Import Only - Z-Rated

Z-Rated!

What kind of shoes are on your car?

I love to talk to the people who think they need z-rated summer tires on their cars. If you actually need Z-rated tires to drive on city streets you are a maniac and besides, the tires are useless when it rains or snows anyway.

Find a car club, get into racing school. Courses are cheap and easy, autocrosses are way more fun than dodging the cops or killing some kid on her way home from school.

I know, we used to race our importes before there was a fast and furious glamour sham!

We broke engines, axles, and A-frames up and down Groat Road and in and around Edmonton for years in Toyotas, Hondas, VWs, --- Aghh!!! My engine fell out!!! I need a ride home!!! however, as we grew up we learned some lessons to pass on to those who are coming behind.

I’ve burned through more tires, rims, cylinders and clutches than you have owned cars or rode the bus.

Living in Canada I have learned this: wear winter boots in the winter, rain boots in the rain, and all-season tires should be taken away by the DOT and should never be put on another car that is built or sold in Canada.

Tires are the lifeline that connects - your 2000 pound hunk of steel and plastic that is hurtling down the highway at 100 kilometers an hour - to the road.

If you are mountain climbing and the only thing that you have to hang onto is a piece of rope, you would probably want it to be the best mountain climbing rope you can get?

Right?

Winter tires for the winter and wet weather tires for the summer.

But hey! Shouldn’t I get summer tires for summer?

No.

You need your tires to perform in an emergency, under the worst conditions.

And besides when conditions are dry and clean, you can pound on almost any tire. Even bald ones do well in the summer.

You need traction in conditions where you cannot get it: rain and snow.

But I don’t drive crazy… Maybe not, but other people do. How many times have you had to swerve out of the way because of someone else? You need your car to do what you tell it to do, and not get all swervy and spinny.

Tires will save your life, I’m sure you are worth a couple of nice sets.

Ryan ossevorth

Director

Importonly magazine