If you get pre approved for a car loan, there are some things you need to take into consideration.  One of them is tires.  With a car loan comes a new car, and with a new car comes new responsibilities.  As anyone who has ever purchased a vehicle knows, one of the most important parts of your car are the shoes.  Bad tires aren't cheap, and you get what you pay for.  But most people don't realize that they can extend the life of their tires quite a bit by simply following a few rules.  Roadloans has scoured the internet and done the work for you.

Tires are designed to provide thousands of miles of excellent service. For maximum benefit, they must be maintained properly. Below are suggestions for improving the life of your vehicle’s tires.

• Use Correct Tire Inflation Pressure - With the correct amount of air pressure, your tires wear longer, save fuel and help prevent accidents. The correct air pressure is shown on the tire placard or sticker attached to the vehicle door edge, door post, or glove box door. Determine tire inflation using an accurate tire gauge purchased from your tire dealer, auto supply store, or other retailer. Check tire inflation pressure (including the spare) at least once a month and before every long trip. Tires must be checked when they are cold, before they have been run a mile. If you must drive more than one mile before checking the tire air pressure, add four pounds per square inch (psi) above the recommended cold air pressure. Recheck the air pressure when the tire is cold.
• Never Overload The Vehicle - Consult your vehicle tire placard and owner’s manual for the vehicle load limits, proper tire inflation and special trailer towing instructions that apply to your vehicle and tires. Never exceed the maximum load rating stamped on the sidewall of your tire or the maximum vehicle load rating (GVWR) found on the certification label on the driver’s door.
• Inspect Your Tires Regularly - Inspect your tires closely for signs of uneven wear at least once a month. Uneven wear patterns may be caused by improper inflation pressures, misalignment, improper balance or suspension neglect. If not corrected, further tire damage will occur. Inspect your tires for cuts, cracks, splits or bruises in the tread and sidewall areas. Bumps or bulges may indicate a separation with the tire body. Have your tires inspected by a qualified tire service person. When the tread is worn down to one-sixteenth of an inch, tires must be replaced. Never repair a tire with a puncture larger than 1/4 inch in diameter. Any tire repair done without removing the tire from the rim is improper. Inspect your rims also. If you have a bent, rusted or cracked rim, it must be replaced.
• Observe Good Driving Habits - Observe posted speed limits. Avoid fast starts, stops and turns. Avoid potholes and objects on the road. Don’t run over curbs or scuff the sidewall of a tire against the curb when parking. Avoid tire spinning. When stuck on ice, snow, mud or wet grass, the vehicle should be rocked gently (alternately using forward and reverse gears) with the least amount of wheel spinning. If that doesn’t free the vehicle, get a tow.

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Lamborghini, instead of chasing hybrid technologies like it's competitors, "is betting the bull farm on extreme weight reduction to meet its target of a 35-percent CO2 reduction by 2015."  The Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Concept is a concept where Lamborghini is trying to prove that old school engines work best, especially when the rest of the car is made of Carbon. That translates to light, which further translates to speed...as in super speed...as in 0-62 mph acceleration in 2.5 seconds....which further translates to death box.  But hey, who cares right? No one, and I mean no one, is going to get a car loan for a Lamborghini so they can feel safe.  They get it so they can feel cool.  Bottom line. And I'll say it: if you own a Lamborghini, you don't just feel cool, you ARE cool.  Check out the article here. 

In a "one-year race to design an ultra-efficient car that's 'safe, affordable, and desirable'", it was a gasoline engine that took home the $5million prize.  The winner came in with a rating of 100 mpg, which is good news for political groups wanting to up the minimum requirement for new vehicles, not due to be changed until 2025.  Although these cars aren't quite ready for the road, I look forward to the day when everyone can drive one.  A car loan will be much easier to pay off when a tank of gas lasts forever.  See the article here.

In order to meet the increasingly stringent demands of fuel efficiency regulations, Mazda is rolling out some new green technologies that will be featured in future cars.  Car and Driver's article is here.  A short summary: We like Mazda’s strategy for the simple reason that stuff like stop/start, energy regen, and diesel engines can be added without greatly affecting the fun-to-drive appeal of the company’s cars, nor will they add huge levels of cost.  Sounds good to me.  

Yes there are 100 different cars out there that can be considered "green."  This is evidence that fuel efficiency has passed way beyond fad stage.  See Yahoo!'s list here, where cars are ranked according to their green rating. 

Honda has a new concept to be shown at the 2010 Geneva International Motor Show.  The 3R-C3, not to be confused with this, is described as a "revolutionary three wheeled battery electric vehicle concept shows what a future minimal urban transport vehicle for one person might look like. The battery electric drivetrain is mounted low in the three wheeled chassis, therefore keeping the centre of gravity low and thus improving stability."  I think it looks like one of the motorcycles from Tron, which at the end of the day, is pretty cool.  It will be featured alongside the FCX Clarity.  See the press release here.  

Flip through this 32 page online document to learn about which cars are fuel efficient and which ones are not.   Learn more about fuel economy at the US Department of Energy (DOE) website. 

 

One would think that this list would be chock full of SUVs.  However, "in 2009, only two SUVs made it onto the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy's annual list of the least fuel-efficient automobiles." 

If you can afford the 50K plus price tag, this vehicle is perfect for the warrior dad who wants to keep Mother Earth happy.  Features towing and hauling ability; spacious interior; compliant ride and handling relevant to other SUV's.