The spirit of Milwaukee is one that is always expanding, shifting and growing in new directions with the changing times. It is an entirely versatile city, one whose history is long enough to have an effect on the locals and visitors, but still young enough to encompass new attempts at re-definition. There are things that are very contemporary to Milwaukee, and there are also things that are quite specific. Most auto fanatics, whether they’re collectors or mechanics or both, will find a certain soft spot here, and enjoy all there is to see and do in terms of local Milwaukee car culture.

It takes just a quick scan of the local listings to see that in terms of car shows , Milwaukee has an awful lot going on. There are the events like Rumble by the River that feature tractor pulls, speaking to a cultural currency as contemporary as it is classic, and there are also more specific shows for specific car tastes and interests. One might not see a lot of kumho tires at some of the classic car shows, but there are plenty of opportunities to see vehicles that sport the very latest in technology and style.

One of the most pleasing things about the center of the country is that there is not the same pressures of innovation as can exist on the coasts, and Milwaukee is, in so many respects, at the heart of things. This means little pretense, and a great respect and admiration for things that are well made. This might explain the popularity of Wisconsin Hot Rod Radio, where all things related to cars are discussed, celebrated, and made open for public comment and opinion. For outsiders, it might make sense that the city is one where car culture is visible. It’s close enough to Detroit that the newest models will come rolling through town at any time, and far enough away that mods and additions like weld racing wheels can find their way onto the most staid and everyday kinds of vehicles. It’s difference with a twist, taking the old and sending it cycling into the present with just enough of a hint of the new to make it so appealing and so familiar all at once. For insiders, having grown up here offers a constant immersion on the culture of the automobile. It’s part of a remarkable and humble history, and informs a present, making this city one of the liveliest, and the most livable.

There are many DIY auto repair classes that are designed especially for women.  This is otherwise known as “do it yourself”.  Being a woman myself, and not very familiar with the inner workings of my truck’s small engine, repair manuals are something I would like to understand better.  Or rather, I would like to not be afraid to even look at them, and a class on this would be very helpful to me.  Auto maintenance is one thing that many people could stand to learn a bit about, not just women.

I know many people who do not know the difference between a spark plug and a fuse, and to open the hood of a car or truck is just a daunting thought.  This is also true for one who rides a motor cycle.  Repair manuals come in handy, when one is out on road trips, or when they happen to break down in rush hour traffic, often times many small things can go wrong and when one thoroughly understands their engine and how to read those manuals, they will see that often times it is something that they can fix themselves.

This is also helpful when one does need to take their vehicle into the mechanics’ shop, as better understanding will decrease one’s chances of being taken advantage of at the garage.  In North Hollywood, a woman–Karen Valenti, opened her own repair shop.  Not only have more women come to her for service on their cars, she offers a class each month on basic maintenance, and car engines.  According to Valenti, she has made this her quest, to keep cars running and in top shape.

And for the women it provides a venue to learn about their cars in an atmosphere where they do not feel intimidated and where they can ask any question, no matter how silly it may seem or how insignificant.  For many people, car engines are mysterious contraptions, but this class is designed to remove that mystery, and give women knowledge, that when really broken down makes one realize that it is just a machine with working parts, that all fit together and are really relatively easy to fix and to maintain.

Choosing the right rims for your car or truck can be an interesting process. For some this is as important as the color of the vehicle itself. The wheels and rims certainly contribute to the style and enhance any visual element at work on it. Rims themselves come in different sizes, styles, colors and are created not only for their visual appeal but also for different functional aspects. A common size range is 17 inch through 22 inch, and 20 rims continues to be one of the more popular.

It is increasingly common for individuals to switch out rims and use different ones for different seasons and road terrain aspects. Given this, it should be known and kept in mind that changing them can be complicated and it’s not as simple as putting on a different scarf or hat for a different social occasion. If you’re going to switch out rims it is highly recommended you have a professional do it for you unless you are extremely competent in this area and have a good deal of experience with it. Remember that your wheels are an integral part of the car or truck’s system and improperly installed tires, wheels or rims are not only extremely dangerous, but can also through off other systems, such as car alignment, gas use, shock systems among other things.

However, if you possess the ability and or the resources to switch your rims or your custom car wheels it is popular and can be exciting to do so. Standard issue rims are great all year, and can be appropriate for winter weather, while more flashy custom rims are good for use in the spring and summer. If you’re considering swapping out your car rims either temporarily or on a permanent basis, the staff a discount tire store will be more than happy not only to do the switch for you but also to help pick out the perfect color and style for your specific vehicle and personality.

Yokohama Tire Corp. sponsored Toyotafest, which was held on May 9 at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, Calif. More than 370 new and vintage Toyotas were on display at the event. Yokohama had a prominent display of its full line of tires, including its recently launched ADVAN Neova AD08 and its soon-to-be-released eco-friendly dB Super E-spec.

Yokohama’s ADVAN Neova AD08 has replaced the AD07 for 2009. The new tire improves dry grip, wet grip and mileage. It’s street civil, but track approved. For the performance inclined, the AD08 improves on the AD07′s lap times, by a half second for every minute, says Yokohama. The improvements are achieved with a new micro silica compound, steel sidewall inserts and revised tread pattern.

The result is quicker steering response, improved stability and a larger contact patch while cornering. The tire maintains its treadwear rating of 180 and will be offered in a wider range of sizes than its predecessor; 32 sizes, ranging from 205/50-R15 to 295/30ZR-19. Road and Track Magazine says, “the new Yokohama AD08 is a winner.”

The db Super E-spec has fitments on the Toyota Prius. Yokohama Tire Corporation’s dB Super E-spec, an all-new consumer passenger car tire which uses citrus oil instead of petroleum, earned one of Popular Mechanics Editor’s Choice Awards at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas last year.

The award, one of 14 given out, went to companies “in recognition of outstanding achievement in new product and design.” Popular Mechanics editors combed the thousand of new wheel and tire packages on display at both the SEMA and AAPEX shows to find the winners.

Jim Meigs, Popular Mechanics’ editor-in-chief, pointed to the dB Super E-spec’s low rolling resistance and use of natural materials as reasons why it was chosen.

“Yokohama Tire Corporation is using technology to make better tires for consumers and the environment,” said Fred Koplin. “Popular Mechanics has a long history of recognizing companies for their technology and product innovations. We’re honored they selected the dB Super E-spec. It’s great that Yokohama, which has a heritage for high-performance, is now being recognized for our environmental and technical achievements as well.”

I was recently in the market for tires. I didn’t know what I needed exactly either. Some people said I needed Toyo tires and others said Nitto tires. I didn’t know what to do. I eventually found a tire store and they helped me choose exactly what I needed since I didn’t know how to choose tires.

I was able to find some great tire and wheel packages at Performance Plus Tire and Auto Center. They helped me to figure out what I needed exactly and to stay within my budget. The guys there even put them on my car and it didn’t take long at all. I even had fun. I don’t know anything about cars but now I feel like I could  do this on my own. I learned exactly what I should have always known and I feel confident in my tire and rim abilities now.

I think PPT really knows their stuff. They have a fantastic staff and an enormous selection. They even taught me how to change a flat tire. I will go back to them if I’m ever in this situation again.

Working on cars is something that I love to do. I am not as good as a professional but I really enjoy doing that in my free time. I bet mechanics enjoy surfing the web or playing video games during theirs. You know, the opposite of each other. I am going to be putting the custom rims that I just got in the mail on my car. After that it will be ready to take for a spin. I need to paint her and to do a few other things to her but she’ll be able to go for a drive around town after the custom wheel set is on her.

I’m going to polish her and make sure that every detail is just right and by the end of summer I should be able to enter her into all of the car shows that I have time for. I like cruising around in my free time also, so driving from show to show will be fun. I hope my wife knows about all of the places we’re going to be going this summer. We live in Arizona so the temperature is in the hundreds all summer long. Because of that I think she’ll want to go with me.

I needed car tires for my Toyota. I could only find expensive ones at the regular tire stores around town. I finally went online and did a search for "toyo open country tires" and I found great custom rims and tires for a price that I can afford. I blew out a tire a few weeks ago and after I replaced that one I noticed that the others weren’t looking so good.

After my tires came in I put them on my car and went for a ride. I could not believe the difference that having new, balanced tires can make. It had felt like the road was covered in potholes or was uneven. Now I know that it was my old tires. They weren’t even black anymore because they were so old.

Anyway, I went to see my parents and when I got there I noticed that they needed cheap rims and tires too. Now they’re on a fixed income but I was able to order them very reasonably priced tires and rims that were very high quality. They said that after I left they went for a drive and they could tell there car was driving smoother.