Belle Tire Passes AGRSS Validation

Belle Tire Auto Glass hosted a third party Automotive Glass Replacement Safety Standard (AGRSS) validation on Monday, January 18, 2010 and was found to be 100% compliant with the standard. This crowning achievement comes as the automotive glass division recently celebrated its second anniversary.
In announcing the validation result, John Cox, of Belle Tire Auto Glass stated, “Proving compliance with the safety standard through a third party validation firm is the highest substantiation of quality available to our industry. We are pleased to earn this distinction given our dedication and efforts to delivering windshields to our customers that meet all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. This is testament to our principles, ideals and more importantly, our people who perform the installations.”

AGRSS is a voluntary standard for the automotive glass replacement industry and is centered on the principles of delivering quality windshield replacements to the consumer. This is important given the windshield’s role in providing occupant protection in case of crashes or rollovers. Further, the automotive glass replacement industry is an unregulated industry with numerous documented incidents of occupant injury and fatalities due to negligence on the replacement company’s part.

Belle Tire embraced the concept of AGRSS since launching automotive glass replacement in 2007. Belle Tire recognized auto glass retailers have a moral obligation to vehicle safety particularly since consumers do not understand the importance of the windshield in automotive safety. Further, Belle Tire understood there are other value added benefits to following the AGRSS standards including increasing customer satisfaction, consumer loyalty and increasing integrity throughout the automotive glass replacement industry.

Cox also stated that Belle Tire Auto Glass welcomed and embraced an actual audit when selected at random by AGRSS. Cox added “It gave us a chance to be recognized and rewarded for all of our efforts and commitment over the past two years. The bottom line is AGRSS is a measuring stick to differentiate companies that say they do it right versus those who can prove that they do it right. It is an honor to confirm we are amongst those companies that can prove its quality.”
Belle Tire earned this distinction through the efforts and support of its employees, management team, vendors and other external resources to instill this business practice to its full potential. Belle Tire Auto Glass encourages all customers, Insurance companies and insurance personnel to learn about the importance of the AGRSS standard by visiting www.agrss.com and www.safewindshields.org.

About Belle Tire
Allen Park, Mich.-based Belle Tire was founded in 1922 when it opened the first Belle Tire location in Detroit, Mich. Today, the company has expanded to 80 locations across Michigan and Ohio. Belle Tire offers discount tires and variety of car care needs, ranging from auto glass repair, auto glass replacement, brakes, alignments, batteries, shocks and struts, exhaust system repair, batteries, and oil changes. For more information about Belle Tire, visit http://www.belletire.com/. Join the Belle Tire Advantage today, http://belletireadvantage.com/.

January 2010 Money Saving Coupons

About Belle Tire
Allen Park, Mich.-based Belle Tire was founded in 1922 when it opened the first Belle Tire location in Detroit, Mich. Today, the company has expanded to 80 locations across Michigan and Ohio. Belle Tire offers discount tires and variety of car care needs, ranging from auto glass repair, auto glass replacement, brakes, alignments, batteries, shocks and struts, exhaust system repair, batteries, and oil changes. For more information about Belle Tire, visit http://www.belletire.com/. Join the Belle Tire Advantage today, http://belletireadvantage.com/.

Belle Tire and Treadroc Tire Services Partner to Become Belleroc Tire Services

ALLEN PARK, Mich., Jan. 12, 2010 – Belle Tire is pleased to announce a partnership between two of the Midwest's finest commercial tire, retreading and tire servicing dealers; Belle Tire and Treadroc Tire Services will now be known as Belleroc Tire Services in Western and Northern Michigan.

Initially driven by the financial challenges that the industry faces, the creation of Belleroc will allow these great companies to synergize and shore up their futures' in Western and Northern Michigan. The partnership will allow Belleroc to expand their product offerings and continue to provide the finest Bandag retread products.

Now the reality with Belleroc is premium quality retreads with speedy turnaround times. A continued focus will be on quality products, accurate fleet analysis/management and incomparable quality retreading and service.

New levels of service will be defined and benchmarked with the partnership of Belle Tire and Treadroc Tire Services. Treadroc will now be one of the most qualified and largest service fleets in Western and Northern Michigan for truck, earthmover or industrial tires and service.

About Belle Tire
Allen Park, Mich.-based Belle Tire was founded in 1922 when it opened the first Belle Tire location in Detroit, Mich. Today, the company has expanded to 80 locations across Michigan and Ohio. Belle Tire offers discount tires and variety of car care needs, ranging from auto glass repair, auto glass replacement, brakes, alignments, batteries, shocks and struts, exhaust system repair, batteries, and oil changes. For more information about Belle Tire, visit http://www.belletire.com/. Join the Belle Tire Advantage today, http://belletireadvantage.com/.

Belle Tire Wishes You A Warm and Safe Holiday Season

Tis the Season to be Merry… and safe! Here are some safety kit tips for all drivers to be prepared in those unexpected circumstances.

"Traffic can be frustrating, especially on interstates during the holiday season and unfortunately, accidents happen and cars do sometimes break down," said Don Barnes III, Belle Tire Operations and Marketing Manager "From all of us at Belle Tire, we wish you and yours a very happy and safe holiday season."

Cars come pretty well equipped these days, but one thing all drivers need to add is an auto safety kit. Things may go wrong unexpectedly and all drivers need to be prepared. Whether drivers put one together or purchase a pre-packaged kit from an auto store, auto safety kits are very affordable and can really make the difference in an emergency.

Drivers can have items as sophisticated as an air compressor powered by the cars cigarette lighter or power port, but should include a flashlight, jumper cables, reflectors, first aid kit …even a spare lug wrench and a collapsible shovel.

And in Michigan and Ohio (or any other colder locations), it’s a good idea to add a blanket, gloves, rain poncho, some basic tools, and granola or energy bars and bottled water. Plus, remember one of the best safety items might be in your pocket -- a cell phone to call for help. A back-up battery for your cell phone or extra car cord is a great item to add to your kit.

About Belle Tire
Allen Park, Mich.-based Belle Tire was founded in 1922 when it opened the first Belle Tire location in Detroit, Mich. Today, the company has expanded to 80 locations across Michigan and Ohio. Belle Tire offers discount tires and variety of car care needs, ranging from auto glass repair, auto glass replacement, brakes, alignments, batteries, shocks and struts, exhaust system repair, batteries, and oil changes. For more information about Belle Tire, visit http://www.belletire.com/. Join the Belle Tire Advantage today, http://belletireadvantage.com/.

Belle Tire Provides Top Tips for Shopping for Winter Tires

ALLEN PARK, Mich., Dec. 10, 2009 – Useful tips to keep your tires and vehicle in top condition presented by Belle Tire, a discount tire retailer providing expert tire advice and complete auto care.

Always remember to keep the good times rolling by preparing your car for the season’s unpredictable weather to ensure the safety of you and all your passengers. If you need assistance performing any of the tests and winter adaptations as described below see your local Belle Tire Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified technician. A qualified tire professional can recommend that your car be fitted with a set of winter tires (also known as snow tires) to ensure your safety and the safety of your passengers during the harsh winter months, even if your vehicle already has all-season tires on it.

Most cars today come equipped with all-season tires as indicated by the M+S (mud and snow) markings on the sidewall. These tires are not designed to be best in one specific weather condition but are meant to be adequate in all weather conditions.

Winter tires, as indicated by a mountain / snowflake symbol on the sidewall, will give you better traction, braking ability and maneuverability you'll need to drive safely on snow and ice.

Winter tires are rated based upon actual testing. For example, a test performed with two identical vehicles, one fitted with winter tires and the other with all-season tires, showed that the vehicle with winter tires traveling at 15 mph on ice stopped from 1/2 to a full car length shorter than identical vehicle with all-season tires.

Winter Tires Purchasing and Installation Tips
There are few things to keep in mind when shopping for and installing winter tires:

1. Don’t put it off until the severe winter weather hits; have your car fitted in the fall. Be prepared and don’t get caught in a situation that might lead to a shortage of winter tires around you.
2. Consider purchasing separate rims for your winter tires. This will save you the time and costs involved in balancing the winter tires onto your existing rims.
3. Never mix winter tires with all-season tires. Keep an even tread depth, consistent tire design and similar rubber compound across all four wheels to ensure the best maneuverability. Never put winter tires on just the drive wheels of your car.
4. If you are unsure which winter tire to choose pick the one that offers more tread. A deeper tread will grip the icy roads better than a lower tread.
5. If you already have a set of winter tires, again, don’t wait until the last minute to have them installed. A good guideline for installing your winter tires is to have them installed once the temperature is regularly 50 degrees or less. This will ensure that they do not wear prematurely in warmer weather. Also, remember to have them removed when the weather stays consistently above 50 degrees.
6. Never reduce your all-season tires' inflation to attempt to increase traction and match the performance of more flexible winter tires. Driving on underinflated tires of any kind in any season is dangerous. Always maintain proper tire pressure at all times.

Whether you’re selecting winter tires, all-season tires or any other type of tires, be sure to select the tire that meets your vehicle specifications. A Belle Tire ASE certified technician can help with all related technical details and get you on the road with the tire that’s right for your vehicle, driving style and budget.

About Belle Tire
Allen Park, Mich.-based Belle Tire was founded in 1922 when it opened the first Belle Tire location in Detroit, Mich. Today, the company has expanded to 80 locations across Michigan and Ohio. Belle Tire offers discount tires and variety of car care needs, ranging from auto glass repair, auto glass replacement, brakes, alignments, batteries, shocks and struts, exhaust system repair, batteries, and oil changes. For more information about Belle Tire, visit http://www.belletire.com/. Join the Belle Tire Advantage today, http://belletireadvantage.com/.

December Money Saving Coupons From Belle Tire

About Belle Tire
Allen Park, Mich.-based Belle Tire was founded in 1922 when it opened the first Belle Tire location in Detroit, Mich. Today, the company has expanded to 80 locations across Michigan and Ohio. Belle Tire offers discount tires and variety of car care needs, ranging from auto glass repair, auto glass replacement, brakes, alignments, batteries, shocks and struts, exhaust system repair, batteries, and oil changes. For more information about Belle Tire, visit http://www.belletire.com/. Join the Belle Tire Advantage today, http://belletireadvantage.com/.

Tire Speed Ratings Are Easier to Understand Than You Think

What are tire speed ratings and why are they so important? Many tire buyers have asked this question and understanding the answer can help you the next time you buy a set of replacement tires for your car or truck.

The importance of tire speed ratings can be summed up quite simply. Tires are manufactured to a wide variety of specifications that meet, or exceed, certain levels of performance. The standard tires that will perform best on a Ford Focus, will not get the job done on a Chevrolet Corvette. Conversely, a Corvette tire will far exceed the needs of a Focus.

If you look closely enough you will notice there is a fair amount of information imprinted onto the side of your tire. Among this information is the speed rating, which is generally listed by a letter that follows the tire size and load index. For example, your tire may include this set of numbers and letters: P205/55R-15 88V. The P means passenger tire, 205/55 is the width and aspect ratio of the tire and the R designates this as a radial tire. The number 15 indicates that this tire fits 15 inch diameter wheels, 88 is the load index and V is the speed index. All tire manufacturers in the world adhere to a universal system of rating.

The whole idea of a speed rating may seem unnecessary in the United States, where our "legal" speed limits max out at 70mph, but in truth speed ratings were born overseas in Europe to meet the needs of the infamous German autobahn. Here posted speeds are not listed as maximum limits, but minimum requirements for the lane you choose to occupy. As vehicles became capable of higher and higher speeds, tire manufacturers realized that different tire grades were necessary to avoid catastrophic high-speed blowouts.

Speed ratings are determined through lab testing. Essentially, it involves pressing a tire at its appropriate load against a large, high-speed metal drum, and then gradually increasing running speed until the required speed rating has been reached. The chart below lists the tire speed ratings and the maximum speed for that rating:

M: 81mph (130 km/h)
N: 87 mph (140 km/h)
P: 93 mph (150 km/h)
Q: 99 mph (160 km/h)
R: 106 mph (170 km/h)
S: 112 mph (180 km/h)
T: 118 mph (190 km/h)
U: 124 mph (200 km/h)
H: 130 mph (210 km/h)
V: 149 mph (240 km/h)
W: 168 mph (270 km/h)
Y: 186 mph (300 km/h)
(Y): 186+ mph (300 km/h)

As you can probably guess, the speed ratings were originally created in kilometers-per-hour, thus the odd miles-per-hour increments. Also, there are two Y ratings; the Y rating enclosed in parentheses (Y) indicates that it has been tested in excess of 186 mph.

When you shop for replacement tires make sure you select a speed rated tire that meets your driving requirements. Naturally, you must be careful when driving not to exceed the rated speed of your tires. And also keep in mind that even though tire manufacturers market and sell tires capable of high speeds, they do not condone the use of their products in excess of legal speed limits. Don't try explaining to the officer that pulls you over for speeding that you thought you were allowed to go faster because your tires were capable of such excessive speeds.

Speed ratings are only effective when tires have not been damaged, altered in some fashion, are not overloaded and are properly inflated. Even if a tire has been repaired due to a puncture or other damage, it no longer retains the original speed rating because the manufacturer cannot control the quality of the repair.

Finally, although speed ratings do not indicate tire handling capabilities, a higher speed rating may translate to different handling characteristics. This is important to note if you buy a new set of tires with a lower speed rating. Make sure you are familiar with the handling characteristics of your car or truck and make the necessary driving adjustments to allow for the lower speed rating.

About Belle Tire
Allen Park, Mich.-based Belle Tire was founded in 1922 when it opened the first Belle Tire location in Detroit, Mich. Today, the company has expanded to 80 locations across Michigan and Ohio. Belle Tire offers discount tires and variety of car care needs, ranging from auto glass repair, auto glass replacement, brakes, alignments, batteries, shocks and struts, exhaust system repair, batteries, and oil changes. For more information about Belle Tire, visit http://www.belletire.com/. Join the Belle Tire Advantage today, http://belletireadvantage.com/.