Forbes Magazine 10 safest small cars

Driving a smaller car is becoming a reality for many drivers due to the rising cost of fuel.  Courtesy of Isaac Newton, we know that larger cars will fair better than smaller cars in the event one of them meets the other.  Forbes Magazine released their 10 best list of safe small cars.  The cars listed have excellent safety standings, and although we can't say they are all considered to be affordable to everyone, they do have excellent safety features. 

Here's the link:  10 Safest Small Cars

Cars With No Lights at Night.

Look hard enough and you'll notice the absence of any tail lights on the truck.

We can all agree technology is great.  Without it, we would still be stuck in the stone age.  However, while technology has made life easier, it can make some people forget how to perform a task that used to be routine.  One of these tasks is on the road with drivers forgetting to turn on their headlights at dusk. 

U.S. News - Best 2012 Cars for Families

U.S. News & World Reports released their top vehicles for families for 2012.  The report highlights one winner each vehicle category based on what the news company states as, "...winners provide the safety, features, and ownership experience today's families demand."

In total, there are 17 winners with Honda and Ford taking the most accolades, being winners in 4 categories.  The list of winners for families can be viewed here:  2012 Best cars for Families.

Tech: Information on Tire safety, inflation and speed ratings

We recently received a question about tire information, and what exactly all the numbers mean on the side of the tire.  Seeing how those 4 pieces of rubber are the only thing connecting you, the driver, to the road, we will provide a basic overview of tires and tire safety for passenger cars.  It will not be an end-all-say-all about tires, but it should provide you with enough information to help your decision making for a future set of tires.  Grab a cup of coffee if you need to stay awake as class is in session!  =) 

What makes a tire?  Simply put, a tire is constructed of mixture of rubber and silica compounds, with nylon or steel belts under the main tread to provide strength.  Tire construction varies with manufacturers, so each tire from a company will have a slightly different makeup compared to another.  The best tire to buy will depend on a number of factors:  your style of driving, weather conditions, price, etc. 

Passenger tires generally have sipes and grooves in them which aid in wet weather traction and channel water away from the tire to provide maximum contact with the road surface.  Brand new tires usually have at least 8/32" of tread.  To be legal for street use, a tire must have a minimum tread depth of 2/32".  Looking at your tire from above, you may see little "bars" which are embedded between the grooves.  These wear bars are indicators that your tire is approaching the limits of tire wear.  Once these bars are even with your tread, your tire is worn out.  To see if your tire is ok, take a penny and stick it in the groove of your tire with Lincoln's head facing down.  If most of his head is covered by the penny, your tire has at least 2/32" of tread left. 

Random Factoid #2: 3rd Eye Brake Light

Here's an answer to another recent trivia question:  In what year did the U.S. government mandate that 3rd eye brake lights be installed on new passenger cars?