Car Stuff Reviews

My approach to car stuff is in many ways similar to how I approach bike stuff. Value, utility, and efficiency are the major attributes I look for.

Unlike bikes (which are an investment in yourself and society at large, cars in general stomp on our earth, and are a major waste of money. So I want to sink as little $ as I can on them where feasible. On car stuff I pay very close attention towards minimizing total-cost-of-ownership and environmental impact. When it comes to selecting parts & dodads for the cars I currently maintain (a 2006 Yaris & 2012 Prius c), my general starting point is OE quality or better.

Nexen N5000 All-Season Tires

I came across the N5000 tires literally by accident. An unrepairable puncture in the summertime, to one of my Yaris' OE all-season Bridgestone RE92 tires, thrust me unexpectedly into the market for a replacement. I use my Yaris regularly to carpool to work, so my that forced my hand into finding something fairly quickly.

Taking stock of the situation, the OE tires were already about 1/2 worn, so I couldn't just replace the punctured tire with an identical model new one. A pair of new all-season tires would give me the most options moving forward.

Since tires (a) greatly affect how a car behaves, and (b) are a longer term purchase that'll you'll have to live with for a long time, many aspects should be considered. Like in the bicycling world, simply going for the first available options, isn't always the best idea. Likewise, a low price wasn't a huge factor, unless it significantly undercut my target pricepoint. At the same time, I wasn't interested in paying big $ for a mediocre tire.

Of course, tire design is always a compromise. High on my priority list is better performance/handling and traction, low rolling resistance, low noise, high reliability. Since I do not drive huge distances annually, only reasonable treadlife was required (since rubber ages). All of this tire goodness of course, had to come in at a decent price, which I considered to be around CAD$100/tire (P175/65/R14; small car + small tires = small price, I love it). Since I run dedicated winter tires during the cold season, winter performance was irrelevant.

One easy route was to purchase two Brigestone RE92s, which would keep all 4 tires as a matched set. A quick price check netted one tire at ~CAD$117 - expensive for what has proven to be quick wearing tire (UTQG treadwear index of just 160), albeit an otherwise satisfactory and a desirable LRR (low rolling resistance) type tire.

The 3 top worldwide tire manufacturers are Bridgestone (includes Firestone), Michelin (includes BF Goodrich), and Goodyear (includes Dunlop, Uniroyal, Kelly). These are also the top 3 marketed brands in North America, and they're easy to find anywhere. However, none of these big guys offered a good performing tire at my pricepoint. Many of the more decent models were not available in the Yaris' small size. Base models had middling to mediocre reviews, but without a comensurate drop in price (coming in only slightly under CAD$100), making them poor values.

OK then, time to DQ something different. There are many producers around the world beyond the big 3 companies that make quality tires - it's just that their products are often overlooked, since they lack the cheesy advertising and marketing (at this corner of the world, at least).

I looked into South Korea's Kumho, given its reputation for high value products, and as a satisfied owner of their winter KW17s. Unfortunately, at the time, the sole local Kumho dealer only had the base models on hand.

So as my list of locally available options were dwindling, I took a look at Walmart (certainly not the first place one thinks of for tires). Walmart at the time sold the base model Marshal 791 Touring A/S tires (made by Kumho), which I have been successfully using in a keep-costs-as-low-as-possible application. Even if the 791s weren't great performers on my Yaris, since they're so inexpensive at CAD$75 - at that price, they'd get me rolling again quickly, and buy me time to eventually find a better set of replacement tires.

The plan was all good, until I noticed my size now listed on the chart for the Nexen N5000 higher performance tires (this size was unavailable during the initial product launch 2 years prior). At CAD$73/ea, sold!

The uninformed among us would automatically do as Michelin, Bridgestone, ans Goodyear would like, and quickly dismiss Nexen as a cheap, obscure, and risky brand. This is factually untrue. Nexen is a real and reputable South Korean tire manufacturer, in business for many decades. They just haven't been well known in North America yet (they are one of the OE tire suppliers for many Kias). There aren't many reviews on the web, but overall, actual owners agree that the N5000 (and Nexen tires in general) are fantastic quality tires for the money - exactly what I was looking for.

I've run my N5000s for several seasons, and I feel comfortable in recommending them now. The P175/65R14 size is a H rated tire (almost all tires are Q, S, or T rated in this size), with UTQG treadwear/traction/temp ratings of 420/A/A. Very sufficient. They handle well, and they run quiet on the highway. Quite remarkable for a CAD$73 tire. While I recommend nothing but a proper winter tire for the Canadian winter season, I got caught in winter conditions twice on the N5000s - and as an all-season tire, they were carefully manageable on the moderately snowed over road surfaces.

The only negative so far is that the N5000s are not designated as low rolling resistance tires (the stock Bridgestone Potenza RE92s are, as with a growing majority of OE tires). I have, however, no objective means to measure the N5000s' effect on the Yaris' fuel efficiency. On paper spec, the N5000s should wear 2.5x as long as the OE Potenza RE92s; no small consideration given the eco-unfriendliness of tire disposal. When my remaining 2 OE Bridegstone RE92s were due for replacement, I didn't hesitate to buy another pair of N5000s, and I'm continuing to run on them in 2017.

So, in my experience with Nexen and Kumho, there's no need to mindlessly overpay for a "big 3" tire just for the name and easy availability. Take the time to look past the big advertising, and find something better for less money. The Nexen N5000s will not disappoint on the quality/price ratio.

Kumho I'Zen XW KW17 Winter Tires

For the few diehard winter tire holdouts out there - believe it. There is such a tremendous extreme conditions performance advantage in any true winter tire vs. any all-season tire, I will never do another Canadian winter without them. I recommend them without hesitation. They are essential for safe, sure-footed running in the winter cold, snow, and ice - and the Kumho I'Zen XW KW17 (or simply KW17) shows there is no reason to have to spend big bucks.

Most winter tires available for the Yaris' small P175/65/R14 size are of the deep snow variety. The other type, is the so-called "winter performance" type, which is more suited towards ice and highway running performance, and involve less of a handling & noise compromise vs. deep snow tires.

The majority of my driving is highway, and along an excellently-maintained major route at that. So most of the time, I'm driving on a cold, bare (dry or wet) asphalt surface. Ice is the major wintertime hazard, and snow accumulation is secondary (it's a greater factor on rural sideroads and in the city). So this puts my usage pattern more towards the winter ice/highway tire category.

The Kumho KW17 is one of a relative few winter ice/highway tires available in the Yaris' small size. At $93/ea (circa fall 2006) for P175/65/R14, they're among the more affordable options.

In severe winter conditions, the Kumho KW17s have proven to be head-and-shoulders superior to the stock Bridgestone Potenza RE92 tires (or any other all-season type tire, for that matter). On snow or ice covered roads, the KW17s have vastly superior traction and control. In deep snow, the KW17s (almost effortlessly) claw right through it. With the KW17s, the Yaris' ground clearance is the limiting factor whether or not it can get through, not tire traction (at around a 30cm accumulation, snow can start hanging up on the Yaris' chassis).

For the bare pavement highway running where I'm at most of the time, the KW17s behave much like an all-season tire. There is a small highway speed noise increase over my main season tires (a Nexen N5000/Bridgestone Potenza RE92 mix), but this is something only noticable immediately on switchout, vs. an ongoing annoyance. The other class of winter tires, with a more aggressive and open tread designed for maximum deep snow traction, are typically significantly louder at highway speeds. The KW17s feel slightly softer and less "rail like" in handling vs. my regular tires.

If there's one thing I'd like to see Kumho improve on, it's treadlife. The general rule of thumb for winter tire replacement is at 6/32" tread depth. The KW17's tread depth when new was 11/32", already thinner and less chunky compared to most other winter tires at 13 and 12/32". To be fair, the KW17s are designed as a winter tire that leans towards a standard tire's handling characteristics, and the tread design forms part of that.

In 4 full seasons (~27 000 km) of use, the KW17s have worn to 7/32", and I've decided to replace them for the 2010/2011 winter season. When I started the 4th season on the KW17s, there was a definite reduction in snow traction, although ice traction was OK. Eeking out a 5th season might have been possible, but my preference towards high safety/reliability meant retiring the KW17s. So if you run alot of winter kms and want a long wearing tire, the KW17s are probably not your best choice.

I urge everyone living in cold winter climates, who use their cars in severe winter conditions, to switch to proper winter tires during the cold season. If all I could afford was the rock-bottom cheapest CAD$70 winter tire, I would hands down take that over any all-season tire, at any price. The winter tire expense should be factored into any auto purchase, because it's simply the cost of doing business in Canada (note that some cost is offset by virtue that you're saving all-season treadwear when you're running the winters). For mainly highway runners, the Kumho I'Zen XW KW17s are excellent performers in this application, at a modest price. Just mind the treadwear.

Wynn's Rain Away Glass Water Repellant

This stuff is awesome.

The Rain Away treatment is similar to the more popularly marketed Rain-X stuff. It's a friction reducing coating applied to your car's exterior windows (mainly just the windshield), that causes water to sheet off.

Rain Away dramatically improves visibility (and therefore safety) in rainy weather. At night, the effect is even more incredible. Once you hit speeds 60 km/h+, you do not need to use your front wipers - the wind simply sheets the water away, leaving a clear view. It's your magic windshield, and the effect is stunning. The harder it rains, the better it works.

I also apply Rain Away to my car's front windows, side mirror, and rear hatch glass. Although the improvements here are not as dramatic as per the windshield, the Rain Away coating also makes bugs/dirt, freezing rain, and ice easier to remove.

The Rain Away coating does wear off in time, and requires periodic reapplication. This is well worth the modest effort, since the benefits are so substantial. My car is garage-kept, which substantially extends the coating life. In these conditions, I find that reapplying every 4-5 weeks (in the warmer months) assures uninterupted performance. Otherwise, expect to reapply the coating perhaps every 2-3 weeks.

I've tried the equivalent Rain-X product, but I found Rain-X to be significantly harder to buff clear. The Rain Away product is also ~CAD$1 cheaper.

Generic equivalents do exist. I've tried Walmart's generic version (in the bright green bottle), which seems to work just as well at 1/2 to 2/3rds of the price.

Wintertime presents the most difficult period for proper coating re-application and maintenance. Two things are at play - lower temperatures, and the fact that it is much more difficult to have the prequisite clean windows.

Wynn's does not recommend applying the coating in temperatures below 4C. I can state that in an garage sheltered area, I have applied the stuff at a few degrees below zero - the only noticeable drawback (besides freezing fingers) is that a bit more effort is required to buff the glass clear. One thing I've found, is that using a washer fluid containing a water repellant ingredient, helps to extend the coating life during the difficult winter period.

I can give the Wynn's Rain Away product, as well as the Walmart generic equivalent, my strong recommendations. It works (especially if you're a highway driver), and it'll reduce your stress levels when driving in wet weather. The only improvement I can suggest to Wynn's is to find a way to make the treatment last longer.

Rain-X De-Icer Windshield Washer Fluid

I'm obviously a big fan of the Rain Away-type water repellant glass treament. However, come wintertime, it is harder to maintain the coating due to winter's cold temperatures and the road salt/dirt constantly coating the car.

The Rain-X De-Icer washer fluid does help extend the life of the Rain Away coating. The washer fluid works best combined with an already treated windshield. You can use it on an untreated windshield, but you won't get nearly the same performance gain as a windshield with a base coating on it already.

I've seen at least 3 variants of Rain-X branded windshield washer fluid; the yellow de-icer version (reviewed here), a green or orange all-season version, and a red summer-only version.

The Rain-X washer fluid regularly goes for CAD$4, which is about double what standard winter suitable fluid sells for. On rare occasion (pay attention when the seasons change), it sells for a discounted $2-3. Pick it up at the sale price.

Super Tech/Tech 2000/Safety Kleen 5W30 Full Synthetic Motor Oil

Synthetic motor oils have superior lubrication qualities over conventional motor oil. Even though a conventional oil would be "adequate" for everyday applications, when it comes to efficiency, I want to do better. I want an engine that runs with maximum efficiency, and with minimum emmissions. Full synthetic oils are more expensive, but worth the cost given the benefits. My oil change interval is twice a year, so this translates into a modest CAD$20 premium/year to go synthetic.

Synthetic motor oils are pretty much a commodity product; there's alot of marketing and furious religious debate over supposed differences in qualities over different brands, but I don't buy it. If the oil is 100% synthetic (i.e. not a conventional/synthetic blend) and has the latest API seal (check and check for the Super Tech), it will be sufficient - any brand differences are negigible. Unless you spend your time racing at the track, you're way too insulated to detect any difference. You'll have to ask my Yaris' engine if it feels any differently (I've also fed it Pennzoil/Shell and Valvoline synthetics). So you can shop for synthetic oils based on price and eco-friendliness.

Super Tech (formerly Tech 2000) is Walmart's price-concious house brand. A 4.4L jug of 5W30 synthetic oil used to have a lowish price that was substantially less than the regular price for hyped name brand alternatives. But nowadays, if you watch the limited-time sales cycles, you can find equivalent products at ~CAD$25-#30, substantially undercutting the Super Tech.

The major secret about the Super Tech brand oil in Canada, is that it is actually provided by Safety Kleen, a waste management company. Safety Kleen recycles/re-refines used oil for Super Tech conventional oil line, and I used to think this was the same scenario for Super Tech synthetic oil. It appears though, that the Safety Kleen supplied synthetic oil is actually just a repackaged Petro Canada product.

It's a bit of a bummer that the Super Tech synthetic oil isn't recycled like the conventional oil line (there might be practical difficulties in producing recycled oil that's purely synthetic). If a conventional oil is what you're looking for, the conventional Super Tech oil is a great way to "close the loop" - your car's used oil is collected for recycling/re-refining, where it gets purchased again and re-used. Faboo. Safety-Kleen also produces a recycled synthetic blend oil branded as "Eco Power" on the same shelf.

So, Super Tech synthetic oil's association with Safety-Kleen is its primary appeal. The full synthetic product offers superior lubrication which disappointingly has seen substantial price increases throughout the years, to the point where I can no longer recommend it as a good value alternative. Walmart has steadily upped the price over the years; when I first started buying this stuff in 2007 years ago, it was CAD$22.50, then $24.50, then $27, $28, to ~$40 today. So, my recommendation is just to pay attention to the sales cycles, and pick up whatever synthetic oil on offer at around CAD$25.

Toyota OE Wiper Blade Rubber Inserts

We in the western world, live in a wasteful society. When windshield wipers wear out, most people replace the entire wiper blade assembly, since this is the default option. Toyota offers a doubly better option - long lasting OE wiper blade rubber inserts.

Rather than throwing out a perfectly sound wiper blade frame assembly, Toyota owners can hop on down to the dealer's part counter and purchase replacement inserts. Of course, there's high markup in purchasing OE parts from the dealer, so the money savings is not as much as you may think. E.g. the price for wiper inserts are ~$10-$5 for mere strips rubber (depending on length) - so the up-front savings is maybe ~25-60% vs. equivalent complete blade assemblies.

The supplied Toyota OE rubber is however, of high quality, and my rubber has lasted far longer than the commonly suggested replacement schedule of 6-12 months. 3-5 years seems to be what I get. Keep in mind that my cars are garage-kept - and my use of Rain Away (a) greatly reduces how often I need to use the wipers and (b) reduces the sliding friction when the wipers are used - but the general consensus from other Toyota owners has confirmed the long life of the OE inserts. So you get longer term savings and reduced hassle from the reduced replacement frequency.

Replacing the rubber squeegies is a simple procedure. It'll take you a few more minutes to figure it out the first time, but anyone with a modicum of care and patience can do it.

So there you have it, a double whammy of waste reduction. The Toyota OE wiper inserts keep more wiper frames out of landfills, and they last longer to boot. Lower consumption and lower TCO. Highly recommended for Toyota owners.

Torin Big Red 2 1/2 Ton Trolley Jack (model #T82253)

I wanted to start doing my own winter/summer tire swaps and simple oil changes. The supplied OE emergency scissor jack is slow and awkward to use; it's best suited for intended application (emergency roadside use). For my modest servicing purposes, I wanted a proper jack that's quicker to use.

I decided to go for a trolley jack vs. a bottle jack. Normally I would have been drawn towards the much smaller design of the bottle jack, but the trolley jack can reach under the car to the front central jack point (which is preferable vs. using the side seams, and lifts both front tires off the ground at the same time). The larger base of the trolley jack also seemed more stable, and the lifting range was also better.

So when I ran across this cheap & cheerful Torin T82253 trolley jack sweetened with a CAD$10 clearance price, the price and working spec made it an easy pickup. The 2 1/2 ton T82253 is one size bigger and heavier than what I needed (a 1 1/2 or 2 ton is enough), but at 14.5" lift height, it had enough range to get any one side of the Yaris off the ground if needed (by previous experience, a lift height a tad under 14" would be enough), although I do prefer to use the car's central jacking points (which hold up better over time).

For CAD$10 you don't expect perfection, and the manufacturing quality of the Torin T82253 isn't a carefully made work of art (both in casting and paint application). There is no protective pad on the saddle. The T82253 also lacks both a carry handle and storage clip for the pump handle, common convenience features. But I have no intentions of becoming a pro mechanic, and the jack definitely works for DIY oil changes and seasonal tire swapouts.

So for my casual use involving a few lifts/year, the T82253 is sufficient. It has worked well for 12 years and counting, with just some paint chips and a bit of rust showing. Its chief drawback is that it's bulkier and heavier than what I need, but for CAD$10, it continues to do its job admirably.

Mallory Snowisp Snow Brush

Aurora W403 Winter Tires

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