#all-terrain main drive tread

[sw5w]

Artoo-Detoo

STAR WARS EPISODE I: The Phantom Menace 00:25:57

[snugglesquiggle]

you know, when people imagine "what if a bunch of bugs acted like a person", they usually go for some worm that walks type thing. a swarm that that clusters into a humanoid shape, perhaps under a cloak so they could pass as just some dude at a distance

but honestly i think i think something a lot more reasonable in practice would be something more like a mobile hive

sry for the lazy sketch

let me explain:

the core mechanism would be pretty much like a bike, a pedal gear turning a sprocket to generate force that's then used to drive some wheels. but instead of like, pedals, you'd have a hundreds of workers tugging on the ropes directly.

i imagine the way it'd work is you've have a bunch of tiny threads tied to the main chain/rope. there's a fixed shaft that the workers can climb up, dragging their thread with them, tugging on the main chain as they climb upward, then riding it back to the bottom before the next cycle starts.

there's gears in the main platform that convert their work into energy for the treads. the treads are usually these spike wheels which can roll over slightly uneven ground, but there'd be a carriage under the platform with various supplies, including replacement wheels that they can swap out to optimize for different terrain conditions.

(the reason there's four wheels is that one can be lifted for that swapping without compromising tripod stability)

in more advanced bugbikes there might even be flat treads, with complicated gears and jointed legs that let the hive straight up walk. (or even climb!) but rolling around is simpler and more efficient.

there's probably be more outlets for the mechanical energy of the pedals than just the legs. in the pic i drew a lil bucket that can raise and lower which would be a nice way to get water and other resources to the hive efficiently

but it would make sense for there to be a whole suite of mechanisms for manipulating the world. sticks for poking things (perhaps violently), grasper than can pick things up and move them around, and so on. i cant imagine quite what it'd look like atm. i feel like bugs would trick out their hives with all sorts of nifty automations

(i also gave them a bunch of telescopes, which seems like a logical way to compensate for the really shitty acuity of compond eyes.)

but yeah. imagine having a buddy who is just a bunch of bugs tinkering with gears and pulleys and dohickeys rolling around in their pedal-operating bike tank. i think that'd be pretty cool

[torqueblock12]

BFGOODRICH A/T KO2 285/55 R20 117/114T TL CAR TYRE

Build to Take It Out There: BFGoodrich A/T KO2 285/55 R20 117/114T TL Car Tyre

Read more: You want a mighty tyre for high performance that can conquer the harshest of terrains, and you are in the right place with the BFGoodrich A/T KO2 285/55 R20 117/114T TL car tyre. This tyre with excellent off-road capabilities and still keeps fueling up and is comfortable on highways-finely an all-terrain adventure for the daily drive tyres.

Best in Class Off-Road Capability Built for the toughest terrain: mud, sand, gravel, and snow, the BFGoodrich A/T KO2 tire features the toughest tread compound to deliver the maximum amount of grip on the ground: more traction and more control when driving tough off-road. Whether your adventure takes you to rugged mountain trails or the muddiest backroads, the BFGoodrich car tire will get you where you need to go—confidently. Tough Enough to Last Main strong points: Unrivaled strength and toughness of the BFGoodrich A/T KO2 car tyre. With more aggressive tread pattern and construction strength, it is puncture-resistant to a large extent with a much longer life. So, it is of great value for those who travel through the areas that experience biting conditions frequently.

On-road comfort and stability Despite the spectacular off-road capability, BFGoodrich A/T KO2 handles paved roads equally well. It would deliver a smooth ride with absolutely no noise and compromise on its performance. Its balanced design ensures it holds stable in handling and, on high speeds, thus making it versatile for both highway and off-road escapades.

Therefore, for any other individual seeking a new, high-quality performance tire no matter what the terrain, BFGoodrich's A/T KO2 285/55 R20 is simply the best. Trust BFGoodrich to deliver tyres that make the above saying go very rightly on and off the roads.

[topels]

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Tires for Your Vehicle at Topel's Towing & Repair, Inc.

Choosing the right tires for your vehicle is crucial for safety, performance, and comfort. At Topel's Towing & Repair, Inc., we understand that selecting the best tires can be overwhelming with the myriad of options available. This ultimate guide will help you make an informed decision and find the perfect tires for your vehicle.

Assessing Your Driving Needs

The first step in choosing the right tires is to assess your driving needs. Consider the typical conditions you drive in, such as city streets, highways, or off-road terrains. If you frequently drive in snowy or icy conditions, winter tires might be necessary for optimal safety and performance. For those who drive in moderate climates, all-season tires offer a balanced performance in various weather conditions. Performance tires are ideal for drivers who prioritize handling and speed.

Understanding Tire Specifications

Tires come with various specifications that can impact their performance. When selecting tires, pay attention to the size, load rating, and speed rating. The tire size is indicated on the sidewall and includes the width, aspect ratio, and diameter. Ensuring that the tire size matches your vehicle’s specifications is essential for proper fit and performance. The load rating indicates the maximum weight a tire can support, while the speed rating denotes the maximum speed the tire can safely handle. Choosing tires with the appropriate load and speed ratings is crucial for safety and durability.

Considering Tire Types

There are different types of tires designed for specific purposes. All-season tires are versatile and suitable for most driving conditions, providing a balance of performance, traction, and mileage. Winter tires are designed to offer superior grip and handling in cold, snowy, and icy conditions. Performance tires are built for enhanced handling and responsiveness, ideal for high-speed driving and sporty vehicles. Off-road tires feature rugged tread patterns and durable construction, perfect for navigating rough terrains. Understanding the differences between these tire types will help you select the best option for your driving needs.

Professional Installation and Maintenance

Once you’ve chosen the right tires, professional installation is vital to ensure proper fit and performance. At Topel's Towing & Repair, Inc., our expert technicians can install your tires correctly, balance them, and align your wheels for optimal handling and longevity. Regular tire maintenance, including rotation, balancing, and alignment, is essential to extend the life of your tires and maintain your vehicle’s performance. Our team can provide routine inspections and maintenance services to keep your tires in top condition.

Selecting the right tires is a critical decision that impacts your vehicle’s safety and performance. By understanding your driving needs, tire specifications, and types, you can make an informed choice. At Topel's Towing & Repair, Inc., we are here to assist you with expert advice, professional installation, and ongoing maintenance to ensure your tires deliver the best performance and reliability. Visit us today to find the perfect tires for your vehicle and experience the difference of professional automotive care.

Contact US

Topel's Towing & Repair, Inc.

Address: 1110 S Main St, Lake Mills, WI 53551, United States

Phone: +1 920-648-8115

Email: topelstowing@gmail.com

Website: https://www.topels.com/

Company Hours:

Monday-Thursday: 08:00AM-05:30PM Friday: 08:00AM-04:30PM

External Links

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[batemansbaytyres]

Signs that You Need 4x4 Tyres Services

A trustworthy set of 4x4 tyres is crucial while driving off-road or on rough terrain. However, even the most reliable and long-lasting tires require upkeep and attention. Here are several warning indications that you need  4x4 tyres services. Let's discuss:-

Uneven aging

Uneven wear is one of the primary indicators that you need  4x4 tyres services. This occurs when the tread on the tire has worn unevenly, meaning that some areas have worn out more quickly than others. Numerous causes, such as improper tire pressure, poor alignment, or overloading, can contribute to uneven wear.

Driving while vibrating

Vibration while driving is another sign that you need  4x4 tyres services. While driving, you can experience a shaking or vibrating sensation that is cause by damaged, misaligned, or unbalanced tires. When operating at faster speeds, this problem is generally the most apparent.

Reduced performance of the tyres

If you notice a decline in the performance of your 4x4 tyres, such as a loss of grip, poor handling, or difficult braking, they need to be serviced. The most common causes of this performance decline are worn, damaged, or improperly inflated tires.

Steering challenge

Another indication that your 4x4 tyres need servicing is difficult steering, particularly while the vehicle moves. The alignment or suspension system of the tyre may be the cause of problematic steering.

Tyre damage or punctures

Another indication that servicing is required is the presence of punctures, tears, or bulges on your 4x4 tires. Your tyre's ability to hold air is compromised by damage, which raises the possibility of a blowout or a flat tire. Sharp items or road debris can cause tyre punctures and damage.

What are the Benefits of 4x4 Tyres Services?

Having the proper tyres may make a significant impact on a 4x4 vehicle. Correct tire maintenance and repairs are crucial for optimum performance and safety, whether you use your 4x4 for off-road excursions or just regular driving. , we'll go over all the advantages of 4x4 tyre service, from enhanced vehicle performance to financial savings.

Vehicle performance improvement

Vehicle performance is one of the main advantages of 4x4 tyre services. 4x4 tires are made to offer the best handling and traction possible on any surface. However, routine services like rotation, balancing, and alignment are necessary to ensure your tyres operate at their peak efficiency. The tyres are moved from one spot on the vehicle to another during rotation. This promotes uniform tire wear and tear, which can enhance performance and lengthen the useful life of your tyres. Contrarily, balancing entails distributing the tyres' weight evenly for a smoother ride and less vibration. Lastly, alignment guarantees that all four tires are facing in the same direction, which can enhance handling and decrease tyre wear.

Enhanced safety

Increased safety is a crucial advantage of 4x4 tyre service. Because they are the only component of your car that touches the pavement, tires are essential for safe driving. Regular tire servicing may keep your tires in good condition with the proper pressure and tread depth. Underinflated or worn-down tires can impair how well your car handles and brakes, making it more challenging to steer in an emergency. In addition, worn tires are more likely to blow out, which is risky when traveling at high speeds. You may reduce accidents and other safety issues by routinely maintaining your tyres.

Extended tyre lifetime

Your 4x4 tyres' lifespan can be increased with proper tyre maintenance. Tires that are not balanced or rotated may wear out unevenly and need to be replaced sooner than necessary. To guarantee even wear and tear and extend the life of each tire, rotate and balance your tires regularly. Additionally, other procedures like wheel alignment can help delay the wear of your tires. All four of your vehicle's tires are oriented in the same direction when your wheels are correctly aligned, which minimizes tire wear and friction. In the long term, this can help your tires last longer and save you money.

Efficiency of fuel

Your car uses less fuel when the tires are in good condition. More rolling resistance is produced by underinflated or worn tires, which can cause a 15% reduction in fuel economy. Increase your vehicle's fuel efficiency and lower overall fuel expenses by keeping your tires at the correct pressure and retaining good tread depth

Cost-effective

In the long term, 4x4 tyre services are cost-effective. Regular tire maintenance may first seem like an extra cost, but avoiding premature tyre wear and other problems will save you money. For instance, failing to rotate your tires regularly may result in more frequent and costly tire replacements. Additionally, you can pay more for gas since your car will become less fuel-efficient if your tires are not correctly inflated. Regular tyre maintenance will help you avoid more expensive long-term repairs and replacements.

[guestpostblogger1]

A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding the Difference Between SUV and Truck Tyres in Saudi Arabia 

When it comes to driving across vast ad diverse regions in Saudi Arabia, selecting the right car with the correct tires becomes a crucial aspect of your skillset. To ensure optimal performance for your vehicle, it is important to differentiate between these two types of tires, regardless of whether you drive an SUV or a truck. 

Next, let us explore the dissimilarities between SUV and truck tires in Saudi Arabia in this blog. Keep reading. 

SUV Vs Truck Tyres - The Basics 

If you own a sport utility vehicle (SUV) or pickup truck in Saudi Arabia, you may be wondering whether there is a significant difference between SUV and truck tires. They look terribly similar, don't they? Yes, appearances can be deceiving! Let us break down the difference. 

One of the main differences is in the design and function of the vehicle. SUVs, as their name suggests, are vehicles designed to be “Sport Utility Vehicles.” They are typically suitable for light duty on- and off-road applications.  

In contrast, trucks are vehicles designed to carry and transport heavy loads across diverse terrains. Therefore, truck tires are designed to support heavy weight, while SUV tires are designed for comfort, speed, and fuel economy. 

Construction And Design 

SUV tires are often built with a focus on comfort, stability, and fuel economy while on the road. They have larger tread blocks for better traction on wet roads and are often designed to provide a smoother, quieter ride. Additionally, SUV tires tend to have a more aggressive tread pattern to suit the terrain conditions of adventurers who regularly take desert trips in Saudi Arabia.  

In contrast, Dunlop commercial truck tires in Saudi Arabia are built to be durable and sturdy. They are reinforced sidewalls that can withstand heavy loads and have deeper grooves for longer durability. Their design focuses on all-terrain traction, capable of overcoming the most difficult terrain, whether sand, rock, or mud. 

Load Bearing Capacity 

There is a distinct difference in the load-carrying capacity of truck tires and SUV tires. Because of the towing and towing tasks that trucks are designed to perform, their tires are developed with higher load-carrying capabilities. They are built to withstand heavy wear and tear, while effectively managing the vehicle's weight. However, the SUV tire is designed more to provide stability as well as a comfortable and noiseless driving experience when traveling on different terrains in Saudi Arabia. They are not as sturdy as truck tires because SUVs are lighter than trucks. 

Performance And Fuel Efficiency 

In terms of performance, SUV tires perform well at speed and have a unique tread pattern that reduces water dispersion, thereby increasing grip on wet roads. Designed to minimize rolling resistance, these vehicles offer improved fuel efficiency, which is particularly important for long-distance SUV drivers in Saudi Arabia. Car tyre price in KSA are much more reasonable for drivers.  

On the other hand, truck tires tend to prioritize durability and strength over speed and fuel economy. They are designed to effectively handle rough terrain, making them the right choice for Saudi Arabia's diverse landscapes. 

In A Nutshell 

Although SUVs and trucks may look like casual observers, their tires have unique characteristics, each serving a distinct purpose.  

To make a smart purchase, it pays to know these distinctions when buying new tires in Saudi Arabia. When deciding which tire to choose, consider your vehicle's specifications and your driving habits. If you are planning to use SUV tires for city driving or off-roading in Saudi Arabia, consider this option. However, if carrying heavy loads or traveling frequently off-road is your daily routine, then truck tires will be the ideal solution for you.  

Finally, remember that the safety and performance of your vehicle depends on the type of tire you choose, which is something car owners should consider. Whether you are cruising the highway in an SUV or traveling over rocky terrain in a truck, the right tires play a key role in your driving journey. 

[fleetroot-blog]

Tire Management With Fleet Management Software To Reduce Fleet Cost

Large fleets with a large number of vehicles must employ a carefully developed tire management policy. This not only lowers the operating costs for companies but also improves their bottom line.

Since each vehicle and its tires have different parameters, including loads carried, gradients negotiated on the road, weather conditions, frequency of trips, and drivers need fleet managers to consider all of these unique variables when designing a tire management policy.

Modern OEMs build their equipment, including tires, by incorporating devices that record data for detailed analysis. Fleet managers should examine this data in conjunction with other relevant data about the vehicles in the fleet when designing a tire management policy.

Because data is such an important foundation for the successful development of effective tire management, fleet managers would be missing a trick if they did not take advantage of the services of modern automation tools to create a GPS-enabled fleet management system that provides a holistic and centralized system to perform this type of in-depth analysis.

Efficient tire management policy: improves tire performance and controls costs

Transport managers at Fleet Management Companies managing large fleets of different vehicle types, each vehicle having different tire requirements depending on the load, type of load, routes, frequency, etc., must meet a well-designed tire management policy.

With such a tier management policy outlining tire selection, load distribution, maintenance, and replacement outlines, transport managers can manage cost and performance across the board to optimize business. Ultimately, this leads to increased productivity and profitability of .

The following are the main ways to develop an efficient tire management policy:

1. Establish a Baseline: Performing a thorough analysis of your current tires as well as your old tires is a good place to start. This returns general trends, including underperformance and underperformance, and allows you to identify the reasons behind them. This will help create a benchmark of performance for transportation managers to receive better recommendations from a tire professional for an effective tire stewardship program. You can also discuss this with your tire supplier.

Common signs of premature failure are:

Uneven wear, sidewall damage, detachment, sidewall damage

Overload, under/over-inflated ti, res, and load more than of the prescribed TMPH (tonnes-miles-per-hour) are seen through uneven shoulder wear and tire clearances

Irregular wear in the center of a tire often indicates over-inflation

Chipping or cracking treads usually mean a different tread pattern is required

Check Wheel Alignment: Ensuring that wheels are properly aligned and load balancers are properly adjusted extends tire life and reduces fuel consumption as well as the safety of the vehicle and the driver. Regular checks are essential.

2. Maintain a Sound Tire Management Policy: Transportation managers must establish and maintain an appropriate tire maintenance program. Of course, this varies depending on the vehicle, tires, terrain, load, etc.

For example, you should inflate one tire to the specified number for each vehicle. Don't blindly follow the PSI (pounds per square inch) listed on a tire.

To maximize tire life, be sure to maintain proper tire pressure.  It's a good idea to check tire pressure every time a vehicle needs to be refueled. 

Develop and follow an appropriate rotation schedule. Each vehicle has different requirements.

For example, approximately 2/3 of the vehicle's total weight is carried by the front tires of a 3-axle van when unloaded.

So a good time to change would be when the front tires have reached about 1/3 of their expected life. The weight is distributed more evenly when loaded (1/3 on each axle). Fleet managers need to maintain this data for each vehicle and compare it to other data such as driving conditions, terrain, etc. and formulate appropriate rotation guidelines

3. Tire selection: Tyre selection not only affects replacement and operating costs, but is directly related to tire selection, productivity, and company results, especially for large trucking and distribution companies to maintain an acceptable hourly cost, the correct tire must be selected. Tires come in a variety of tread designs, depths, and different compounds specific to the type of ride a tire endures.

Vehicles that have to repeatedly start and stop on hard surfaces need wear and tear. enduring connections. Long-distance highway driving at high speeds requires heat-resistant compounds. Rough and rugged terrain is best tackled with cut-resistant compound tires.

Another important factor in deciding tire lifespan is tread depth.

Choose treads based on your usage needs, e.g. L4 or L5 is a deeper profile

4. Working with experts: After conducting the overall needs analysis based on a company's operational details, a business consultant/consultant (e.g. tire dealer, logistics expert) might even propose some profound changes in a company's policies.

For example, you may find that a fleet's TMPH exceeds that of a tire. To solve this problem, you can recommend lighter loads, lower speeds, fewer ride cycles, etc.

These solutions are often difficult to implement and with good reason! Therefore, the tire expert and the fleet manager must work together to arrive at an optimal tire policy. One that balances the critical factors i.e. saves costs, maximizes tire life, and ultimately improves company profitability.

5. Retread Policy: Retread quality has improved dramatically in recent years due to advances in technology. At a third of the price of a new tire, not only is this a cost-effective way to extend the life of your tires, but it also performs as new or better.

It is also environmentally friendly as no tire carcass is thrown away. You can choose from several available casing and retread guarantees.

6. Monitor closely: Several manufacturers provide tracking technologies embedded within their products in today’s scenario. This provides valuable data to transport managers to monitor key performance indicators such as TMPH.

However, additional indicators such as weight distribution, turning radius, road quality, and gradient, temperatures while traveling, and GPS tools provide transport managers with additional insight to further improve and manage their fleet tire performance.

Therefore, fleet managers should consider utilizing modern tools such as modern Fleet Management Systems that provide such first-hand data.

Tire Management using GPS-enabled Fleet Management Software

As we have seen above, monitoring and improving tire performance is greatly enhanced by the availability of data.

One such tool that provides holistic data management and analytics is a modern GPS fleet management system. Based on a centralized, online server it collects data across all important metrics of a fleet – including tire metrics – and enables Fleet Managers to constantly mine for actionable insight.

If you aren’t using one yet, you aren’t taking advantage of a superb modern tool for Fleet Management!

Conclusion: a robust Tire Management Policy not only improves tire performance but also reduces overall company operating costs, thereby improving the bottom line. It also reduces carbon footprint and we have to adopt such an effective Tire Management Policy.

Read More about Tire Management With Fleet Management Software To Reduce Fleet Cost

[the-poke-nebula]

Field Effect: Time Warp

“Let’s do the Time Warp Again!”

Signature Field Effect for the Timekeeper.

General effects:

All Pokemon coming into battle are subjugated to the Time Warp. If your Pokemon faints, instead of fainting immediately, it devolves into its prior stage, if possible. All status conditions (Burn, Poison, ETC.) and existing volatile conditions, not including raised or lowered stats, are removed. Mega Evolution is included. If your Pokemon is a Basic Pokemon, it will faint if the usual conditions apply. This effect is not permanent.

If your Pokemon is revived, it will be revived at its default evolutionary stage. (ie if your Swampert is knocked out as a Mudkip, and you use Revive on it, it will be revived as a Swampert.)

Pokemon that have evolved and can still evolve again (Machoke, Porygon2, etc.) gain an Eviolite Boost. Stacks with Eviolite. Pokemon that have 2 evolutions gain 2 stacks of Eviolite Boost, which additionally stacks with Eviolite.

Paradox Pokemon are changed into their normal forms upon defeat. For example, Iron Treads and Great Tusk will change into Donphan, and such forth. Koraidon and Miraidon are exempt from this rule. (Iron Valiant will transform into either Gallade or Gardevoir, depending on the higher attacking stat, or random if tied.)

Terastalizing your Pokemon gives them +1 in their main attacking stat.

This field cannot be neutralized or changed in any way.

Weather cannot be generated on this terrain, except Nuclear Fallout.

Abilities Affected:

Galvanize now adds Steel-Type to Normal-Type moves in addition to changing to Electric-Type

Contrary now only affects negative stat changes

Magnet Pull increases DEF and SP.DEF by 1 stage.

Wonder Guard additionally acts as Magic Guard.

Triggers Electromorphosis at the end of each round.

Triggers Protosynthesis and Quark Drive. Pokemon with Protosynthesis and Quark Drive are immune to Nuclear Fallout.

Pokemon with Orichalcum Pulse and Hadron Engine, instead of generating weather/terrain, gain +1 in all stats, except accuracy and evasion. Pokemon with Orichalcum Pulse and Hadron Engine are immune to Nuclear Fallout.

Pokemon with Primordial Sea, Desolate Land, or Delta Stream, instead of making weather conditions, gain immunity to Fire and Water moves respectively, and gain +1 in all stats, except accuracy and evasion.

Pokemon with Embody Aspect gain +1 in all stats.

Tera Shift will gain +1 in all stats, except accuracy and evasion. Teraform Zero will further boost these stats by an additional +1, but not neutralize the field effect.

Tera Shell reduces all incoming damage to .75x and prevents stat loss.

Pokemon with Atomizate gain 1.1x power with all their moves.

Pokemon with Lead Skin now take .75x damage from any source, except Nuclear-Type, which still has immunity.

Pokemon with Geiger Sense have their ATK and SP.A increased by +1.

Pokemon with Chernobyl increase all stats by +1, and the generated Nuclear Fallout lasts the entire battle.

Moves that gain 1.5x Power:

“Time is Bending!”

Roar of Time

Spacial Rend

Hyperspace Hole

Hyperspace Fury

Tera Starstorm

“The Future is Now!”

Gear Grind

Techno Blast

Electro Drift

Future Power (In addition, triggers one turn sooner and can be affected by Power Herb)

Doom Desire  (In addition, triggers one turn sooner and can be affected by Power Herb)

Electro Shot

Psyblade

Mighty Cleave

Tachyon Cutter

All Nuclear-Type Moves.

“Prehistoric Power!”

Ancient Power

Wood Hammer

Bone Club

Bonemerang

Bone Rush

Shadow Bone

Collision Course

Origin Pulse

Precipice Blades

Dragon Ascent

Hydro Steam

Ivy Cudgel

Thunderclap

Other Moves affected:

Shift Gear now additionally gives one stat of Evasion.

Crafty Shield now protects against damaging moves.

Gear Up works no matter your ability

Happy Hour additionally adds Life Dew’s healing for all allies

Heal Bell works like Jungle Healing

Ion Deluge additionally gives the next Steel-Type attack an Electric sub-type.

Perish Song now randomly either has one additional tick or removes one tick when applied to each Pokemon. (Either a 4 turn countdown or 2 turn)

Bad Poison as a result of Toxic, Poison Fang, or Toxic Chain gains one additional tick at the start of application. (Begin at 12% damage and works up from there)

Nature Power becomes Roar of Time.

Camouflage makes the user the Steel-Type.

All Steel, Psychic, and Electric moves gain 1.1x power

Steel Roller, even though there is a Terrain present, will always fail. Certain Max Moves, Defog, Ice Spinner, and Splintering Stormshards, will all still work on the opponent, yet not be able to change or remove this field effect or the weather.

Burning Bulwark now deals additional reflected damage like Spiky Shield.

Items affected:

Eviolite now boosts the ATK and SP.A of the holder by 1 stage. This also applies in the Eviolite Boost this field provides. Still only applies to Pokemon that can evolve. (Mega Evolution doesn’t count)

Metronome, Thick Club, Twisted Spoon, and Magnet increases the main attacking stat of the user upon entering battle. All Reborn Field effect seeds have an effect on this Field;

Synthetic Seed: Boosts SP.A and applies Magnet Rise to user.

Elemental Seed: Boosts ATK and SP.A by one stage.

Telluric Seed: Boosts ATK and gives Priority to next move.

Magical Seed:   Boosts SP.ATK and gives Priority to next move.

Adamant Orb and Lustrous Orb now Primally Reverts Dialga and Palkia to Origin Form, and gives +1 to all stats of the holder, except Accuracy and Evasion upon switch-in if they are Dialga and Palkia, respectively.

Griseous Orb, Blue Orb, and Red Orb gives +1 to all stats of the holder upon switch-in if they are Giratina, Kyogre, and Groudon, respectively.

[anycartowing]

WHICH TYRE IS BETTER – COMPARISON OF MRF AND CEAT

Car owners are mostly after tyres that can last throughout the year. In this pursuit, some even try to hold on to their summer tyres during winter cold commutes. Let’s be very clear, driving your vehicle in winter with summer tyres is not only a risk to your car, but also a grave risk to your life. In cold weather or icy roads, winter tyres would be the best choice to use for such conditions. They can be your saviour in the event of an unforeseen accident.

Do you want to purchase new tyres for your cars? But feel conflicted about all the brands that you can choose from? Most of us are very choosy in selecting products for our car. Here, a big majority of people are concerned about the cosmetics of the tyre but often fail to concern about the amazing features they can have. Whether it is drivers’ comfort or safety, the tyres of your vehicle play a vital role in the performance and lifespan of your car.

TIRES NEED TO BE REPLACED EVENTUALLY

Most tyres can stay good for a couple of years or more. But after that time, there comes a stage where replacement is the only option.  And for that, a purchaser needs a keen eye to take a good look at what they are purchasing?

There are a number of factors that you must take into consideration when selecting tyres. This includes balance, grip, tread pattern, efficient fuel consumption. This is important because bad conditioned or damaged tyres will only bring more risk of you getting into a crash or a slide-out.

At this point might ask yourself, should I use an existing brand or go for some other top tire brands in the market? And if there is some other brand then which should be the best and why?

In this blog, things are simplified for you. The two brands CEAT and MRF are discussed that made a stronghold in the market in terms of making reliable, safe and high-quality tyres.

CEAT Tyres

CEAT (Cavi Elettrici e Affini Torino) is an Indian tyre manufacturing company owned by the RPG group. It was established in 1921 in Italy, Turnin. CEAT is one of the leading tyre manufacturers and has a presence in the global markets.

The company manufactures two-wheels tyres, four-wheel tyres, and tyres for trucks and tractors. According to statistics, CEAT has reported a 152% growth in December 2020, and an increase in its earnings to ₹132 crores.

CEAT tyres perform well in both winter and summer seasons. The main advantage of using these tyres is that drivers don’t have to face the problem of changing tyres frequently. It saves the cost of buying weather-specific tyres.

CEAT tyres are manufactured in a unique tread pattern that helps in strong road traction, low noise, and stable cornering in all surface conditions.

All-Terrain Tyres – CEAT Milaze X3

CEAT has secured its place in the market as a trusted tyre manufacturer. To become a more valuable brand in the industry, CEAT has come up with the product Milaze tubeless Car tyres. This tubeless tyre is made by its new tread compound and optimized shoulder depth.

CEAT designed this product by keeping the rough and bumpy road conditions in mind. Some of the benefits that make the Milaze X3 stronger and more valuable than its rivals are as follows.

Usually, regular tyres have a lifespan of approx 50,000km. But the Ceat Milaze X3 offers a lifespan of 1,00,000km making it well-suitable to tackle with the poor roads.

Another attribute of this tubeless tyre is a wide circumferential groove. It increases the tread depth of the tyre with additional resistance to external damage because of the high rubber gauge.

Tyres ensure you have a comfortable, quieter, and stable driving experience with a better grip on all surface conditions.

All-Season Tyres – CEAT Securadrive

Originally created and proving itself successful brand in the European market, it has now been adapted to India. CEAT Securadrive is designed to focus on optimization of wet and dry braking, tyre noise, and high-speed handling. All these functionalities provide a safe and comfortable drive even at a higher speed.

CEAT Securadrive tyre is brought to India offering lower rolling resistance, sufficient tread design. These new changes bring some benefits for your vehicle:

The wide circumferential grooves reduce the risk of hydroplaning and make sure that water does not accumulate beneath the tread.

The tread pattern is designed to make driving at high speeds easier and safer. This also reduces the tyre noise that results in providing a smooth ride.

Tread pattern and grooves have not only improved the resistance to hydroplaning but also offers confident control over wet and dry conditions.

Winter and Mud Tyres – CEAT Fuel Smart

Fuel smart is CEAT’s new fuel-efficient tyre introduced in the market with the claim of giving fuel savings to the car owner.  As most of the tyres consume fuel energy over the miles through rolling resistance which badly impacts on speed.  Rolling resistance is the frictional force from the road surface that needs to overcome.

Fuel smart tyres are designed in its unique interlocking blocks that reduce the friction between tyre and surface area. This will lead to minimal resistance.

Low friction between tyres and surface brings better fuel efficiency by up to 7%.

Control which is all about grip and high performance can be seen in Fuelsmart CEAT tyres. The circumferential grooves in Fuelsmart tightly grip on-road and reduce the rolling resistance while keeping your vehicle stable and secure. This gives drivers excellent traction and control over a vehicle.

These tyres have stiffer shoulder blocks with high pitch design that make low road noise during driving. It keeps your vehicle in control as it handles all curves and minimizes the risk of slippage.

MRF Tyres

When you are thinking about the top 10 tyre brands MRF is name you simply cannot miss. MRF (Madras Rubber Factory) is the most popular tyre manufacturer in India that started manufacturing rubber tread in 1952. It has managed to become a leading company in tyre producing industry.

MRF company makes tyres for all kinds of automobiles, right down from a moped to an aeroplane. But for the time being, let’s just talk about cars. And for this, MRF deal with the vast range of products.

The company makes tyres from hatchbacks to high-end luxury vehicles in which their offer starts from budget tyres to expensive ones.

MRF tyres are one of the safest and most reliable tyre brands that you can go for. Some of their famous tyres are MRF ZVTV, Wanderer, and ZLX for SUVs.

All-Terrain Tyres – MRF Wanderer

MRF Wanderer tyres are manufactured to perform excellently in all types of terrain. More than a decade, it has been one of the first choices of SUV lovers. The tyre provides great resistance to tears, punctures, cuts, and prolongs its life.

The MRF Wanderer tyres can easily handle vehicles at higher speeds, and its off-road performance is also quite commendable. The tyres having superior traction result in safe emergency braking at high speeds providing a comfortable ride to drivers.

Some of the features and benefits of using MRF Wanderer tyres are as follows:

The tread block of MRF Wanderer provides an improved grip on the road.

The tread compound that is used in the tyre helps in giving it a longer tread life.

The asymmetric tread pattern provides better wet and dry braking that enables stability even at higher speeds.

All-Season Tyres – MRF ZVTV Tyres

MRF ZVTV tyres is a popular tyre brand that comes with maximized rubber in the tread pattern that provides good traction on road. It offers a comfortable ride with superior handling of the steering wheel and its balanced performance.

The sidewalls of MRF ZVTV tyres are specially designed for better braking and fuel efficiency.

The quiet tread pattern is made for better gripping in all road conditions and to reduce tyre noise.

MRF maximised rubber in tread pattern for better grip in both longitudinal and lateral directions while braking, cornering, and accelerating. It also prolongs the tyres life.

MRF ZV2K TYRES

MRF ZV2K tyres are a premium all-season compound that provides great traction in both dry as well as wet conditions. Its unique tread design makes sure to give a quiet and comfortable ride to the driver.

ZV2K tyre can be found in 27 different sizes and is used in a variety of SUVs and sedans. Some of the key features and benefits it provides to car users are as follows:

Excellent traction and responsive braking capability provide a smooth and quiet ride.

Supple sidewalls are incorporated in ZV2K tyres for comfort and reliability.

Special polymer compound is integrated into tyres to provide long-term tread wear of vehicles.

The MRF ZV2K tyres have deeper tread grooves in an optimised tread design that prevents water from underneath the tyre.

MRF MARKUS TYRES

MRF MARKUS is a tubeless car tyre that enhances its on-centre feel and performance at high speed. Special polymer with silica tread compounds is used in tyres to provide better grip and low rolling resistance.

The MARKUS tyres provide excellent all-weather traction that gives an enjoyable ride to drivers. The tread patterns are designed to improve the tire’s road contact and to reduce the road noise and vibrations levels.

The tread design of MRF MARKUS Tyres boosts the road-gripping ability of tyre in all surface conditions.

Tread design maintains the gripping and contact of the tyre with the road while tyre compounds maintain its traction even in cold weather.

The wide circumferential grooves further enhance the performance of the MARKUS tyre as they disperse water from underneath the tread and prevent hydroplaning.

The optimized shoulder tread block sequence in tread increases the gripping ability with road surface during cornering and manoeuvring. And, ensures great control over the vehicle

MRF ZTX TYRES

MRF ZTX tyres is a well- known tyre that guarantees its higher durability and comes with a reasonable price. The optimized tread design of ZTX enables better ride quality and also assures safety with confident braking under the bumper.

This ZTX tubeless tyre has about 8.66 kgs of weight, 165mm of the section width, and comes in sizes ranging from 12-inch to 14-inch.  People who face issues like traction in tyres have to no more worry about anything. These tyres provide smooth and frictionless driving experience all along.

The ZTX tyre has been designed with a curvilinear tread pattern that helps in superior stability and enhanced braking under different weather conditions.

The unique wear-resistant compound in the tyre has made a prolong tyre life.

The ZTX has excellent cornering ability, great mileage and fuel efficiency. It ensures to provide a smooth ride.

The low rolling resistance that is produced by the ZTX tyres saves fuel and gives better acceleration.

Some of the top branded all-season tyres of MRF are listed below:

MRF ZVTS

MRF- Mogrip Tyres

MRF ZLX

MRF REVZ

MRF Perfinza

CEAT TYRES VS MRF TYRES

If you want to experience a safe and comfortable driving experience, then you should choose tyres according to the weather conditions. The road you are driving on plays a deciding role in driving performance, and your ultimate safety. 

It is noticeable to buy only those tyres for your vehicles that are reliable, give excellent performance, and are safe from any uneven tread wear.

CEAT tyres would be the best choice if you want a high-performance tyre for highway and city use at an affordable price.

MRF tyres would be the best choice for those people who want excellent gripping and traction performance on both on-road and off-road. Ensuring corning, acceleration, and braking ability while driving.

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[wiypt-writes]

Stark Spangled Banner

Ch34: Paper

Summary: Following the events in Siberia, Katie, Steve Wanda and Sam all struggle to adapt to a life on the run. The Roger’s first wedding anniversary isn’t spent the way Steve would have hoped, but as Fall arrives, he finallly gets the call he’d been waiting for from Wakanda.

Warnings: Bad language, Smut! (NSFW, Under 18s) Bad Language words.

Pairing: Steve Rogers x OFC Katie Stark

A/N: Wonderful edit again from @angrybirdcr​ and a new part means a new banner!!!! Here we go, into the Nomad/IW years...

Disclaimer: This is a pure work of fiction and classified as 18+. Please respect this and do not read if you are underage. I do not own any characters in this series bar Katie Stark and the other OCs. By reading beyond this point you understand and accept the terms of this disclaimer.

Chapter 33

Stark Spangled Banner Masterlist // Main Masterlist

August 2016

Following advice from Coulson, the group of Outlaws decided to lay low for a few months until interest died down, although Katie and Sam were pretty amused to find out that there had been widespread protests across the US after Captain America had been declared and Enemy of the State, especially when someone (no names were mentioned, but Katie was laying odds on it being Murdock to help Clint and Scott’s very publicised hearings) had leaked to the press details of exactly what had taken place in Siberia, and how they had been treated by the Government. To Katie’s further delight, Ross was facing a public enquiry as well with regards to their unlawful arrests. 

All in all, that part of it had worked out pretty well. And whilst she knew Ross would get away with it, the thought of him being pissed off and inconvenienced filled her with a very smug sense of satisfaction.

The place they were living was called the Isle of Lewis, approximately twelve miles away from Stornoway in the northern part of the inter-connected Islands in the Hebrides. Coulson wasn’t lying when he’d told Katie it was isolated, in fact the only connection to mainland Scotland was either a two hour ferry or a half hour flight, so with that respect it was absolutely perfect. 

The old farm house was secluded, the land surrounding it sprawling for miles, shielded by a large thicket of trees on three sides and a cliff edge which dropped down to a small beach on the other. There was no reason for anyone to visit or pass their house, bar the odd dog walker they saw treading the cliff footpath. They were always careful when seeing people to greet them politely so they didn’t attract attention by being suspiciously aloof. 

The first rule of going on the run? Don’t run.

At first they strayed into town for supply runs only. Katie was surprised just how well she adapted to living with two additional people. At first she had been worried, Steve and her having had their own space for such a long time. Even in the tower and compound their living quarters had been spacious and private, meaning they could hide away from everyone if they wanted to. But in their safe house they didn’t have that luxury. Nevertheless, it was adequate enough meaning they all had their own rooms, even if they were on the small side. And whilst there was only one full bathroom upstairs, so far there had been no squabbles about who used it when. 

The large sitting area had been kitted out with a state of the art entertainment system, they had a decent sized farmhouse style Kitchen-Diner, and a smaller sitting room off the back of the kitchen with a smaller TV and a  a piano much to Katie’s delight. Practical things like bills etc were coming out of an account belonging to Mr and Mrs O’Rourke, one of Katie and Steve’s covers- the name being Steve’s Ma’s maiden name. Coulson had advised them it was the least suspicious thing to do and would attract less attention than trying to pay cash at a bank. They’d also acquired a ten year old 4x4, bought for cash of course, and it was subtle enough to blend in as a lot of the locals seemed to drive them too due to the terrain and climate of the Island.

But whilst everything seemed to go according to plan and was, when all was said and done, fairly easy, Steve was struggling. He was antsy from the lack of action, and from a purely carnal point of view was missing the fact he could slam his wife up against any surface he wanted to and not worry about them being caught. He hated the fact their room was right next to Sam’s, concerned with the amount of noise they might make after Bucky’s jibe about the hotel rooms, and it wasn’t long before Katie noticed a dramatic shift in his attitude towards her. He was snappy, short tempered and Katie was often the one that bore the brunt of his temper. They bickered, on a much larger scale than she could really ever remember them doing before, over really stupid things as well like the fact one evening Steve couldn’t find where she’d put his favourite cookies in the kitchen. He became less tactile, less handsy and their love life dwindled dramatically, but she tried not to let it get to her, which was easier said than done especially when she was so used to the fact that he basically worshipped the ground she walked on.

The morning of their first wedding anniversary, Katie woke alone, her husband nowhere to be found. After laying simply staring at his empty side of the bed for a moment, remembering he blinked back tears of frustration and headed for a before she wandered downstairs into the kitchen to be greeted by Sam and Wanda both sat at the table.

“Steve gone for a run?” She asked, after greeting them both good morning.

“Yeah, I offered to go but he wanted to go on his own.” Sam said, shrugging “Didn’t want me slowing him down.”

“He actually said that?” Katie frowned.

Sam nodded.

“I’m sorry Sam, don’t take it personally.” Katie poured herself a coffee and sat down, taking a deep breath. “Is everything okay?” Wanda asked, looking at Katie “You’ve both been a little tetchy recently. Granted you haven’t been as bad as him, but…” “Yeah, you guys not err…getting enough?” Sam quipped, earning himself a slap round the back of the head from Wanda, the younger woman giving him a glare.

“Fuck off Wilson.” Katie rolled her eyes.

“I’m just saying.”

“Well don’t.” She snapped, taking a sip of her coffee then swiping a piece of toast off his plate. “He’s just not coping well with being cooped up, it’ll settled down. I hope.” She added, biting her toast.

“Look, we know it’s your anniversary today.” Wanda looked at her. “You got anything planned?” “Not really possible.” Katie shrugged. “Thought I might try and convince him to take a walk later, just the two of us but…”

“Well,” Sam looked at Wanda then over to Katie. “We thought we might head into town for the evening, hit a few bars. Give you two a bit of space.” Wanda nodded, eagerly. “You have to do something, even if it’s just cooking a meal and having a bit of you time.” Katie pondered this for a moment and found herself smiling “Actually, that’s not a bad idea. I can go to the store later.” Her spirits raised a little as she started planning a menu out in her head. She was jerked from her thoughts when the security system clicked and Steve walked through the door of the kitchen that led to the grounds, the door shutting behind him, the keypad beeping as he typed in the code to lock everything down. His T-shirt was damp with sweat, clinging to his torso, the pair of dark sweats fitting snugly to his hips.

“Hey.” She looked up at him. His face was tired but nevertheless she was relieved to see him smile as he walked over and dropped a soft kiss to her head, their argument from the previous night forgotten.

“Happy Anniversary.” He whispered, and she smiled up at him, understanding his gesture to also be an apology of sorts.

“Back at ya, Soldier.” She swallowed back her tears, “You want breakfast?” “I’ll shower first.” He nodded to Sam and Wanda before pausing, and with a playful smile he stole the last piece of toast off Sam’s plate.

“Not cool man!” Sam groaned.  “That was the last of the bread.” Steve simply shrugged at Sam’s protest, before he headed down the hallway to go and freshen up. Katie watched him go before she turned to Wanda.

“Fancy coming with me to the store?”

She nodded “Sure.”

***** When Steve came back to the kitchen half an hour or so later he was surprised to find the girls gone.

“Supplies.” Sam answered his unasked question as he was flicking through the television in the lounge, settling on a British Chat Show called ‘This Morning’, easy daytime TV that didn’t require thinking about. Steve made himself a coffee before he sat down next to his friend with a sigh.

“So, first anniversary.” Sam spoke, not looking at him. “Be this isn’t what you thought you’d be doing?” “You can say that again.” Steve mumbled. Just twelve months ago at that exact time he’d been bustling about his apartment on the compound in a fluster getting ready. It had, without a doubt, been the happiest day of his life.  But this was not how he wanted their first wedding anniversary to go down. He’d always planned spoiling Katie a little, maybe a nice getaway, somewhere warm, but that wasn’t an option.

“Me and Wanda are clearing out later.” Sam’s eyes remained on the TV. “Give you two a bit of alone time.” “You don’t have to-“ Steve started but Sam cut him off with a snort.

“Man, you need to make some lovin’ on your girl.” He turned to the soldier who felt a flush rise up his neck. “Because we know you ain’t been getting enough, you’ve been a bad tempered bastard for weeks.”

“I have not.” Steve shot back indignantly, causing Sam to raise his eyebrows. Steve let out a sigh, knowing he was well and truly busted.

“Look, if you two ever need some space, all ya gotta do is ask.” Sam said sincerely, looking at Steve. “Couples need that time. This is bound to be stressful for you both.”

“I doubt it’s easy on you two either.” Steve looked at him and Sam shrugged, before he smirked.

“Difference is if I wanna get laid I’ll just head into town. There’ll be some sap out there that likes George Fletcher the Geologist from Georgia.”

“You’re terrible you know that?” Steve smirked at him over his coffee mug.

Sam simply smiled back. “You get her anything?”

“Yeah.” Steve nodded “We agreed months ago on something paper themed, you know, on account of the anniversary being paper. I had planned to get the lyrics to our wedding song printed and do a sketch of one of our photos to hang up in our apartment but that kinda went out of the window.” “So what did you get?” “A book.” Steve let out a breath “I spotted it in the second hand shop in town last time we did a flyer. It’s a leather-bound complete works of Shakespeare but it was published the year she was born and has all these handwritten notes in it from someone. Just the kind of thing she’ll like. And a couple of albums of sheet music, I know she’s missing hers back home and she hasn’t been playing the piano as much as I thought she would.”

“She’ll love it.” Sam smiled encouragingly “I hope so Sam.” he sighed, leaning back against the couch cushions, scratching at his chin “I hope so.” *****

True to their word, Sam and Wanda headed out just after five, leaving Katie and Steve alone. As Katie bustled around in the kitchen, Steve couldn’t help but watch his wife as she cooked, a small smile playing on his face. And then, realising they were truly alone for the first time in months he placed his beer down on the side and crossed the small room, wrapping his arms around her from behind and dropping his chin to her shoulder, nuzzling at her neck. She smiled at his display of affection, something she’d been aching for, and as the scruff of his almost-beard scratched at her skin she gave a soft sigh.

“You okay?” she asked.

“Yeah.” He said, before he shook his head “No. Not really. Doll, I’m sorry for being so distant. You don’t deserve this.” He sighed. “After the accords, when the dust settled we were supposed to have a normal life, a simple life. I can’t even give you that.”

“It’s a good thing you’re cute because at times you’re incredibly stupid,” She smiled making him breathe a laugh. “Steve we’re here, together after everything. I made that vow, until death do us part and I mean it. I love you.” She finished simply, shrugging. “So stop wasting time worrying about it. You’re stuck with me, Captain Dumbass.“

Steve looked back at her, before he gave her a small smile.

"Now I know this probably isn’t what either of us had in mind, but we’re on our own, I’ve got a pretty large batch of Mac and Cheese, and an apple pie in the oven, a steak ready to grill so let’s just try and enjoy it.”

“You made mac and cheese?” Steve’s face creased into a boyish smile “And apple pie? What happened to not baking pies unless it’s Autumn?” “Well its September tomorrow.” She shrugged. “And I thought it might cheer you up.”

"Sorry.” He half grimaced, half smiled apologetically back at her. “I know I haven’t been the easiest to be around lately ─”

“Stop apologizing.” She interrupted him again.

He studied her for a second before he leaned down to give her a soft kiss. “I love you.” “I know.” Her hands slid down to his chest and she gave him a quick pat before playfully shoving him away “Now scoot, unless you want me to burn dinner. Go set the table.” Knowing better than to refuse, he did as he was told and it wasn’t long before they were settled down and eating. They talked about everything and anything, drank wine, and to the pair of them they could almost have been sat in their dining room at the compound. They laughed, they joked, they poked fun at one another. It felt normal. Once they had finished eating they cleared their dishes, Steve grabbed another bottle of wine and they headed to the couch to find something to watch on TV.

“I got you something.” Katie smiled when Steve dropped the wine onto the coffee table and she gestured to the small gift bag resting on the table.

“Oh, me too. Hang on.” He bounded up the stairs to retrieve his gift. As he returned, Katie eyed the two wrapped items with playful suspicion as he handed them to her. One was really heavy. She passed the gift bag containing his to him and he peeked inside, and they shared a childish grin with one another before they set about opening their presents.

“Oh, Steve.” She breathed out as she gently ran her hands over the leather of the anthology he had bought her. Flicking through, she smiled as she spotted all the notes that someone had written in the margins. They consisted of opinions on the plays, themes, characterisation plots, all the type of thing she had studied at University and she found it fascinating to read other people’s interpretations.

“I thought you might like it.” He watched her as she looked at him, her eyes bright, before she then let out another sigh of happiness when she opened the two sheet music books as they would give her something else to play other than the stuff she knew from memory.

And her gift to Steve was equally as thoughtful. He positively beamed when he opened the new blank sketch books, pencils, wax crayons and charcoals. All of his art supplies had been left behind and he’d been dying to get some more.

“Well, the sketchbook is paper.” Katie explained softly. “And I know it relaxes you to draw.” “Doll, its perfect” He assured her, dropping a kiss to her lips. “Thank you.”

“So, what film do you wanna watch?” She asked, moving for the remote but Steve had no intention of watching a film. Not now. He gently grabbed her wrist and she looked at him.

“Right now, Mrs Rogers, I’d really like to carry you upstairs and take you to bed.”

Katie grinned. “Well that can be arranged, but there’s something I wanna do first.”

He looked at her, puzzled for a moment but when she tapped on her phone and the opening sounds of ‘Only One in Colour’ sounded over the speakers he laughed and stood up, offering her his hand.

“May I have this dance?” He quipped, arching an eyebrow at her.

“Always.” She smiled, allowing him to pull her up.

They moved to the back of the couch where there was more room and he took her in a hold and they simply stayed close, swaying to the music, both of them thinking back to their first dance as a married couple twelve months ago. Katie pressed her cheek to Steve’s chest and he in turn rest his chin on the top of her head, revelling in her closeness. He heard her let out a soft sigh, but this one was contentment, and he gently moved to look down at her. For a moment Katie felt her breath catch, he was looking at her with nothing but unadulterated desire and love, the same way he had on their wedding day, and before the song had even finished, he’d captured her lips in a soft kiss, his hands moving to cradle her face. Hers fisted in his white T-shirt and it wasn’t long before the kiss had deepened causing a moan to catch in Steve’s throat. Without a word he pulled back and scooped her up in his arms, bridal style, causing her to giggle, a sound he would never tire of, and quick as a flash he carried her up the stairs and into the bedroom.

He set her on her feet but before he had time to do anything she’d shoved him backwards, catching him off guard slightly causing him to sit down harshly on the bed and he let out a smirk as she straddled him before she kissed him again and he was happy to reciprocate exactly how he knew she liked, firm and gentle, passionate and caring all at once. Katie gently bit his lower lip drawing another groan from his throat as he rest his head against hers, his hands gently gipping her hip.

“You know,” She drew back slightly to cup his face in her fingertips. “I really do like kissing you with this.” she traced her hand across the short beard on his face. She also liked looking at him with it too because, coupled with the fact his hair was also getting slightly longer, it gave him a rugged, harder, rougher look taking him farther and farther away from the Blue-Eyed all American boy day by day.

“I’m getting used to it.” He murmured pressing a soft kiss to her mouth before his head dropped, small kisses trailing up the length of her neck, that precious stubble creating an amazing contrast to the softness of his mouth.

“Yeah, me too.” She gave a soft moan, her eyes closed as she rolled her head back, giving him access to more of her neck. Steve smiled slightly, happy to oblige and just take his god damned time loving his wife. Eventually, his lips made their way up her jaw and then she sat up slightly, grasping at the hem of his T-shirt. He moved to allow her to take it off and then his fingers made short work of the sleeveless button down she had been wearing, shrugging it down over her shoulders before he peppered more kisses across her collar bone and down her sternum as he reached round to undo her bra. Gently, he lay her flat down on the bed, taking a nipple in his mouth, this time drawling a loud groan from her as her hips bucked involuntarily upwards at the sensations spiking through her body.

God it really had been far too long since he’d lavished attention on her like this and Steve made a mental note to tell Sam and Wanda to ‘take a walk’ a lot more often. It was almost two months now since they had last been intimate and, his body was aching for her, desperate to feel her, and from the noises she was making she felt the same. His lips made their way down, nose and beard skimming along the waistband of her jeans before he undid them, sliding them down with her underwear as he shed his own too before he crawled back over her.

Katie pushed on his shoulders slightly so she could roll him over and placed herself on top of him, brushing her lips across the hairs on his face tracing a path across from one side of his jawline to the other drawing a gentle moan from his lips, hands flexing on her hips as she shifted slightly to start taking him in. Her mouth dropped into a small ‘o’ as they both groaned as she slid down him, her hands falling to his chest and once he was fully sheathed inside of her, she began to work him gently. His hands slid up into her hair, as she leaned forward to kiss him and he raised his hips slightly and she whimpered, pushing down harder against him as his hands gently kneaded at her breasts. Her pace was slow, torturously so, but it wasn’t long before she began to move faster, working him harder as she chased her relief. The roughness of his pubic hair was grinding against her spot, the friction feeling amazing as she pushed down. With every push she made, his eyes grew darker, and darker, his hands digging into her hips as he pulled her down, grinding further and deeper.

He sat up suddenly, so they were face to face, the change of angle making her cry out, as he slid his hands round her back, pulling her closer to him as he bent to kiss her neck, biting at that spot whilst he held her still for a moment, gently thrusting upwards, deeply, slowly, savouring the moment. Katie rolled her head back, a louder cry this time tumbling from her lips and he felt her tighten around him, and he let out a groan of his own.

“Good?” He panted, smiling as she managed a broken noise of affirmation, as he pulled her to him harder, hands back on her hips as his rutting picked up speed.

“Stevie…” She mumbled, her eyes locking onto his as her hands slid up his back and fisted into his hair. A few more pushes later and they were both done for, her name escaping from his lips as her walls collapsed completely, and she let out a soft cry as she fell forward burying her face in his neck. He was close behind, letting out a gentle moan, his beard rustling against her ear as he jerked underneath her, clinging onto her as if he never wanted to let her go. And at that moment he didn’t.

After a minute or so he leaned back, his breathing deep as he brushed her hair back off her face before sliding his nose against hers. “Happy Anniversary, Kitten.” *******

Steve thought the fall in New York was gorgeous but that was nothing compared to what it was like where they were. He was feeling a lot more positive about things as well, as post their anniversary, he and Katie had made a pact that they would do  something alone together at least once a week, be it a walk along the cliff the beach, or straying into town to one of the local restaurants. His hair and beard now rendered him pretty much unrecognisable and they never got a second glance at all. 

Steve’s favourite ‘date’, if you could them that, was the walk they took in the pitch black to see the Northern Lights late one evening. Katie had been utterly captivated by the beauty of the Aurora Borealis and Steve had to admit, it was spectacular. Committing it to memory was easy, and a few days later Katie wasn’t surprised to find a perfect replica of them his sketch book.

Being on the run shouldn’t have been this easy, and they were constantly on edge, waiting for the time they had to split and run, but whilst they could, they made the most of it. 

Thanksgiving came, then Christmas, the four friends making it as festive as possible. They got a tree, shared gifts, enjoyed a Christmas Meal, and after several drinks each, Steve wheeled the piano into the living room where Sam and Katie gave a rousing rendition of ‘Fairy Tale of New York’ along with a few other Christmas songs. It was different, but that didn’t make it any less enjoyable.

And then, in March 2017, they had a call from T’Challa. They were ready to bring Bucky out of cryo. Katie and Steve instantly set about making the arrangements to go to Wakanda, but it turns out they weren’t the only ones planning on taking a little trip…

“There’s something I wanted to discuss with you all.” Wanda said, the morning they were due to depart. “Please don’t freak out, but I talked to Vision last night.”

“What?” Katie’s voice was quiet as she merely looked back at the younger woman, her face passive.

Meanwhile, both Steve and Sam’s eyebrows shot up in their foreheads.

“Hold on, what do you mean you talked to Vision?” Steve asked. “How? Where?”

“This is going to sound really weird, but I saw him in my dreams,” Wanda carried on with her explanation.

“How do you know that wasn’t just a dream?” Sam asked.

“Because it wasn’t,” Wanda shrugged “I don’t know how to explain it, but I know it was him and I know it was real. I think we are connected somehow, because of the Mind Stone and because I was thinking about him before I went to sleep, it made some kind of telepathy possible.”

Steve pondered it for a second, thinking to himself how ridiculous that sounded until he realised they were talking about an enhanced human who had gained certain telepathic and telekinetic powers due to experimentation with the Mind Stone and an android that now carried within his synthetic, vibranium-mesh body said gem. 

When you put it like that it seemed fairly logical.

"What did you talk about?” Katie asked after a moment.

“Just stuff, how I was, how much we, you know, miss one another” Wanda bit her lip. “We talked about actually meeting in person in a few days.”

“Okay, hold on,” Sam held one of his hands up, his brow furrowed. “How do we know this is not a trap? Like, I don’t know, Tony getting Vision to talk to you to get us back into the Raft?”

As soon as Sam said it Katie shook her head. Tony could sometimes be a jackass and he may have been hurt and mad at her and Steve, but she knew despite his stinging barb in Siberia, he wouldn’t want them all thrown in jail.

“He wouldn’t do that,” She looked at Sam.

“How do you know?” Sam pressed.

“Because Tony has way better tech than us, and there’s no accounting for what Vision can do with that Mind Stone.” Steve backed his wife up. This was something he had been pondering on for a while now too. “If anyone can find us, it’s them, yet we’re almost ten months down the line now since Leipzig and so far, there’s no sign of any one, so Tony’s either no longer working with Ross, or if he is, he’s dragging his feet deliberately.”

“Exactly,” Wanda nodded emphatically. “And Vision would never do anything to hurt me, not intentionally. I trust him with my life, but it’s more than that.”

Taking a deep breath, his mind made up, Steve turned to Wanda “You’re not a prisoner here Wanda. If you want to go then we can’t and we won’t stop you.”

“Do you want to go?” Katie looked at the younger woman who was wringing her hands together.

“I do but, well, I kinda feel like I’m fraternizing with the enemy.”

“He’s not the enemy. None of them are. Not Vision or Rhodey, Not Tony, none of them.” Steve ran his hand through his hair, sweeping the long strands back off his face. “We all wanted the same thing, to do good in this world but we disagreed on how best to make it happen. Doesn’t make us enemies.”

“But we’re on the run because…”

“This was always going to happen.” Katie cut her off, shaking her head “Ever since SHIELD collapsed and Fury stepped away there was a power vacuum. It was only a matter of time before the Government tried to step in to oversee us.”

“And let’s face it, I was always going to be considered a rogue threat the moment I refused to comply” Steve said, a wry smile on his face. “We all were.”

“Just be careful.” Katie looked at Wanda. “And whilst we’re away just make sure you check in once in a while? And the first sign of trouble, well, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“Well if Wanda’s being granted shore leave so to speak, I might take a bit of time too.” Sam chipped in as the idea came to him. “There’s an old RAF pal of mine, based near Liverpool that I aint seen in a while. He’s cool,” he anticipated the next question, “I saved his life on a mission so he won’t sell me out.” Steve took a deep breath and then shrugged “You know the risks, Sam. If any of us get caught then…” “Back to the Pokey.” Sam shrugged “Yeah, I got it. And don’t worry, I wouldn’t rat your location out.”

“Me neither.” Wanda added. 

“I don’t for a second believe you would.” Steve shook his head.

“I suppose, to be fair,” Katie bit her lip, “we’ve been here for a long time now. It won’t harm us to disappear for a while, regroup in a few weeks. And we’ll draw even less attention apart as they won’t be expecting it.” And so, for the first time in ten months, the four went their separate ways. ****** True to his word, Steve was there when they woke Bucky up. Once he had come round the two greeted one another with the same love and affection they always did. Suri’s scans showed that the programming was no longer present in Bucky’s brain, but there was one last thing they had to do to make sure.

Say the trigger words.

Which was why Katie, Steve, a one armed Bucky and T’Challa were now heading to the underground fort of the palace. Katie clutching a rifle, Steve was unarmed bar his super strength, whilst T’Challa was in his black panther garb, the party flanked by two members of his Kings Guard.

As they were about to enter the underground cell, Bucky grabbed Katie’s arm and pulled her to one side.

“What the hell Bucky?” She almost yelped, and he let go of her arm and held his finger to his lips.

“Listen, Doll Face, I got a favour to ask. If this hasn’t worked…” He took a deep breath. “I want you to end it.”

“End what?”  She arched an eyebrow at him. “Me.” He replied simply “Steve said you’re a good shot. I want you to put a bullet in my head.” Katie blinked, and then burst out laughing. “Whatever.” “I’m being deadly serious.” Bucky looked at her. “I can’t and I don’t want to live like that anymore.” He shook his head sadly. “I’d rather die that know that what they’ve done is still in there.” “Bucky,” Katie frowned, “you’d be safe here, you know that, no one would trigger you.” “No, we don’t know that.” He shook his head. “Please Katie, I’m begging you. You owe me.” “So you save my life and you want me to take yours?” “Yeah. Pretty much.”

“You’re an asshole, James Buchanan Barnes” She hissed, glaring at him before shooting a glance over his shoulder at where Steve was stood, talking to T’Challa. She shook her head sadly. “I can’t. It’d kill Steve and it’s wrong, you don’t…”

“Listen, I’m asking you because I trust you to do it.” Bucky cut her off, looking over his shoulder to where she had been watching Steve. He was now stood observing the pair of them and they both smiled at him. Katie took a deep breath, looking into Bucky’s steel blue eyes and gave a sigh. She knew how hard this was on him and she could fully understand where he was coming from but still, asking her to do it, especially when she knew Steve would be besides himself made her feel sick.

“I’ve written him a letter.” Bucky said quickly, as the Super Soldier was now making his way over. “It explains what I’ve asked you to do. So please, give me your word.”

She looked at him, swallowing, and gave him a small nod before her eyes flicked to Steve as he approached, a frown on his face.

“You two alright?”

“Yeah, Katie was just asking me how I was really feeling.” Bucky looked at his friend.

Katie shrugged and smiled at Steve in what she hoped as a convincing way “Wanted to make sure he was alright, that’s all.”

Steve studied her for a moment, and she smiled again before he turned to Bucky. “It’s gonna be ok.” Steve assured his friend, clapping him on his shoulder, shooting another glance at his wife who was nervously chewing her lip. He frowned again, but pushed the suspicion to the back of his mind and then nodded. “Come on.” “Yeah, let’s get this over with.” Bucky mumbled.

Steve and T’Challa stepped into the room which was sealed whilst Katie took up her position on the other side of the one way glass with Suri who pressed the microphone to talk into the room.

““I don’t know why you are all worrying, brother, it is like you do not trust me…” the young woman scoffed. “Take no chances Sister.” T’Challa shot back. “You know this”.

Suri made a noise in her throat and then spoke again “Ok, I’m ready when you are.” She held the red book in her hand that they had recovered from Zumo. T’Challa engaged his helmet whilst Steve stood stoic as ever, throwing a glance over his shoulder to the glass he knew his wife was stood at the other side of.

“Ready Buck?” he asked turning back. His friend nodded, taking a deep breath.

T’Challa signalled to Suri who, after a little hesitation, began to read, each word punctuated by a pause.

“Longing, Rusted, Seventeen, Daybreak, Furnace…”

Katie watched intently and saw Bucky was clenching his teeth and suddenly she started to get a little bit nervous. She wasn’t the only one that had spotted it either. Steve moved slightly, adopting a little more of a battle stance than he had been as he clocked his friends reaction.

“Nine, Benign, Homecoming, One, Freight Car”

The last words hit Steve like a truck. It was depraved that Hydra would use those words. Bucky had plunged from a train car to his supposed death. There was no randomness to that at all, unlike the seemingly obscure nature of the rest of the words, nor was it any accident it was the last trigger they would use. There were the final words because they signified the death of Bucky and the birth of the killer Winter Soldier.

Sick bastards.

Bucky’s chest was heaving, his fist was clenching, and for a split second Steve feared the worse. But when his friend looked up, he saw the blue eyes of Bucky Barnes looking back at him, and not the icy glare of the Winter Soldier.

“Buck?” He asked gently, his voice cracking slightly. Bucky looked at him, a single tear falling down his cheek.

“Nothing.” He croaked, and Katie let out a soft sigh of relief, her hands sliding down her face to cover her mouth. “Nothing.”

T’Challa threw a party of sorts that night which consisted of a bar crawl through the city. Katie and Bucky dubbed it a ‘Fuck HYDRA’ party much to Steve’s chagrin. But he couldn’t bring himself to care that much, as at the end of the day, if anyone had as much right to stick their middle fingers up to HYDRA it was them. There was still something troubling him though, so when T’Challa left the bar they were sat at for a few moments, he turned to Bucky and asked him outright what had been going on with him and Katie outside the cell before. Bucky hesitated before he hung his head slightly and peered up at Steve from where he was sat next to him, a tumbler of some kind of Wakandan alcohol in his hand.

“I asked her to kill me.” Bucky admitted, swilling the liquid round in the glass “If it hadn’t worked I asked her to put a bullet in my head. She didn’t want to but I told her she owed me.” Steve felt himself blanche. “You did what?” “You don’t know what it’s like.” Bucky shook his head. “Living with the fact that at any time someone could mutter a string of words and…” He shot back the alcohol and slid his empty glass back to the Bar Tender to top up. “I didn’t want to live like that.”

”You put that on her?” Steve’s eyes flashed with anger, “Damnit Buck, you should have asked me!”

“Would you have done it?” Bucky countered. Steve took a big sigh, knowing he was caught “Exactly.” Bucky scoffed. “And besides, you’re the one that said she was a dead shot.”

Bucky eyed his friend for a while before he slid his empty glass to the man behind the bar, gesturing for another top up. “Anyway, it’s irrelevant now because here I am.”

“That was still a shitty thing to do.” Steve frowned before he reached over for his glass, giving a little shrug. “But yeah, here you are.” T’Challa chose that point to come back and he settled at the bar next to Steve.

“So, Sergeant Barnes, we’ll have to see about getting you some permanent lodgings.” The King smiled “Maybe a private hut. There is a quiet tribe, not far from the river, unless you would prefer a post in my Kings Guard.” “I’m done fighting.” Bucky shook his head as he took another drink from his glass. “A hut sounds mighty fine. Maybe I can get some goats.” “Goats?” Steve looked at him.

“I like Goats.” Bucky shrugged “Do you remember the one in the petting zoo near School?” “Yeah, it set my asthma off.” Steve snorted before the pair of them descended into laughter.

Across the bar, Katie was stood with Suri and one of T’Challa’s personal guards, Okoye. She instantly warmed to Okoye, the woman reminding her a lot of Natasha. They stood chatting for a while before a loud roll of laughter caught their attention and they turned to see T’Challa, Bucky and Steve howling at something, as T’Challa gestured for the bar tender to top up their glasses whilst Okoye excused herself to head over to speak to her husband. 

“Oh dear, they’ve broken out the Wakandan Spice.” Suri muttered, eyeing up the men.

“What’s that?” Katie asked.

“The only thing that gets my brother drunk!” Suri snorted “That stuff could knock out a rhino.”

“So it should have an effect on Super Soldiers?” Katie grinned.

“Let’s go find out!” Suri nodded, a cheeky grin on her face. They made their way over and Katie could see instantly the woman was right. Steve had a glazed look in his eyes and Bucky was leaning back in his chair, a pink tinge to his cheeks.

“Hey, Beautiful” Steve smiled up at Katie, pulling her into his lap, his hand trailed up and down her spine, lazily. “Where you been all evening?”

“About ten meters away over there.” She smirked, pointing. Suri was reaching over to steal a bit of the liquor from Bucky’s glass and T’Challa slapped her hand. “You are not even old enough to drink.” He glared at her.

“Tssk hush brother. Just because you are now well into your thirties. You always seem to be so bitter about me being much younger than you.” At that Bucky barked out a laugh.

“Don’t know what you’re snorting at old man.” Katie glanced at him and he quirked an eyebrow at her.

"Not exactly a comment I’d expect from someone who’s married to a hundred-year-old man.”

“Ninety-eight.” Steve corrected.

Katie leaned back in her husband’s lap to peer at him, her right hand running through his hair. "Doesn’t look a day over twenty five.” She grinned.

“Hey brother, why doesn’t your power stop your ageing?”  Suri quipped.

“Shut up.” T’Challa glared at her. “Before I carry you back to the palace”

As the two siblings began to quibble, Katie glanced at Steve. “Been talking about the good old days?” “In a fashion.” Steve smirked.

“Anymore good tales of your misspent youth to tell me?” Bucky shook his head. “Sure Steve’s told you enough already.”

“I never told her about the time you set up a double date for us and then forgot to show up.” Steve looked at him, his arms tightening around his wife.

“That never happened.” Bucky shook his head.

“It absolutely happened. Caroline O’Hara and Deborah Smith”  

Bucky’s eyes widened. “Oh shit, yeah. Brunette and a red head. A curly red head.” He grinned.

“Yup. Double date to the theatre, only you never showed up.” Steve looked at him, accusingly “And little old me was left to explain to Debbie why you had stood her up.”

Bucky smirked into his glass.

"I thought she was gonna kill me.” Steve mused, turning to look at Katie. “She kept hitting me with her purse. And then Caroline started, asking where the hell he was and why he thought it fit to stand up her best friend and try to fix her up with some kind of joke.”

Katie frowned, narrowing her eyes. “You weren’t a joke.”

“Thanks, Honey.” He grinned before he turned to fix Bucky with a glare. “And do you remember why you didn’t show up?” Bucky was now shaking with mirth, as he looked at Steve, his eyes bright with tears of laughter. “Go on, tell her Buck.”

“I was with Maggie Dougherty.” Bucky smirked

“Yeah, you were.” Steve pointed at him. “That was the night you got caught sneaking out of her room and down her fire escape by her dad who beat the crap out of you.”

“Worth it though.” Bucky snorted. “She was hot. Strawberry blonde waves, pretty face, nice ass.” “Yeah.” Steve nodded and Katie slapped the back of his head.

“Oww!” He looked at her as she glared at him. Grinning he reached up to give her a soft kiss “Not a patch on you though, Darlin’”

After another hour or so, Katie left them to it, heading back to the palace with Suri. She’d had enough, the alcohol she had drunk had lulled her into that happy place here she felt warm and fuzzy inside, and ready for bed.

Steve woke her up when he came crashing into the room a few hours later.

“Shit.” He mumbled, as he banged into the chair by the dresser. “Shhhh”

He staggered over to the bed before face planting straight down. Katie grinned as he peeked up at her.

“I’m drunk.”

“No shit, Sherlock.” She giggled and scrambled out of the duvet. “Come on, get in bed.” “Promises, promises.”

“Yeah, not a chance pal. I doubt very much you’d be of any use in this state.”

“Hey.” He pouted rolling over so he was on his back, turning to look at her as she moved to climb out of bed. “That’s my shirt.”

“I know.” She dropped to the floor to take off his suede boots.

“I like you in my shirts. I like you better out of them.” Steve grinned, grabbing hold of her as she stood up.

“How much have you had?” She laughed as he pulled her onto his lap, nuzzling into her neck.

“Enuff.” he spoke back, voice muffled. “You know you’re the prettiest gal in the whole world?” He peeked up at her and she had to laugh as she ruffled his hair. 

“Arms up.”

“I like it when you undress me.” He grinned and Katie gave a chuckle, shaking her head.  Eventually she managed to tug off his shirt and his jeans whilst he made some other reference to sex, before he pulled her back down onto the bed next to him, giggling like a school kid.

“Bucky told me.” He slurred.

“Told you what?”

“That he asked you to shoot him.” Steve hiccupped “But I’m glad you didn’t have to.”

Katie chuckled to herself “Me too.” “And now he’s all better.” Steve sighed. “Good, isn’t it?” “It’s awesome.” Shhe smiled, reaching up to bush his hair off his face. “You’re gonna be so hungover tomorrow.” He responded with shrug. “But I do love you. So much.”

“I know and I love you too. Now you gonna get into bed?”

He pushed himself up before beginning a monumental fight with the duvet to get underneath it, the whole thing a great source of amusement to Katie. She’d seen him tipsy from the Asgardian stuff Thor gave him before, but not flat out shit faced like this.

“Are you gonna puke?” She asked, stroking his head as he sighed, nuzzling into her chest. 

“No.” He assured her, then paused, before he hiccupped slightly. “But I think I need water.” “Alright, wait there.” Katie climbed out of bed. She grabbed him a bottle from the mini fridge near the door but by the time she had turned back, Steve had his face buried into his pillow and made nothing more than a noise when she offered it to him, not looking up. Deciding she couldn’t be bothered to argue with him, she gently placed the bottle on the night stand next to him, and ran her hand through his hair one more time before she crossed to her side of the bed and settled down with him.

“Night, Soldier.” She smiled softly, kissing his cheek.

“Night, Princess.” He slurred into his pillow.

**** Chapter 35

**Original Posting**

[sw5w]

R2 Lowered Out of the N-1

STAR WARS EPISODE II: Attack of the Clones 00:03:06

[callmepanini]

An Amateur's Guide For How To Buy An E-Scooter

There are many motives to invest in an electric scooter. The travel options you will get from an electric scooter are nothing to scoff at. You can go wherever you like without carrying all of your baggage. Parking is simple, and you can even carry it if need be, given the lightness they are. An electric scooter is self-propelled unlike a bicycle. You don't have to feel tired while riding, giving you sufficient energy to complete any other task. Reduced environmental impact is one of the main reasons why people are picking up electric scooters. Each electric scooter is unique. It is important be aware of these differences if you are looking for an electric scooter. For those who are just starting out, here is a beginner's guide to buying e-scooter for under $300.

Essential Guidelines To Select best electric scooter for under 300

Range

Every electric scooter comes with an effective range of its own that it can drive before stopping. Electric scooters run on batteries and, as you drive, the batteries lose their charge until they are empty. The scooter's range is determined by the battery's charge. You will need to consider the range and battery charge before you are out.

Plan for the whole trip. It is best to plan the whole trip, with the cost of half for getting to your destination, and the other half to return to home. If you are able to recharge your scooter when you reach your destination, you will not need to worry about this. Every scooter comes with a distinct battery capacity and a reliable driving range. It is important to ensure that the distance of your scooter is at its maximum. A scooter that is just able to take you half the way around the route isn't the one you're looking for.

Speed

Each scooter's top speed also differs for each scooter. There are a variety of factors that affect the speed of a scooter including the motor, wheels as well as weight, load and the road, to name some. To determine their top speeds, e-scooters have to pass a series test that are standard. When you need special info about e-scooter, check here.

It is appealing to select the most powerful scooter, and that is great. However, in many instances, faster scooters can sacrifice other features and come with their own disadvantages. The faster scooter could weigh more or less than you want or come with a the capacity to go on trips. When you're looking for an e-scooter that is suitable for your needs, you should consider other factors.

Weight

To ensure that a scooter works well it is essential to take into account the weight of the scooter. The motor has to perform more efficiently if the scooter is heavier. This causes the battery to run out of charge faster in order to travel the same distance. This affects the speed at which the scooter is able to travel. Most often, scooter makers aim for a lighter model to reduce the negative impact.

While the weight of the scooter won't limit your ability to ride it, it will make it more difficult to move it when you need it. This extra weight is not at all detrimental to an electric scooter. A larger scooter will have a lower balance at the center. This can make it difficult to fall and over-tilt. It also increases the maneuverability of your scooter as the slower your scooter is, the greater control you'll have over it.

Handling

Because it's difficult to gauge the handling of a scooter There isn't a standard measurement. Some people prefer different levels of control. But that's not to suggest that there is no clear distinction in the handling of scooters. Each scooter has its own level of control. This is typically due to the motor's weight, speed, and the top speed. The heavier and slower ones tend to be easier to maneuver. This is a great reason to look at the speed of your scooter well. While speedier scooters may seem more appealing, it's crucial to ensure that you have control over your scooter at all times. You can test the scooters and read the reviews. This should tell you how you feel driving these scooters.

Brakes

The most crucial component of a scooter is its brakes. It's extremely dangerous to ride around with no solid method to stop. That is why you need to be aware of the three main types of brakes that are available on electric scooters. First, there are electric brakes. They're a little more difficult to stop than some of other options, however they require low amounts of maintenance. There are also disc brakes that have excellent stopping power but wear down quite quickly. Another common form of brakes is foot brakes. You'll need to pressurize the rear mudguard that may require some time to get used to.

Tires

The performance of scooters' tires can also be affected. There are a variety of tires that are suitable for scooters. Sometimes, special tires can be purchased to enhance the performance of the scooter. The main difference between tires is the amount of traction they provide. Some tires are made from softer materials, which provide better traction for scooters. Different tread designs are able to do the same. This comes at the expense of speed as tires with more traction will spin slower. Certain tires help a scooter be better suited to handling off-road conditions like on gravel or other soft terrain. A scooter cannot handle off-roading the same way as an ATV.

These are the most important aspects to take into consideration when shopping for the best scooter. Like we said, this is just an overview of the basics for anyone who wants to know what to look for in a scooter best electric scooter for under 300. There are plenty more factors to be considered, such as lighting or waterproofing. However, we hope that this guide has given you the basics you require to begin the process.

[whetstonefires]

Okay, it’s been about a year but here is the second-to-last of the fics I signed up to write for the go-fund-cee drive! For @jes-cher, who has been lovely and understanding about my choice paralysis bullshit.

I’ll be posting a shorter, darker Jason-focused one later, as apology for slow. Ten months of beating my head against my first idea for this prompt before it occurred to me I could just. Write something else. It doesn’t matter if it’s a great idea if it’s clearly not getting written! 😌 Rip.

(Anon who’s the only one left, please feel free to contact me with a new prompt if you’re no longer interested in your original request after this amount of time, or have justifiably lost faith in my ability to execute it, as I chronicled my battle with Lobdell’s writing style, and would prefer I give you 10,000 words of something else. I’ll still post what I have written for that prompt already!)

-&-

Gotham wasn’t actually that bad a city. Steph had actually lived in a few different ones now, and visited lots, and for all the crap her hometown got, it stood up pretty well. The architecture was nice; good balance of eras, a unified aesthetic with a lot of variety to keep it interesting.

The street system wasn’t ideal, especially in the old parts of town, but they didn’t have any of the traffic nightmares of New York or, really, most of the rest of the metro belt. Only Metropolis did a better job at avoiding gridlock.

Public transit was robust and reached most of the city, and while the buses weren’t wonderful they weren’t bad. Sometimes they were even on time. The libraries and schools were all pretty well funded, because the Wayne Foundation made up the tax shortfall in districts with below average income. The street lights usually worked, and the cops were a lot more chill than most places unless they thought you were a supervillain, in which case they still probably wouldn’t shoot you, even if maybe they probably should.

The supervillain problem was worse than average, she could admit that, but crime as a whole actually wasn’t. Air pollution had been really bad forty years ago, and the river still wasn’t anywhere you’d like to swim, but that was true of a lot of places, and their reputations didn’t linger like this. She’d been to Paris! Gotham sanitation workers were about 400% more successful, and they kept working through frankly ludicrous conditions! Possibly they were paid really well, she didn’t know.

The weather, though. She’d give the world that one. Gotham’s weather was consistently terrible, awful, no-good, and deserved everything anyone had ever said about it.

Which made it actually really weird that their supervillain problem featured someone with a plant theme.

“Move somewhere tropical, Eisley!” she groused, as she swung to the next roof, careful of her footing. “Cultivate jungles! Save the planet! Stop making us come out in the freezing rain to deal with your unseasonable bullshit.”

She paused for a second on her last rooftop perch, both to gather herself and in case Ivy took the cue. She often did. Supervillains in general seemed to have a hard time resisting a straight line—which Steph could relate to, honestly. And she’d caught Batman holding back his entrance for the most ironic dramatic moment before, so it wasn’t just a villain thing.

No villain attack, which was good, because Steph was on her own out here. This was hopefully just a scouting mission. Probably Poison Ivy wasn’t even here.

This afternoon, just after lunch, as Steph was getting off work, every park in the city had suddenly erupted with enormous…growths. They were tree-shaped, thirty feet high with little crinkled green leaf things at the top, but from what inspection had been done so far seemed more like fungus than anything. The spreading limbs had a weird rubbery texture.

Steph was calling them Doom Broccolis.

Whatever they were, they were suspicious as heck, and in response to their appearance Batman had immediately rallied the troops. Which had quickly led to the discovery that Red Robin was missing, and had been for at least eleven hours. He’d never checked in last night.

The troops had promptly been rallied even more urgently, and dispersed across the city to its various infested green spaces.

So Steph’s mission, like everyone’s, was twofold—see if she could learn anything about Ivy’s scheme in time to foil it, and search for any sign of Tim. If they were lucky, he’d just dropped out of contact voluntarily for unrelated reasons and could be yelled at later. If not… Well. If not, he needed them.

She’d been telling herself all the way here that she appreciated that Duke and Damian were the ones who’d been sent out with each other as backup, that she was respected and trusted to operate solo and that was a good thing. The practical side of her would really prefer backup please, and the insecure one kept murmuring that maybe what it really proved was Batman cared less if she died.

Batgirl gave herself a little shake. Shut up, little voice, she told it, and mentally squashed the slug of it under her heel. She adjusted her gas mask to make sure the seal was tight. Time to get her reconnoiter on.

And hopefully not have to fight the most powerful metahuman in Gotham by herself on unfavorable terrain, in the freezing rain. That would be really great.

There was almost no sound as she crept through the nasty rubbery grove that had erupted in the long narrow triangle that was Hyde Park.

The broccolis themselves were silent, not even creaking or rustling in the occasional gusts that drove the freezing rain at an angle, and city traffic and all the sounds of people were hushed on a day like today, between the weather and the large-scale supervillain incident. Everyone who could be was either out of town or at home, stuffing newspaper into any cracks in case of spores.

After an unenlightening loop around about half the perimeter, Steph was forced to drop to ground level and forge her way into enemy territory. The doom broccolis had avoided uprooting any existing trees or large shrubs, which meant the spacing was slightly uneven and in some places there was no easy way through on foot, but for the most part they were far enough apart to leave plenty of corridors of sky for Steph to stay out under—cover from line of sight wasn’t worth putting herself directly below the things, if she could help it.

Fairly quickly, she noticed something that had not been in the photos from the main infestation in Robinson Park, forty minutes ago.

She clicked her comm on. “Hey,” she murmured just above the subvocal range, for the throat mic. She’d mostly gotten the knack of subvocalizing rather than whispering, which didn’t engage the vocal cords and which the microphone pasted to her neck therefore didn’t pick up well. “Is anybody else seeing…fruit? On the broccolis?”

There was a second of dead air, and then Red Hood said, with a grimace you could hear, “yeah. Like…huge brown cherries, on a couple of ‘em.”

“The ones here are more or less mushroom colored,” reported Signal from Finger Park. “But kind of like cherries, yeah.”

“Don’t touch them,” warned Batman, with the condescending Dad-instinct need to tell everyone things they already knew. Steph was in the middle of rolling her eyes when she rounded another broccoli and froze dead.

“Holy crap.” The broccoli mushroom tree at the middle of Hyde Park was bearing fruit that wasn’t shaped like cherries at all. Batgirl’s first thought had been holy shit it’s people, but then she’d taken her second look, and now it was worse. “Team,” she said, trying to keep her voice professional, “I… think I found Red Robin.”

Because dangling from the central broccoli, by dark hair that turned into green stems just before joining the bough, were seven still vaguely formless figures, torsos partially sheathed in giant green leaves like Ivy wore sometimes for modesty, and with arms and legs looking just barely stuck together. Like a partly melted wax figure, or dragon fruit that wasn’t quite ripe. The fingers and toes were mostly fused, and greenish at the tips. The faces were kind of melty too, hopefully enough so that they wouldn’t be a sure match against a photo to a stranger, but not so much that Steph couldn’t instantly recognize the lines of one of the faces she knew best in the world.

There were seven under-ripe Tim Drakes growing from a broccoli tree.

A clamor of demands for clarification was starting in her comm, and she crept forward as she waited for Batman and Oracle to quiet them all down. There was a bulge halfway up the meaty-looking trunk. “I said ‘think,’” she murmured, studying the nearest Tim-fruit for signs it was actually the real one, “because this broccoli—”

Something slammed into her from the side before she could say any more, heavy and cold and leaving her head ringing and her stupid gas mask flying away, and the combination of experience and instinct only barely let her leap and handspring with the blow, just fast enough to avoid the grasp of the thing that had struck her.

Her boots and glove almost skidded in the freezing-rain-on-grass and left her wiping out, but the jagged rubber treads she’d selected specifically for moments like this saved the day.

Steph made a three-point landing and stared up at Poison Ivy, standing looking thunderous on the top of a huge coil of some sort of vine, several more of them lashing around her like octopus arms. Steph couldn’t even tell which one had hit her.

Oh shit oh shit oh shit, Steph thought, and grinned.

“Gotta try harder than that, Pam!”

No one was talking in her ear. The ear she’d been smacked in. She reached up to check. Yeah, the comm had had it.

She couldn’t be sure about the throat mic—the stick-on patch it was under was still in place but she was pretty sure it got most if not all of its broadcast strength from the earbud unit, so it probably wasn’t transmitting to the others anymore but it might be. She’d keep that in mind to a) pass info just in case and b) try not to embarrass herself, in case there was a silent audience.

Ivy didn’t go straight for the kill, so Steph took the time to readjust her stance into a slightly more upright, flexible posture that kept both her hands free, though she didn’t bother to straighten her cape, which had gotten flipped forward over her right shoulder while she was flipping around.

“You’re planting dude-trees now, Pam?” She and Ivy absolutely weren’t on close enough terms to use first names, even if the meta lady had currently been on the upswing and working with the Birds of Prey again, instead of on a sharp down and terrorizing the city. “What, real guys not listening to you anymore?”

“Human beings are disgusting resource sinks,” Ivy said, in a tone of abstracted disgust that didn’t omen well for her losing her head and making a mistake. “Especially men. I’ve always been working on alternatives. Sadly,” she gave a shallow sigh, inspecting her nails, “the ones I’ve developed have always been…limited.”

Steph nodded sagely. “The veggieburger problem,” she agreed. “Hard to get a plant to do the job of meat.”

Ivy glared. Hah. That one got her. “My new varietal,” she snapped, “will overcome that problem. Each specimen engulfs and consumes one large mammal, and produces fruits that mimic the full intelligence and abilities of the prey sample, in a vegetable form completely loyal to me.”

Steph gaped, because one, that was the most terrifying thing Ivy had done in years, and two, consumes was a very very alarming word in this context. “The Doom Broccolis are carnivorous?” she did not actually squeak. She really hoped her throat mic was still working. Even if it wasn’t, though, backup should be incoming.

Ivy rolled her eyes. “They are not even distantly related to broccoli. And yes, although the digestion process doesn’t really set in until the fruits ripen; the early experiments failed to reproduce cognitive function accurately, due to the breakdown of key tissues.”

Whew. So Tim had…at least a little time left, probably. Steph looked uneasily around the grove of horrible flesh fungus. “I don’t see any loyal broccoli people,” she said. Maybe they were off guarding the other parks?

Ivy scowled. “Of course not. The early cultivars weren’t large enough for human trials, obviously.”

…so there were loyal vegetable guinea pigs or something. Sometimes it was easy to forget Ivy had once been an actual lab scientist.

“So wait, you haven’t actually done a person before and you start with—him?” Steph caught herself at the last second; she didn’t know which identity Tim had been caught in.

“Why not? Red Robin is an excellent specimen. Good balance of strength, strategy, and unlike Batman actually takes direction.” Ivy made a sour face, like her inability to control any version of Batman for long was a thorn in her side.

“Is that what you think,” said Steph, who had had the experience of trying to control Tim Drake. He did try to be accommodating, about most things, usually, and he did take direction better than Batman, for what that was worth, but in the end he’d always go off and do whatever he thought best, no matter what, and possibly let you yell at him about it later.

If anyone could take stock of his preconceived values and identity issues and think his way into a twisty workaround for inbuilt loyalty programming in order to fuck over his creator, she’d bet it would be a perfect copy of Tim.

“Also I caught him skulking around my newest greenhouses,” Ivy shrugged. “Waste not, want not. Recycling is good for the Earth.”

Haha, Ivy had just called Tim garbage. Harsh. But as interesting as it would be to see if the veggie-Tims actually did go rogue, them waking up would mean Tim was now actively dying if not already dead. So no. Not that funny.

Steph caught the enemy’s eyes shuttling subtly toward the central broccoli with its heavy burden of fruit. Aha. Just as she had suspected. (As of like…six seconds ago.)

Poison Ivy had been keeping Batgirl talking, buying time for her Tims to ripen.

Steph appreciated the compliment of putting off the fight rather than counting on being able to end it quickly, but she’d been buying time, too. And unlike Ivy, she was done shopping.

Her Batgirl cape wasn’t nearly as wide cut as her Spoiler cloak had been, not as good for hiding things in, but she’d contrived to use its cover to take out and arm nine individual exploding batarangs while they talked. That was more than she carried normally, or even would be allowed to carry normally, but when you were fighting evil trees more ordinance tended to be called-for, and Batman had issued a supply.

Without wasting time, she started throwing. Her aim had never been especially exact, something Damian liked to give her a hard time about, but here all she had to hit was ‘an entire tree.’ No fiddly precision targets today. She had to aim for the ones not showing fruit or trunk bulges, which she was going to have to trust didn’t have people inside, rather than having just recently acquired very tiny people—this seemed like a safe bet since Ivy tended to be soft on kids.

Not enough to stop periodically trying to destroy humanity for their sake, but enough that it was hard to imagine her hurting one face to face.

“No!” Ivy shouted. She got points for not leaping toward the blinking explosives to try to stop them, sending vines striking like snakes instead, but she was too busy doing that to get away from the bomb that had landed only about five feet away from her.

The blast blew her off her feet, and clear off her pedestal of green. She’d managed to remotely yank two of the batarangs out before they went off, saving those doom fungi, but Steph wasn’t worried about that; she’d successfully set the supervillain up for the kind of fatal misjudgment in defense of plants Batman always said was the surest way to beat her, and now she charged in to make the most of it.

She got there in plenty of time to really put her weight behind a punch hammering down into Ivy’s face, then kicked her in the chest, heel driving in just below the collarbone. Ivy gave a very human uph and pained expression, though she didn’t fall, and Steph went for another kick, this one more carefully aimed.

This was a mistake. One green-tinted hand came up and closed around her ankle like a Venus flytrap made of carbon steel, and in one sharp uncoiling move Eisley rose to her feet and with a twist of her whole torso flung Steph head over heels across the grove.

She realized somewhere between getting thrown and suppressing the urge to vomit as she gyroed upside-down that she’d been thrown straight for one of the remaining undamaged, unfruiting tree-things. Could see the surface getting sort of…gelatinous in preparation for her impact, which was so many flavors of no.

Her hands didn’t fumble at her belt, courtesy of many hours of drills and live practice, even as instinct screamed for rush and now now now.

Her grapple caught in one of the spreading ‘boughs’ at the top of another broccoli, and she tugged the line to send herself swinging out on a long arc just short of making contact with the fungus that wanted to eat her.

She peppered the air in front of her with ordinary, nonexplosive Batarangs as she came back around on the end of the wire—Ivy smacked these casually aside, but it made enough of a distraction that Pam didn’t notice in time the moment when Steph got her backup grapple into a different tree, and accelerated.

Going for a kick would have been the smart, safe option, but Steph was rarely smart and almost never safe, so instead of slamming her full body weight heel-first into the supervillain and hoping it stuck this time, she grabbed with the full strength of endless thigh workouts and dragged Ivy clear off her feet.

Ivy’s plants were protective, but they tended to rely heavily on her for targeting anything that wasn’t right in front of them, so keeping her disoriented was a good idea if you could manage it. It said so in her file. So this part, the grabbing, had been an actual plan, even if one it had taken about two seconds to make, and even if ‘hit the supervillain essentially with your crotch’ was probably a combat recommendation no one would make ever.

The next part was sheer impulse, based on how much easier Ivy was to move than expected—maybe her punch resistance wasn’t so much physical density as some sort of supernatural rootedness, and if you could get her off the ground it stopped working?

Steph released the retraction mechanism on her secondary grapple and let it start paying out again, an instant before she hit the max-strength retract button on her original grapple, the one that was still in her other hand, and gripping a bough halfway across the grove.

Her right shoulder screamed, but Ivy let out a startled choking sound as their trajectory wrenched around out of the arc Steph had been carrying her into headfirst, and shot the other way. Which meant she was still discombobulated, which meant Steph still had the upper hand, shoulder or no.

Steph picked the right moment as they went rocketing back, and let go. Momentum kept Ivy flying, and none of her plants reacted to catch her in midair before she landed. Right on target.

Ivy sank headfirst into her own carnivorous fungus tree, in the gelatinous patch where she’d tried to throw Steph. Her legs kicked once, and then fell still. “See how you like it!” Steph shouted, which was perhaps not the wittiest repartee ever, but she didn’t care.

She landed, staggering a little because her shoulder might be dislocated a little bit and was definitely killing her. And normally she wouldn’t turn her back on a villain just because she’d gotten one good hit and they hadn’t immediately gotten up again, but what she’d been fighting for this whole time was time, because the window of opportunity to stop Tim Drake-Wayne from being reduced to protein goo and the pattern for a bunch of veggie-copies was closing fast. This wasn’t a defeat-top-rank-supervillain-solo mission, this was a rescue mission.

She pelted back toward the relevant tree, holding up the elbow of her bad arm with the opposite hand against the jolt. How to get him out? With two good arms she could have climbed or grappled up to the level of the bulge that represented the broccoli’s prey and started cutting, but it would be hard to get good leverage. Was there a better option?

One of the Tim-fruits twitched on its stem. Fuck it.

Steph recalled the grapple-end of her holdout gun from where it had been since she use it to get the drop on Ivy, fired it into the gummy-looking limbs of the Tim tree, and hauled herself up. She needed to start carrying a better cutting implement than a Batarang, how did Midnight Boy Scout not mandate that already, but for now she gripped one swoopy sharp black wing awkwardly in her gauntleted left hand, braced toes and knees against the nasty cool-flesh stem, and put all the strength her bad arm had into cutting through the tough husk.

It wouldn’t cut.

More of the Tims were starting to move. Their copy nervous systems booting up or whatever.

The whole tree seemed like it was twitching, and then she realized it was, or rather just the lump under her feet was, and she pulled back her Batarang just in time for something thin and yellow to burst out through the surface of the Doom Broccoli, and disappear, leaving an almost invisibly thin slash that dribbled a transparent greenish fluid that reminded Steph of aloe vera gel but smelled more like old mango and artichoke.

The rubbery husk was being sliced up from the soft, inner side with the hawks-head emblem that belonged in the middle of Red Robin’s chest, which wouldn’t you know was a holdout throwing star thing after all, just like his R used to be. She should’ve known.

Talk about impractical shapes for a knife.

“Keep going, you’ve almost got this.”

Whether he heard her or not, he went on thrashing and slashing, and Steph with her Batarang tore as best she could with her bad arm at the shreds between cuts, trying to get them to snap and let all the thin slashes add up to one hole large enough to escape through.

The Tim-fruits were still twitching. Would they fall to the ground and then peel their limbs free like they were breaking out of husks, and get up and start walking around? Or would they need to get all the way to looking like functioning humans before detaching from the stems?

A whole arm burst out in a rush of goo. They were going to make it.

The fingers of the nearest fruit came unstuck, one by one, curling around air the way Tim curled his around a staff.

And then he was out, headfirst and gooey.

“Man, Ex-Boyfriend Wonder,” Steph sighed, as she let him grab onto her and lowered them on a slowly paying-out jumpline, helping him reach the ground with slightly more dignity than clawing his way down the slime-encrusted ruptured stem of his prison would have allowed, assuming he hadn’t just landed face-first and died. “Why’d you have to go breaking yourself loose at the last second like that? I was supposed to be the hero!”

“Believe me, you—pbbbft—were,” Tim answered, pausing partway to spit out a mouthful of sap-gel that he must somehow have been breathing in there. “I’d never have even managed to wake up if you hadn’t turned up to distract Ivy and make such a racket. I could feel her speeding it up, toughening up the…things, pushing.” The shiver was understated enough Steph might not have noticed it if he hadn’t been clinging to her waist. She eyed the Tim fruits. They’d stopped moving. Good?

Feet on the ground, Tim brushed fruitlessly at the slime all over his costume, then obviously gave it up as a bad job. “Where is she?” he asked, looking around.

“Over there.” Steph landed too, and pointed to where Ivy was still embedded head-first in a broccoli.

She’d disappeared up to the waist, and didn’t seem to be making any effort to get out. In fact, as they watched she seemed to sink in another centimeter.

“Okay, that’s a bit better than a distraction,” Tim acknowledged. “But also I don’t think we should let her finish. I don’t want to fight a dozen vegetable Poison Ivys.”

“Don’t like to eat your vegetables?” Steph teased, even as she sized up the situation—should they pull Ivy out, probably the faster option but then they’d probably have to fight her some more right away, or try cutting down the Doom Broccoli with her still in it, more thorough?

“Yeah actually I’m not going to be able to look any cabbage varietals in the face for the next six months,” said Tim, apparently agreeing they were broccoli regardless of their creator’s opinion and the mango smell, “but come on. It’s never good when villains start to spawn. Chiraxes was bad enough.”

“Blegh,” Steph admitted. The duplicate Drury Walkers had at least had a super short lifespan and been self-disposing. “Okay, I’m all out of bombs. You?” Probably a dumb question, given all his storage space had been confiscated.

“Ivy took my belt and everything in my bandoliers,” Red Robin admitted, touching the cape closure thing at the top of them, where he’d shoved his little sigil-thing back into place in spite of all the goo. His stupid little gimmicks would be easier to make fun of if they worked out less often, lucky stiff.

“But she left that.” Because Tim had all the luck when it came to details like that. “And your mask?” Not that Ivy had ever cared much about things like the Bats’ secret identities.

He shrugged. “I guess she didn’t expect it to be relevant long.” Anything she wanted to know from or about him, the copies could have told her, soon enough. And he wouldn’t have mattered, once he was dead.

This had been another close one; Steph got those feelings out with a little shiver of her own. “Come on,” she said. “Let’s do something about Ivy. Everybody else should be here soon.”

“Backup,” Tim sighed, pushing his hair back from his face and having it stick that way, messily moussed with doom fungus glop. “I love having backup.”

“Sure didn’t act like it back in the day.”

“I am an older and wiser man now. Who values being alive and made of the original meat products.”

Steph stole a glance over her shoulder at the Tim tree. “…I’m really glad those things aren’t waking up.”

“Me too. Think of the ethical implications.”

Steph side-eyed him, not sure whether that was intentional humor or not, then decided it didn’t matter and elbowed him in the ribs anyway. She immediately broke into a run to avoid any counter-attacks, bad arm carefully supported once again. “Race you to the supervillain!”

[toyotaoforlando]

5 Main Types of Car Tires

Did you know that there are different types of car tires? We’re not just talking about “regular” and “snow” tires, there’s actually a couple of more types! This is where our Orlando service center comes in. Besides having a great selection of car tires at affordable prices, we also have educated techs on board! With their help, we’ve compiled a list of the main types of car tires available. Here it goes!

Types of Tires for Your Orlando Toyota

All Season

Just like the name says, they’re good for all seasons. The catch is, it only works if you live in an area that doesn’t have heavy snow and ice (so they’ll be good for Orlando weather).

Summer

Similar to all season tires, they’re good for weather conditions that don’t go below 45 degrees. Summer tires also have a detailed tread pattern with orbital grooves. This allows great handling in the dry summer heat.

Winter or Snow

Investing in winter or snow tires are well worth it if you live in an area that gets hit with heavy snow and often has icy conditions. They’re made with special rubber that stay pliable and soft even if temperatures are below freezing.

Performance

Performance tires are best for those who like to hit the track! These type of tires are usually wider than normal (for more contact with the road) and have shallow treads and a low profile look. They come in 4 subtypes: performance, high performance, ultra-high performance, and competition).

Truck

Pretty self explanatory… If you have a truck, then you’ll need truck tires! The types available are highway truck tires for a smoother ride on the road; performance truck tires for withstanding higher speeds; all terrain truck tires for driving in the sand, light mud, and gravel; and last but not least, off-road tires for taking the challenge of traveling off-road!

Have any questions or concern about your car tires? Let us here at Toyota of Orlando help you out! Stop by and see us at 3575 Vineland Rd, just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall.

[smallcooleronwheels24-blog]

Best Deal on American Racing Wheels

The aftermarket wholesale wheel market has recently gained momentum and is destined to become another automotive industry success story. Car enthusiasts are flocking to buy custom wheels as they not only want lighter and prettier alternatives but also demand a high performing product that is able to provide ultimate handling and driving experience. Gone are the days when customized wheels were sold at a premium to only those who could afford high price tag. Now, globalization has allowed manufacturers to design more efficient tires which can be mass marketed to an average racing fan. This means that the aurora of luxury, sportiness and wealth can be tailored to meet the tastes of everyday car lover.

The Charm of Custom Wheels

Need for custom wheels was readily felt in the early years of car manufacturing when consumers realized that investment in automobile is a huge undertaking. To them, it was logical to look after their investment as they would care for any other luxury item. This idea yielded the concept of custom wheels that would modify or replace the vehicle manufacturer standard. Historically, these wheels were expansive to produce and were not offered as a standard package to a new car buyer. Often times, the buyer was enticed to buy it as an add-on accessory, a practice that continues to this day. Fortunately, racing car fans soon found out that buying these modified wheels from a reputable aftermarket wholesale wheel supplier greatly reduces cost in comparison to what car agents offer. See here best beach cooler with wheels

These cost savings are further amplified by the fact that wholesalers effectively increase the value by providing a greater variety of custom wheels to choose from. Such variations are needed because competition based customers want stronger wheels, able to withstand the wear and tear of an otherwise rough terrain. Alternatively, appearance oriented car owner require larger and distinctively designed custom wheels which should stands out in the crowd. Therefore, these customized wheels have become an icon in hip hop and sports culture, inspiring the launch of such devoted publications as DUB magazine.

Categories of Aftermarket Custom Wheels

Custom wheels can actually be classified into six broad categories but the most desirable characteristic of a wheel will differ by the needs of its owner.

1. Automobile Racing

In automobile racing, the weight of the wheel in ratio to car size is of utmost importance as most tracks consist of numerous sharp turns requiring automobiles to optimize corner weights. Still, it does not mean that weight is the only significant aspect for racing cars.

2. Drag Racing

Another category is drag racing where drivers rely on a wider base to accommodate traction. Nowadays, drag racing is not just restricted to main events but continues to thrive legally and illegally. Young groups of automobile fanatics converge on their favorite hideouts to try techniques that they would never be able to carry out in a formal setting. Due to a shorter track, such clandestine events require that participating cars not only posses the qualities of speed but also constitute all the mechanics of drag racing.

3. Rally Perhaps one of the most well known categories of car racing is Rally. The main emphasis of a Rally driver is on the strength of its wheels. Due to unpaved conditions, rally wheels are made from a heavy duty metal base. In this sport, a good wheel can be the difference between finishing first or last. It is necessary that participants make careful decision between speed, stability and control. Amid the growing popularity of amateur rallies and accompanying lucrative prizes, it is recommended that rally drivers consult an expert wheel supplier to determine the most feasible wheel type.

4. Touring Cars Touring car racing can be classified as another category. This classification is the fastest growing classification as it allows heavily modified street cars to compete. The width and weight are the primary factors contributing to a performance of a touring car. Once famous in Europe, modified racing car owners love this unique concept as it may be the fastest lane to fame and glory.

5. Street Driving (Cruising) Unlike racing, Street driving allows anyone and everyone to showcase their cars. Here, the primary concern is the visual appeal. Americans are more accustomed to cruising strips where hundreds of cars congregate in a bumper to bumper parade displaying their visual appeal to the general Public. McHenry Avenue in Modesto, California is one of the most popular cruising strips made popular by the film, American Graffiti. In earlier decades, street driving in Woodward Avenue, Detroit reached its peak in 1960's when magazines like Car & Driver, Motor Trend and CBS World News would cover those events. To many, street driving events or cruising nights are one of the best events to see and be seen. Large events such as these can attract one Million viewers with 40000 cars comprising special interest, collector, custom, street rods and muscle cars. Apart from the overall beauty, custom wheels are one of the cheapest and among the most attractive feature of this car parade.

6. Multi-Purpose A sixth and somewhat vague category for the uses of custom wheels is multi-purpose. Fervent custom car designers, who are well known among their community circles, keep multiple sets of wheel which define strength, visual appeal, width and weight. As a result, they proceed to change them according to the requirements of an event.

Alloy Wheels

Actually, a true car enthusiast never misses an opportunity to buy alloy or chrome wheels. It will not be an oversimplification to suggest that most major wheel wholesalers specifically market these wheels that provide significant advantage over an average steel wheel. The major benefit of alloy wheels is that they are typically light weight but impart superior strength. Moreover, these wheels are better conductor of heat providing an improved cosmetic appearance. Formula One race car drivers use these wheel types as it allows better suspension for vehicle so that a racing car may follow the terrain closely with a firmer grip.

It should be noticed that steel wheels require wheel covers and hub caps due to the corrosive nature of the steel. On the other hand, alloy wheels are corrosion resistant with a bare metal finish which allows for attractive design finish. In light of increasing theft of wheel covers and hub caps of steel wheels, the overall higher price of an alloy wheel is fully justified. Furthermore, a severally damaged alloy or chrome wheel can be repaired like new, saving additional dollars in the long run. Basically, alloy wheels are manufactured in two classes, cast and forged. Wholesalers mostly keep inventory of cast wheels but consumers may also come across forged alloy wheels from companies that solely rely on these such as Vellano, Weld and DONZ brands.

Admirers of Plus Size alloy wheels who crave for muscle cars and rough terrain should keep in mind that like standard wheels, these tires come with their own benefits and disadvantages. Probably, the greatest advantage lies in the fact that it substantially increases the handling of an automobile by keeping the tire tread square to the road. Therefore, drivers of Plus Size custom wheels feel the thrill of improved drivability, instantaneously. On the other hand, improper size will make tire inches lighter than wheel inches, making the vehicle act erratically. Thus, it is recommended to consult a wheel specialist before mounting these kinds of large wheels.

The Popular Brands

Currently, the market is fraught with reputable aftermarket wheel brands therefore buyers should do considerable research before embarking on a journey to buy custom wheels. Contrary to popular belief, a wholesale wheel supplier expert can provide valuable advice instead of usual marketing rhetoric. If confused, shopping for a well known brand will ensure safety and value for money. Some of the popular brands are Akuza, MSR Wheels, Incubus, Viscera, MHT, Cattivo, Ballistic, Boss Wheels, Menzari, Devino, Antera, Marchesini, ION, Sparco, Speedline, TeamDynamics, NAD Wheels, Lexani, R2 Wheels, DUB, Lowenhart, DONZ, Rennen, Rial, Sacchi, Orobica Line, DIP, M.B Italia, Toora, G.M.P Italia, Shooz, Vellano, MOZ, Watanabe, SSR Wheels, Wolfhart, Wolfrace, Panther Wheel, American Racing Wheels, Motegi Racing Performance Wheels, Weld Racing, BBS Wheels, CMS, 5Zigen, Volk Racing, Konig Wheels and Rimstock.

Although not all brands are mentioned here but one should be circumspect before buying anything outside of these popular makes. The appropriate wheel size on a car or truck will depend on a number of factors but usually custom wheels range from 16 to 30 inches in diameter. Apart from its size, a good aftermarket wheel dealer should offer different color wheels. These black, green, red and blue colors are considered a vital component of a trophy car. The average range of these wheels is below $500 but special category wheels may demand a higher price reaching more than thousand dollars.

In wheel manufacturing industry, Lexani is akin to Rolls Royce. These wheels are known for their world class finish and almost always sell for more than $500. Despite such high cost, users have become addicted to its style and quality finishes which continues to inspire a generation. For muscle cars and other big automobiles, Jesse James Wheels, DUB and Lexani compete to provide the ultimate large wheels of more than 28 inches in diameter, constituting every aspect of modern cutting edge technology. Below are the profiles of some well known companies that excel in manufacturing top quality custom wheels:

MSR Wheels from American Eagle Corporation

It is one of the oldest privately held wheel suppliers in the industry. Their network spans multiple continents carrying a great deal of investment in Research & Development. A majority of their inventory comprises of 17 to 18 inch Silver and Black wheels. The wheels are developed using advanced ProMechanica and Magma engineering software.

MHT Wheels Inc. This California based company specializes in the production of large luxury alloy wheels. These wheels are always multi piece that are constructed by using inner and outer rim halves utilizing the latest CNC machining process to ensure long term reliability. MHT wheels are chrome plated larger than 20 inches representing a wide variety of colorful dimensions.

Boss Wheels

The name is synonymous with aftermarket wheel industry standard. The company produces one of the largest assortments of customized wheels for general public and racing enthusiasts. Customers should always seek a supplier that specializes in Boss and is able to give warranties. High quality accompanying very reasonable prices has long been a trademark of Boss Wheels.

ION

Ion alloy wheels are custom designed to fit luxury and racing cars. The company distinguished itself by marketing highly intricate products and selling those at abargain. A new style or blowout special available seems to be available on hand.

American Racing

It is the largest manufacturer of after market custom wheels in the World. The company is popular among motor car enthusiasts looking for high performance chrome, polished and painted wheels for cars, mini trucks and SUV. Every wheel comes with a two year warranty on chrome plating and a life time guarantee on structural defects. Moreover, the prices are in reach of almost every racing fan.

DUB

At DUB, wheels over 20 inches are custom made for large vehicles protruding extravagant design. The manufacturer is known for its extreme fitments that can be tailored to adjust in any car or super large vehicles.

DIP

These alloy wheels come in chrome, polished, painted and most other types of finishes. The wide range represents a variety of different sizes and shapes delivering excellent craftsmanship as well as a great 'value for money'.

Lexani

A name of prestige and luxury, Lexani offers the best selection of luxury aftermarket customized wheels for large size automobiles. Although, the price tag is mostly higher than the expectations of an average buyer but these products are made to finish the toughest terrain on earth. When selecting Lexani wheels, it is prudent to consult your supplier who will be able to match or customize Lexani wheels according to your taste.

SACCHI

Marketed to consumer looking for 16 to 18 inches wheel rimes, SACCHI offers amateur and first time buyers an opportunity to shop for highest quality, head turning design, at lower costs. The manufacturer is proud to distinguish itself solely on reputation for excellence.

SHOOZ

The Company offers some of the most eye catching custom wheels in the industry. A fantastic assortment of gold, silver and black wheels are mostly offered with a complete package saving plenty of cost in accessories.

Buying Custom Wheels

Before buying custom wheels, it is important to keep few things in mind. Concerning appearance, a wheel should always add style to your vehicle instead of looking a separate part of your car. In contrast, if speed is the sole purpose then alloy wheels may be a more suitable choice than chrome due to their lighter weight. Racing car fans should buy large rims to give a natural sporty look. Make sure that these large wheels fit the bolt pattern of the vehicle which otherwise affects handling. Under these circumstances, a salesperson can also act as a good adviser.

In order to deal with pricing issues, it is vital to understand that most brick and mortar physical storefronts will usually charge a higher price for same tires sold at online stores. The price difference is due to warehousing and rental costs of keeping the place. Most savvy aftermarket wheel buyers select a tire from online store and then proceed to a physical store to check it first hand. Once satisfied, these buyers turn towards the internet to get a bargain. There is nothing wrong with buying from a reputable online aftermarket wheel supplier as most companies have online stores acting as a major source of their marketing income.

[scootershock]

inflated tyre is more prone to rapid and uneven

One-sided Shoulder Tyre Wear Excessive positive or negative camber often causes irregular tread wear wherein the inside or outside part of the tread suffers from more wear than the other ribs. Improper Wheel Alignment Proper wheel alignment is the key to maximizing tyre life and improving the overall performance of your vehicle. Feather Edge Tyre Wear This type of wear occurs when the tyre tread ribs are smoother or motorcycle shock absorber less worn on one side and sharper on the other side. Improper alignment settings like excessive caster and toe are the major causes of feather edge tyre wear. Your wheels or tyres are said to be properly aligned when the angles of the tyres and their contact with the road is as per the vehicle manufacturer&39;s specifications in terms of parameters like caster, camber, and toe. 

Some of the common irregular tyre tread wear conditions due to improper tyre alignment include: Heel/Toe Tyre Wear When one side of the tread blocks circumferentially wears faster than the other side, it is known as heel/toe tyre wear. This is known as one-sided shoulder tyre wear or camber wear. Like any other component of your vehicle, it is normal for the performance of your tyres to change and their tread depth to become shallower with usage. Improper wheel alignment is one of the leading causes of uneven and premature tyre wear. In such a scenario, maintaining proper inflation pressure on both front and rear end tyres, as recommended by the vehicle&39;s manufacturer, is extremely important for optimized distribution of vehicle load, braking, acceleration, and cornering forces in the tread.

 This may lead to quick and irregular abrasion of different parts of the tyre tread. While the best tyres in India or the best all weather tyres last longer and provide a superior driving experience even in rough weather conditions, learning about the various reasons of tyre wear can help you to maximize the life of your tyres. However, it is important to use only the best tyres for Indian roads or the best all terrain tyres in order to enhance the safety, performance and handling of your vehicle. All tyres are different and undergo wear at different rates. Some of the major causes of tyre wear include: Improper Inflation Pressure An improperly inflated tyre is more prone to rapid and uneven wear.. Ensuring proper and timely maintenance will reduce the wear on the tyres and keep them in good shape for a longer time. 

Therefore, it is important to check the pressure of your tyres, including the spare one, at least once a month or before you&39;re planning to go on a long trip or carry extra load. If the tyre is under or over inflated, the contact patch of the tyre tread is not optimized to perform all its functions effectively.Tyres are one of the most important components of your vehicle which perform several functions such as providing grip for braking and acceleration, supporting vehicle load, maintaining steering and directional control, and acting as a shock absorber from road vibrations. Excessive positive or negative toe is the main cause of this type of wear and it usually occurs in the shoulder rib.