Thursday, April 9, 2009
Saturday, November 29, 2008
MOMO SHIFT KNOBS vs SHUTT SHIFT KNOBS
MOMO has long held the title of the worlds best interior auto accessories, but there is some competition coming from SHUTT. MOMO shift knobs are very popular worldwide and can be found in all types of rides. SHUTT is very popular in South America and has outsold MOMO, SPARCO, and GRANT for many years, there business started in 1993 and has recently come to the US market in the last two years. Both MOMO and SHUTT are of the highest quality auto accessories only using the best materials in their designs. It seems that the only area the two companies don’t agree is price, with SHUTT consistently coming in around 20% less.
SHUTT was at SEMA 2008 and had a variety of gear shift knobs available for viewing. Made from such materials as leather, carbon fiber, aluminum, chromed details and quality laser imprinted logos. The shifter knobs were very attractive and had a great feel to them…very comfortable. The leather was thick and durable, as it was in all the products. The shift knobs attach to your current shifter lever by way of set screws set around the base usually hidden behind a screw on base…function incorporated into the fashion. SHUTT has several leather shifter boots to go along with your new shift knob, that way you can complete the look.
You may have seen SHUTT ads in some auto mags like import tuner, car stereo tuning, full power and more. And I am sure you will see more in the future, SHUTT will only grow as word gets out that there is another top quality brand out there. SHUTT added a car audio line that will rock your world, 12 inch subwoofers that come in various watts and ohms, a component set and two different lines of amps, one of which is digital.
Overall both companies have very high quality parts, very unique designs, new models coming out every season…so why choose SHUTT over the well known MOMO? Well for one Shutt has a lifetime warranty, I could not gather any info online about the MOMO warranty. SHUTT prices were 20% less overall and in this economy everyone wants to get a quality product at a lower price. MOMO products are the established company and that alone can sway some buyers. Although there is something to be said about a company that will jump up and give serious competition to MOMO, that might sway younger car enthusiast to give SHUTT a try.
After much research I found that Shutt was not that easily located here in the US yet, I called several accessory shops nearby and most had not even heard of the brand yet. The only place that looks reputable is www.shuttusa.com, other than that a few other online sites and that’s it right now. Of course the manufacturers sites are nice but they do not allow any purchases. So you can call and check your local shops but you will probably be back online so remember that site name.
Anyways I can’t wait to go to next years SEMA show, the only thing that would have been better is if this economy wasn’t in a funk so I could have had more money to blow in Vegas. Until next time “tune it in” and have fun.
SHUTT was at SEMA 2008 and had a variety of gear shift knobs available for viewing. Made from such materials as leather, carbon fiber, aluminum, chromed details and quality laser imprinted logos. The shifter knobs were very attractive and had a great feel to them…very comfortable. The leather was thick and durable, as it was in all the products. The shift knobs attach to your current shifter lever by way of set screws set around the base usually hidden behind a screw on base…function incorporated into the fashion. SHUTT has several leather shifter boots to go along with your new shift knob, that way you can complete the look.
You may have seen SHUTT ads in some auto mags like import tuner, car stereo tuning, full power and more. And I am sure you will see more in the future, SHUTT will only grow as word gets out that there is another top quality brand out there. SHUTT added a car audio line that will rock your world, 12 inch subwoofers that come in various watts and ohms, a component set and two different lines of amps, one of which is digital.
Overall both companies have very high quality parts, very unique designs, new models coming out every season…so why choose SHUTT over the well known MOMO? Well for one Shutt has a lifetime warranty, I could not gather any info online about the MOMO warranty. SHUTT prices were 20% less overall and in this economy everyone wants to get a quality product at a lower price. MOMO products are the established company and that alone can sway some buyers. Although there is something to be said about a company that will jump up and give serious competition to MOMO, that might sway younger car enthusiast to give SHUTT a try.
After much research I found that Shutt was not that easily located here in the US yet, I called several accessory shops nearby and most had not even heard of the brand yet. The only place that looks reputable is www.shuttusa.com, other than that a few other online sites and that’s it right now. Of course the manufacturers sites are nice but they do not allow any purchases. So you can call and check your local shops but you will probably be back online so remember that site name.
Anyways I can’t wait to go to next years SEMA show, the only thing that would have been better is if this economy wasn’t in a funk so I could have had more money to blow in Vegas. Until next time “tune it in” and have fun.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Monday, March 19, 2007
Wheels make the car
A female friend of mine spends a lot of time in shoe stores. Shoes are important to her, and at the risk of generalization, may I suggest that shoes seem important to several women I have known. Some of them even went shoe shopping in groups.
My friend works hard at finding the exact pair. Then she attempts to show them off to her husband who hasn't looked at her shoes for…well, ever, actually. To most men, shoes are just shoes.
You see, when it comes to ground contact, men are into wheels. I can tell you this for a fact. For instance, last year a male friend of mine purchased a stunning Santorin Blue V6 Audi A4. This car just gleamed -- it was a blue jewel. Perfect, thought his wife. But the first thing he did was rip off the stock wheels and replace them with a cooler, aftermarket brand. I understand that. The correct wheels can absolutely make the car.
The aftermarket wheel industry has exploded over the past few years. Why is this so? Well, partly it's because tire companies have figured out how to make lower profile tires. The first automotive 16" tires were available by special order in the mid-1980s. 17" tires arrived in 1988, 18" tires in 1994. Now, the sky's the limit.
The thing to watch with an aftermarket wheel, though, is that the overall diameter of the wheel and tire, also known as its rolling radius, doesn't change from the original. For instance, going from 175/70/14 wheel and tire combination to 185/60/15 takes you up one size and is referred to as a "plus 1" application. Go up another size, to 195/50/16 and it's a "plus 2" application.
But even plus 2 applications are the same overall diameter as the original wheel and tire. It's the wheel that gets bigger, while the sidewall of the tire gets thinner.
Other areas of concern are choosing the correct wheel width, wheel offset, and fender and suspension clearance. Your dealer will be able to advise.
What this means in practice is that rather than running a stock 175/70/13 tire on your Mazda Protégé, you can select a nice 195/50/15, or even a 205/40/16. Dozens of companies now supply very cool wheels to fit those tires.
If you want to see some really big wheels, the limited edition Jaguar XKR Silverstone wears 20" wheels. The standard XKR runs 18" wheels out of the box, as does the Ford SVT Lightning Pickup. Porsche Boxsters come with 16" wheels standard, but you'll be hard pressed to find one ordered like that. Most buyers go for the optional 17" or 18" wheels. Then again, the 15" TSW wheels on my 1980 Triumph TR8 dwarf the original 13" alloys, and create a modern look for this older car.
For those of you interested in performance as well as looks, there is a definite improvement in steering response when using a larger wheel. "Lower profile tires experience less tire roll when going around corners. Less tire roll means more control, and more control means a safer drive," says Kleins.
To understand this better, think two pieces of wood. Stand one on end and lay the other one on top, like the letter "T". Shift the top piece sideways, and the bottom piece falls over. Progressively shorten and widen the bottom piece and it becomes more reluctant to tip. Get it short and wide enough and it won't tip at all.
That's one reason the new Porsche 911 GT2 wears astonishingly wide and skinny 315/30 series tires on its 18" wheels. Yes, 30-series tires.
But you won't be running those on your Golf or Civic, although for everyday cars, there are many options. TSW and Konig offer a nice line of one-piece, cast wheels at the lower end of the price range. Simmons is a step up, offering three-piece, modular wheels.
One of my favorite top-end brands is Washington-based Fikse. This company uses aerospace-specification technology and components to build its three-piece forged, aluminum wheels. These things are like sculpture, but a set of four 19" Fikse FM/10 wheels will set you back a cool $10,000.00. Plus tires. Plus car.
Local suppliers are very competitive when it comes to pricing a set of wheels and tires, so it's worth calling around to get a good deal. If you're online, many wheel manufacturers have tools to try out different wheels and wheel sizes on your car. This is an excellent use of your time while waiting for winter to end, in my opinion.
In fact, some people I know actually go wheel shopping in groups…
My friend works hard at finding the exact pair. Then she attempts to show them off to her husband who hasn't looked at her shoes for…well, ever, actually. To most men, shoes are just shoes.
You see, when it comes to ground contact, men are into wheels. I can tell you this for a fact. For instance, last year a male friend of mine purchased a stunning Santorin Blue V6 Audi A4. This car just gleamed -- it was a blue jewel. Perfect, thought his wife. But the first thing he did was rip off the stock wheels and replace them with a cooler, aftermarket brand. I understand that. The correct wheels can absolutely make the car.
The aftermarket wheel industry has exploded over the past few years. Why is this so? Well, partly it's because tire companies have figured out how to make lower profile tires. The first automotive 16" tires were available by special order in the mid-1980s. 17" tires arrived in 1988, 18" tires in 1994. Now, the sky's the limit.
The thing to watch with an aftermarket wheel, though, is that the overall diameter of the wheel and tire, also known as its rolling radius, doesn't change from the original. For instance, going from 175/70/14 wheel and tire combination to 185/60/15 takes you up one size and is referred to as a "plus 1" application. Go up another size, to 195/50/16 and it's a "plus 2" application.But even plus 2 applications are the same overall diameter as the original wheel and tire. It's the wheel that gets bigger, while the sidewall of the tire gets thinner.
Other areas of concern are choosing the correct wheel width, wheel offset, and fender and suspension clearance. Your dealer will be able to advise.
What this means in practice is that rather than running a stock 175/70/13 tire on your Mazda Protégé, you can select a nice 195/50/15, or even a 205/40/16. Dozens of companies now supply very cool wheels to fit those tires.
If you want to see some really big wheels, the limited edition Jaguar XKR Silverstone wears 20" wheels. The standard XKR runs 18" wheels out of the box, as does the Ford SVT Lightning Pickup. Porsche Boxsters come with 16" wheels standard, but you'll be hard pressed to find one ordered like that. Most buyers go for the optional 17" or 18" wheels. Then again, the 15" TSW wheels on my 1980 Triumph TR8 dwarf the original 13" alloys, and create a modern look for this older car.
For those of you interested in performance as well as looks, there is a definite improvement in steering response when using a larger wheel. "Lower profile tires experience less tire roll when going around corners. Less tire roll means more control, and more control means a safer drive," says Kleins.
To understand this better, think two pieces of wood. Stand one on end and lay the other one on top, like the letter "T". Shift the top piece sideways, and the bottom piece falls over. Progressively shorten and widen the bottom piece and it becomes more reluctant to tip. Get it short and wide enough and it won't tip at all.
That's one reason the new Porsche 911 GT2 wears astonishingly wide and skinny 315/30 series tires on its 18" wheels. Yes, 30-series tires.
But you won't be running those on your Golf or Civic, although for everyday cars, there are many options. TSW and Konig offer a nice line of one-piece, cast wheels at the lower end of the price range. Simmons is a step up, offering three-piece, modular wheels.One of my favorite top-end brands is Washington-based Fikse. This company uses aerospace-specification technology and components to build its three-piece forged, aluminum wheels. These things are like sculpture, but a set of four 19" Fikse FM/10 wheels will set you back a cool $10,000.00. Plus tires. Plus car.
Local suppliers are very competitive when it comes to pricing a set of wheels and tires, so it's worth calling around to get a good deal. If you're online, many wheel manufacturers have tools to try out different wheels and wheel sizes on your car. This is an excellent use of your time while waiting for winter to end, in my opinion.
In fact, some people I know actually go wheel shopping in groups…
Wheel and Rim cleaning
You or your customer have invested in a product of the highest quality and workmanship, and would most likely enjoy keeping them that way. Custom wheels do require care to maintain their factory appearance. We strongly suggest that you take a few reasonable steps to protect your investment.
Regular Cleaning. Typical road soils trap moisture which can cause corrosion over a period of time. Brake dust, caused by friction of your cars braking system, is itself corrosive, and can cause pitting of the wheels finish. These soils must be removed regularly - preferably weekly - depending on your driving habits.
Use of Proper Cleaning Agents. We recommend a mild dishwashing soap and water to clean your wheels. Your wheels finish should be treated as you would treat the finish of your car. Most household cleaning agents are too harsh for the finish of your wheels, and must be avoided. There are a vast number of commercially available wheel cleaners on the market today, but we urge extreme caution regarding their use, since they tend to be acid or lye based.
Whenever possible, it is a much better idea to clean your wheels after they have cooled. Normal driving will heat wheels, sometimes into excessive ranges. While this is normal, its best to take precuations as cold water introduced onto a superheated wheel, will ultimately cause scarring and-or pitting of the finish.
Additional Tips. To prevent scratching of the wheels finish, never clean your wheels with scouring pads or dense metal polishes. If you use automatic car washes, tell them not to use steam cleaners or strong chemicals to clean your wheels. They can cause permanent staining or corrosion. Use caution when cleaning tires with steel wool or a bristle brush. These types of abrasive materials must not come in contact with the wheels as they will damage the appearance of the wheel permanently. Never spray cold water on extremely hot wheels. Always allow time to cool before cleaning with soap and water.
Regular Cleaning. Typical road soils trap moisture which can cause corrosion over a period of time. Brake dust, caused by friction of your cars braking system, is itself corrosive, and can cause pitting of the wheels finish. These soils must be removed regularly - preferably weekly - depending on your driving habits.
Use of Proper Cleaning Agents. We recommend a mild dishwashing soap and water to clean your wheels. Your wheels finish should be treated as you would treat the finish of your car. Most household cleaning agents are too harsh for the finish of your wheels, and must be avoided. There are a vast number of commercially available wheel cleaners on the market today, but we urge extreme caution regarding their use, since they tend to be acid or lye based.
Whenever possible, it is a much better idea to clean your wheels after they have cooled. Normal driving will heat wheels, sometimes into excessive ranges. While this is normal, its best to take precuations as cold water introduced onto a superheated wheel, will ultimately cause scarring and-or pitting of the finish.
Additional Tips. To prevent scratching of the wheels finish, never clean your wheels with scouring pads or dense metal polishes. If you use automatic car washes, tell them not to use steam cleaners or strong chemicals to clean your wheels. They can cause permanent staining or corrosion. Use caution when cleaning tires with steel wool or a bristle brush. These types of abrasive materials must not come in contact with the wheels as they will damage the appearance of the wheel permanently. Never spray cold water on extremely hot wheels. Always allow time to cool before cleaning with soap and water.
Friday, February 9, 2007
Volk Racing
Volk Racing is the top brand name line of forged wheels from RAYS Engineering, a Japanese manufacturer of high tech wheels for motorsports and street. They are current wheel suppliers to winning factory race teams of Honda, Nissan, Toyota, and Mazda in tough racing series such as JGTC (Japan Grand Touring Car Championship), JTCC (Japan Touring Car Championship), BTCC (British Touring Car Championship), Formula 3000, and Formula 1.
Reading a Tire Sidewall
235/35R19 91Y
235 = Tire Section Width in milimeters
35 = Tire Aspect Ratio (Sidewall height as a percentage of section width)
R = Radial Construction
19 = Wheel Diameter
91Y = Load index and speed rating
Tire Speed Ratings
R = 106mph
S = 112mph
T = 118mph
U = 124mph
H = 130mph
V = 149mph
W = 168mph
Y = 186mph
Z = 149mph+
235 = Tire Section Width in milimeters
35 = Tire Aspect Ratio (Sidewall height as a percentage of section width)
R = Radial Construction
19 = Wheel Diameter
91Y = Load index and speed rating
Tire Speed Ratings
R = 106mph
S = 112mph
T = 118mph
U = 124mph
H = 130mph
V = 149mph
W = 168mph
Y = 186mph
Z = 149mph+
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