It is safe to say that most people don’t find tire shopping among their favorite things to shop for.  We all just want a set of tires that fit correctly and will keep us safe on the road.  Nevertheless, there are a few things to keep in mind before shopping for tires.

First, don’t buy used tires.  It isn’t worth saving a few dollars to sacrifice performance and traction, because unfortunately you’re also sacrificing safety.

Next, make sure to know what the factory size of your tires is.  To find this out, look on the inside of the door hinge on the driver’s side of the car.

Take the time to shop around for good deals on tires.  Making price comparisons on the Internet is easy, but don’t forget to factor in installation and shipping costs.

Finally, before buying tires, research different tires.  All tires aren’t made the same, and the expensive ones aren’t necessarily the best quality.

Although tires may not be your favorite things to shop for, they are as important as used car warranties.  Just follow these tips to get a good price on quality tires.

It’s time for BMW to clear out their 2008 models to make room for the new 2009s.  Believe it or not, BMW even has model-year-end sales, but they disguise it by using fancy expressions, such as 0.9% financing, in order to promote them.  Until September 2nd, most BMW models, except the M3, X6 and M5, will qualify for 0.9% financing.  So, what does this mean?

The average loan rate currently is 6.78%.  So if you wanted to finance a 328i sedan base model, which costs $32,700 over four years, you would pay $779.70 per month with nothing down.  In the end you would end up paying $37,426 including interest.

However, by lowering the rate to 0.9% your monthly payment will drop to $693.84, with the total term cost being $33,304.  So, do the math and you’ll find that BMW is offering a savings of $4,000 in this case.

Now is the time to take advantage of the price savings that BMW is offering.  With all of the car expenses consumers have to pay, such as new car warranties, gas costs, and car maintenance, every little bit of savings helps.

Watch out for some bright lights as the 2008 Cadillac Escalade Platinum edition arrives in town. The newest version of this SUV is well equipped and quite lavish. This will be the first vehicle with LED headlights that is mainstream. Light emitting diode technology (LED) has many advantages to conventional car lights. First and foremost, LED bulbs end up lasting much longer. In fact, they will likely survive throughout the life of the car. This cuts down on the hassle of motorists having to replace light bulbs. Another advantage is that LED lights are much brighter and have a clean look. The lighting can be intense, but it features a daylight color that looks natural.

LED lights are being used more commonly, but were only used in brake lamps, tail lamps, and the interior of cars until now.

Several high-end European carmakers have used LED lights in headlamps. However, they were only used in models with low volume. However, with the Platinum series, Cadillac has hopes of selling around 10,000 Escalades that will have the new LED headlights.

Motorists have made the Escalade a popular choice in the past, and are looking forward to this new version. And with new car warranties, consumers can rest assured that they are making a wise purchase.

Imagine one day waking up to find that the only vehicles on the roads, in driveways, and in parking lots were electrics or hybrids.

CNW Marketing Research made some calculations to determine when America would become completely hybridized, and could stop depending on Middle Eastern powers for barrels of oil.

Based on the amount of people who live in America today (300 million), the number of cars driving on U.S. roads (11 million), the number of new cars that are sold in a year (15 million), and the number of those purchased cars that are hybrids, CNW calculated that in 2034 there is going to be:

• 357 million Americans
• 381 million cars, all hybrid or electric
• 15.7 million cars written off
• 18.1 new cars sold that are all hybrid or electric

It may seem like a long timetable, but it’s not unreasonable when you consider that every car being built and sold would have to be a hybrid, and every car on the road would have to be replaced with a hybrid vehicle. Also, many people are holding onto their old vehicles and buying used car warranties because of the poor economy, so that is slowing things down.

The economy isn’t just hurting Mom and Dad, teenagers, who are being told they have to pick up more of the tab on a new car purchase, are having to settle for less than in the last few years.

Gas prices have also caused a shift in the kinds of cars teens are purchasing, as they are now responsible for more of the gas tab than in the past. In addition, more people are protecting themselves with an auto warranty.

Approximately 400,000 new cars are bought for teenagers every year. Small and compact cars like the Ford Focus and Chevrolet Cobalt account for 24% of teen sales this year, which is up drastically from just 15% one year ago.

However, compact SUVs, such as the Jeep Wrangler, account for around 24% of all cars purchased for teenagers this year, but that’s drastically down from 33% of sales a year ago.

According to a study by CNW Marketing Research, it was discovered that teens are purchasing more low-end models thanks to the economy. The average transaction price in 2008 is $16,000, which is down from $19,200 in 2007. Also, more people are concerned with new car warranties to protect themselves from unnecessary repair expenses down the road.

Consumers have been more concerned than ever about saving money on their vehicles.  They are doing everything from purchasing small, fuel-efficient cars, to purchasing an auto warranty to ensure they don’t pay unnecessary repair expenses.  But are they willing to skip the amenities that come in new cars, such as air conditioning, an automatic transmission, and power locks and windows, to save money?  And are stripped cars even available?

The truth is that it can be hard to find a car stripped with crank windows and a manual transmission.

According to JATO Dynamics, 89% of vehicles sold in America last year came standard with automatic transmissions, which is up from 85% in 2003.  Also, power locks came standard on 87% of cars sold, compared to 80% in 2003.

The vehicles that offer these features as optional tend to be on small cars, yet economy-car buyers usually pick convenience and comfort over cost if given a choice.

For example, the cheapest model by Toyota is the Yaris, which begins at $11,550 for a 2008 base model hatchback with air-conditioning.  However, approximately 80% of Yaris buyers choose to pay an extra $900 for an automatic, and about 60% opt for a power windows and locks package, which costs an extra $1,680.

It appears that features, such as air conditioning, and automatic transmissions are necessities that most people aren’t willing to live without, just like new car warranties.

The 2009 Hyundai Genesis has received nothing but praise by everyone who has driven it.  This car comes at a great price with a large auto warranty and can hold its own with the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.  Now it has also received a seal of approval by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, getting five-star crash-test ratings across the board.

The Hyundai Genesis actually received something that the BMW and Mercedes weren’t able to achieve- five stars in both side-impact and frontal impact crash tests.

According to John Krafcik, who is the V.P. of Strategic Planning and Product Development at Hyundai, the five-star results that the Genesis received are just one indication that Hyundai engineers are dedicated to safety.

Krafcik is making reference to the rigid body structure, active head restraints, and eight airbags in the Genesis.  Also included in the airbag count are rear side-impact airbags, which are uncommon for a vehicle costing $30K.

The five-star ratings by the NHTSA are just one added selling point to a vehicle that has lots going for it, such as a good price and new car warranties, as well as a great ride and look.

It’s no secret that Chrysler has been experiencing some recent struggles. The car company is seeking ways to turn things around and move forward in a very difficult time for automakers. According to the Detroit News, their latest move is to try to sell its Dodge Viper brand.

The Dodge Viper has always been a stylish luxury sports car, however it hasn’t ever provided big business for Chrysler. This is especially true now, when consumers are mostly interested in protecting their wallets with small fuel-efficient vehicles and new car warranties. The Detroit News says that the automaker is making an attempt to “refocus” on its “core business.”

It’s speculated that the Dodge Viper could get around $50 million for a foreign automaker as a hobby brand. Overall, this won’t affect the car-buying population, but dedicated enthusiasts of the Viper will find this to be a grim picture of the future.

The new Mazda Kazamai debuted in the 2008 Moscow auto show today and was highly impressive with its wildly futuristic style.  A turbocharged four-cylinder engine that Mazda will also use in production models as soon as 2011 powers the car.

The engine is based on the one in the CX-7 crossover; however, Mazda claims this one will improve mileage up to 30%.  A four-wheel drive CX-7 currently gets 17/23 mpg, which means a 30% increase would bring those figures to 22/30 mpg.  This is better, in terms of highway mileage, than any other SUV that is a non-hybrid on the market.  Also, the CX-7’s current engine is a ton of fun to drive.  It is expected that this new turbo engine, and a next generation six-speed transmission will make it to other models, such as the new Mazda 6 and maybe a future edition of the Mazdaspeed3 performance hatchback.

This move is following a trend that has been seen before, where it is possible to add existing technology, such as turbocharging, to gas engines in order to greatly increase mileage.  Increasing mileage by 30% in three years is very impressive.  Mazda is listening to consumer demands for more fuel-efficient vehicles with new car warranties.  Their turbocharged four-cylinder engine will be utilized in many vehicles.

Ford Motor Company is making a move to wean itself away from light trucks. In fact, it will use $75 million in order to convert an SUV factory in Michigan to manufacture cars.

The truck plant is located in Wayne, Michigan, which is a Detroit suburb. Ford will begin working on the conversion in early November, and will begin production of a small car that is unspecified in 2010, according to a Ford statement.

The equipment that has been used at the plant in Wayne to manufacture Navigator and Expedition SUVs will be transported to another factory located in Louisville. This plant currently builds F-Series Super Duty pickup trucks, but will also manufacture the SUV models, starting in the second quarter of 2009.

The factory in Michigan is one of three plants in North America that will be retooled to make fuel-efficient cars. This is under the plan by Chief Executive Alan Mulally to put an end to approximately $23.9 billion in losses since the year 2005. Due to high gas prices, light trucks have been down 19%, and they account for 63% of the 2008 deliveries for Ford. Consumers now want to protect their wallets by purchasing small, fuel-efficient cars with new car warranties.