Howard Fleischmann
Automotive Tire & Repair Specialist
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Co-authored Articles (28)
How to
Let Air Out of a Tire
If your tires are overfilled with air or you need to transport them, you may want to deflate them. Both vehicle tires and bike tires have valves located in them that control the flow of air in and out of the tire. Once y...
How to
Put Tires on Rims
Mounting tires yourself can save you some money, especially if you have access to a tire mounting machine. However, you can also mount your own tires at home using little more than a pry bar and a great deal of effort. I...
How to
Check Tire Tread with a Penny
The penny test is an easy way to check the tread on your vehicle’s tires. Just place a penny with Lincoln’s head upside down between 2 ribs on your tire. If you see his entire head, it’s time for new tires. Proper ...
How Old Are Your Tires? Reading the DOT Code & Replacing Old Tires
It’s important to know how old your tires are so that your car is safe on the road, but where do you find that information? Telling the age of a tire is a breeze—just locate the Department of Transportation code on t...
How Close to the Sidewall You Can Safely Patch or Plug Your Tires
When it’s OK to fix flat tires by yourself versus when to replace them Do you have a flat tire but the hole is closer to the sidewall than the treads? While it’s normally safe to patch your tire on the treads, where...
How to
Measure Wheel Offset
The wheel offset is simply the distance from a tire’s center line to the hub’s mounting surface. It’s very easy to calculate a vehicle’s wheel offset, but you will need to remove the tire to do it. Knowing the wh...
How to
Know when Car Tires Need Replacing
Ever wonder if it's time to replace your worn car tires? The performance of your tires is very important for maintaining the safety, performance, and efficiency of your vehicle. But at some point, your tires will start w...
How to
Install Wheel Covers
Installing new wheel covers, or hubcaps, on your vehicle can instantly change its appearance. Often, wheel covers can be installed without the use of any tools or even jacking up the vehicle. '''Simply insert the retenti...
How to
Determine Tire Size
You may need to know the size of your tires for various reasons, such as for a spare tire or when purchasing wheels, rims, or snow tires. However, measuring the tire size manually with a tape measure will not give you ac...
How to
Patch a Tire
Have you ever had a nail, screw or other sharp object puncture your vehicle's tire? If so, you know it is a major inconvenience since having a tire shop repair or replace it is quite expensive. Luckily, if the tire is in...
How to
Inflate a Car Tire with a Bike Pump
Keeping your tires properly inflated can improve the fuel economy and performance of your vehicle while reducing uneven wear in your tires. But if you don't have an air compressor, you may be scratching your head as to h...
How to Repair a Flat Tire
Find the leak and patch the hole to get back on the road Having a flat tire is one of the major inconveniences of driving. When a good spare is unavailable, you either have to call a tow truck or fix the tire yourself. ...
How to
Fix a Bent Rim
Wondering whether you can fix a bent rim on your car wheel without a trip to the mechanic? Good news: bent rims are definitely fixable, and with a little know-how, you can do it yourself at home. Once you have all the n...
How to
Replace Drum Brakes
Replacing drum brakes isn't difficult but it requires special tools and a little caution. In return, you save on hefty auto mechanics bills. This article will describe the general process, but you will still want to cons...
How to
Install Valve Stems on Tires
A faulty valve stem can cause your tires to release air and leave you with a flat tire.. 4 June 2021. Having it repaired by professionals can cost upwards of thirty dollars, but in some instances, you may be able to rep...
How to
Remove Brake Drums
Drum brakes (as opposed to disc brakes) are a braking system that slows a vehicle by pressing brake shoes into the inside surface of a metal drum attached to the wheel to create friction. Like any braking system, drum br...
How to Handle a Flat Tire While Driving or Parked
A guide to changing a flat tire and using a spare We've all had a flat before, and we're here to explain what to do when you find yourself in this situation. If you get a flat tire, pull over to a safe location away from...
How to
Remove Lug Nuts and Tires
Whether you need to take off your car tire to change a flat, rotate it, or do some repairs, you'll need to remove the lug nuts first. It's important you remove the lug nuts and your tire safely so you don't get hurt. By ...
How to
Find a Leak in a Tire
Follow these simple steps to quickly locate and fix a leakKeeping your tires properly inflated is a must for safety. A flat tire will certainly leave you stranded, but even losing a little tire pressure can have big cons...
How to
Repair a Nail in Your Tire
If you have a nail in your tire, you’ll need to take your vehicle to a tire service technician to get it professionally fixed. Driving on a tire that hasn't been properly repaired by a professional can damage your vehi...
