34 - Friday, June 24 1994 - North Shore News TARES WITH serious tread > wear problems, like this one displayed by Tireland Performance owner Paul McAlduff, may need replacing. A wheel alignment can help preverit this type of wear from occurring. | “Guaranteed quality - parts & service at a reasonable price” VAY oo @ lite body shop itd. [y Free pick up & drop | off service on the North Shore NEWS photo Miko Wakefield | Improvements in technology can spell confusion for drivers Your Paint Professionals | 2 | TUNE-UP, 4 | acy, BS" ig inctudes new spark plugs, g electronic engine analysis, adjust timing & carburetor i@ 6 & 8 cylinder... "4 Tune-ups wv Brakes | ¥ Shocks & Struts v Fuel Injection Service v/v Cooling Systems / Steering Components Jv Engine Repairs § & 16 point safety check Two year written guarantee on all bodywork More than 25,000 vehicles repaired Quality service since 1966 Brand new state- of-the art Paint Booth _ for 28 years 142 FELL AVE. N. VANCOUVER 71-4408 SERVICE & WE'RE SUPER CONVENIENT. WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR? DELUXE FRONT ) BRAKES $ g Includes metallic pads, machine H rotors, service wheel bearings, fear wheel adjust & more. | OIL CHANGE Sq G88 Includes up to 4 litres oil, new filter Clip these coupons an —_ save now! All work guaranteed from coast te coast CALL TopAY 926-7353 MINIT-TUNE & BRAKE 1525 CLYDE AVE. (AT 15TH WEST VANGOUVE AUTOMOTIVE TIRE technology has taken great strides over the past few years. Advances in the con- struction, tread design and rubber compounds offer the consumer a bewildering choice when it's time to replace worn-out tires. By Mare Rovner Contributing Writer In addition to the tire size and load ratings, manufacturers stamp a speed rating designation on the sidewall of each tire. The speed rating is a single letter code that corresponds to the maxi- mum speed the tire can be safely operated at. These ratings are “S,” up to 180 km/h; “H,” up to 210 km/h; “V,” up to 240 km/h; and “Z," for over 240 km/h. These designations are not nec- essarily indicative of the braking and handling characteristics of each tire. Overall performance of a tire is dictated by carcass design (the inner pact of the tire), sidewall flexibility, rubber compounds and tread design. As with most things in life, there are trade-offs from one tire to another. As Paul McAlduff, owner of Tireland Performance Center explains, “a tire that offers excep- tional performance on a dry road may not be the best tire in the rain and vice-versa. “High performance tires that offer increased adhesion to the road will generally not have as long a tread life, largely because high per- formance tires tend to use softer rubber compounds. Performance tires also tend to have stiffer side- walls resulting in a harsher ride.” As the performance capabilities of new cars has improved, manu- facturers are using higher perfor- mance tires as original equipment. Many new cars today have per- formance capabilities far in excess of most people's driving abilities and certainly in excess of what the law allows, However, car manufacturers have no way of knowing whether a given car will be operated at 30% or * 999% of its capabilities, In the inter- est of safety and to protect them- selves from possible litigation, companies select tires that meet or exceed the vehicle’s abilities. When the time comes to replace the original tires, it can be very con- fusing and very expensive. “Tam often asked, ‘If my car originally came with ‘V’ speed rated tires, do I have to replace them with tires of the same speed rating?” McAlduff said. “The answer is a qualified yes. There are ‘H’ rated tires on the mar: ket that will out-perform ‘V’ rated tires. The issue seerns to be ‘Do I] really have to spend the extra - money to buy ‘V’ rated tires?’ 1. explain that we need to analyse an individual’s driving style before we can honestly recommend a specific tire. Perhaps now more than ever. before, it is important to consult a knowledgeable tire dealer ic