this thread on www.nasioc.com, a local Subaru site when I saw some new wheels that reminded me of my last post about alternative materials for wheels. These are made of Carbon Fiber (the rim) and Magnesium (spokes).

Here's the thread: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1291339

And here's some pics!

These things are SICK. And guess what - if they got damaged, we could fix em..... ; ) Love this new wheel technology.

New Materials For Wheels On The Horizon

2007-06-13T17:30:00.000-07:00

Hi Folks,

I was just doing some reading and came across an article about some new wheel technologies that could be emerging in the coming years. We here at Wheel Refinishers have been following a few stories like this because we want to be sure we're on the forefront of wheel technology. We want to be sure that we can repair or refinish each and every wheel on the road.

Here's the article: http://www.azom.com/details.asp?newsID=8875

Fiber composite rims promise to be really cool and great for performance, but they present a whole new set of challenges. For instance, what happens when you accidentially run your composite rim into the curb? Unlike metals that bend and can be heated and reshaped, a composite rim my crack or break rendering it useless.

We've recently seen a few prototype wheels that use alternate materials, and we're using these prototypes to develop technologies to save damaged wheels of this type. We'll keep you posted on our progress.

Until then, keep 'em off the curbs!

Industrial Fall Out is Our Enemy!

2007-05-07T20:15:00.000-07:00

Most people don’t know what industrial fall out is, but at Wheel Refinishers, it’s our biggest enemy. Industrial fall out or IFO is what does the majority of major damage that we see to the painted finishes of most wheels. So what is it?

IFO is the tiny (often microscopic) airborne particles of metal that are floating around America’s roadways, getting stuck in the paint of both your car’s body panels as well as the wheels. While IFO is often rail dust from America’s roadways, much of today’s IFO is actually brake dust. With all of the cars on the road today, it’s very easy for you to get a ton on your car’s paint (and on our wheels, which are the closest to the road’s surface).

So why is it so damaging? Well, usually IFO from your own car and the cars around you is piping hot. So when it lands on your car’s painted surface, it actually melts the clear coating, setting it into the surface. And, since the IFO is metal, the next time it rains….well, you get the picture. RUST.

At Wheel Refinishers, we pride ourselves on being able to conquer all types of IFO on today’s wheels. We have lots of methods at our disposal to do so, but often, this calls for a complete refinishing of the wheels because of extensive paint or finish damage.

Give us a call if you start noticing little specs of rust and debris stuck to your wheels. We can help you bring them back to OEM shape.

Dave Chandler

The Wheel of the Future?

2007-04-13T14:22:00.000-07:00

Hi wheel/dub lovers,

I was browsing the Web a few weeks ago, trying to read up on the latest and greatest in the world of wheels, when I found a story about some future wheels and tires that Michelin is currently developing.

I did a quick Google search to read some more and landed on THIS press release on Michelin's Web site. Basically, the Tweel will is a wheel and tire that is fused together and constructed in a way that eliminates the need for air. It's very complex, and the only way that I can really figure out to explain it is to show you what they look like:

While they probably won't come out for a while, they are COOL. Even though they're more durable and stand up to more road hazards than standard tires, there IS still the chance that the rims will bend, break and scratch. So when that happens, we'll be there.

Dave Chandler
Wheel Refinishers
www.wheelrefinisher.com

Custom Wheel Paint

2007-04-13T14:18:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone -

In honor of it getting warmer outside, I wanted to share a job we did the other day on a VW convertible. The owner was a young lady that was very proud of her new purchase, and even though the car was only two days old, wanted to do something special--something that nobody else out there had.

So she brought it to our Wheel Refinisher Annapolis location and asked us to use our creativity to create wheels that complimented her car. I don't have a picture of the car, but I do have a picture of the finished wheels. The car was creme colored with a tan fabric convertible top, so we painted the faces and the lip of the wheels creme and the insides tan to match the convertible top. Here's the picture:

I'll be back with more later!

Dave Chandler

Welcome To The World of Wheels

2007-03-14T10:23:00.000-07:00

Hi all -

This is Dave Chandler, owner of Wheel Refinishers, a full-service wheel repair and refinishing shop based in Annapolis, Maryland. Some of you have already seen our Web site at www.wheelrefinisher.com, but this is the inaguaral post on our "World of Wheels" blog.

In this blog, which I hope to update weekly, I'm going to cover all things wheels. This includes a lot of shop-related talk, like store news and some of the work we're doing at any given time (we do some pretty cool stuff). I will also post a lot of industry-related articles and sometimes even pictures, if I think rim-lovers will appreciate them.

Stay tuned for more!

Sincerely,
Dave Chandler
info@wheelrefinisher.com

Our Services - For Those Who Don't Know!

2007-03-14T10:21:00.000-07:00

Hi folks,

Dave Chandler here again. It occured to me after my first post that many people will read our wheel-related blog and not really get it. They might wonder, "why keep a blog about those stupid little round things on the bottom of a car?"

The answer is simple: because they're not just rims to us. They are our life. We immerse ourselves in everything related to the wheel, and have become the experts at repairing and refinishing them, among other things.

Here's a list of our services, available at either our Annapolis or La Plata, Maryland locations:

Rim Repair

Rim Refinishing

Powder Coating

Chroming

Wheel Painting

Custom Wheels

Mobile Mount & Balance

Wheel & Tire Sales

Give me a call today if you need some work done to your dubs! We'd be glad to help you.

Sincerely,

Dave Chandler
info@wheelrefinisher.com