We are really excited about our press release this morning for the re-launch of our newly designed website. The text of our press release is as follows:

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 11 /PRNewswire/ — In this ailing economy, when Americans are struggling to save every penny, a new, free website – http://www.prundo.com – has been recently launched to help its registered users save money on their auto repairs. The patent-pending website has great tools to help its registered members in deciding where to take their cars for maintenance and repairs.

Prundo.com is like an “Expedia” for auto repair. Based on Web 2.0 concepts and philosophy, Prundo.com will empower its members to make the best choices for servicing and repair needs of their cars. Prundo members can download money-saving coupons for over 30 types of car repair, including brake, oil change, transmission, and tires, for free.

Prundo.com will also offer following benefits to its members:

• View available auto repair shops for the desired service in their zip codes
• Review special offers from the auto service providers
• No need to clip coupons! Get coupons 24×7, whenever they need them!
• Compare costs of desired automobile servicing
• View user ranking/feedback of the auto repair shop
• View distance to the preferred auto repair shop
• Get directions to the preferred auto repair shop

“The mission of our company is to make auto repairs easy for our members and remove any doubts they may have,” said Prundo CEO Alka Gupta. “We want to help our members get better service on auto repairs and save money at the same time.”

There are over 235 million cars in the U.S. Due to the current state of the economy, people are keeping their cars longer (average of 9 years), thereby requiring routine maintenance and repairs to keep their cars in working condition. U.S. car owners spend approximately $800 per car per year, making auto repairs a $250 billion market.

“Prundo is an innovative concept because there are no websites currently available to help consumers compare auto services based on cost, distance, offers/discount and quality of service,” said Gupta. “Prundo.com was launched to fill this gap and provide a logical tool for its members.”

http://www.prundo.com may well be the ticket to relief for all American car owners in this economy, as users have already saved over $17,000 since its launch. The website currently has coupons worth over $150,000. So next time when your car needs a brake replacement or tire rotation or even a simple oil change, give it a try before you go to your mechanic, because you could save some serious bucks.

Have you wondered what you can do with your old car tires? No tire shop gives you any money for your old tires, so why not come up with few creative ideas to use them and also save the environment in the process.

I have listed few of my own ideas and other I have compiled from various sources on internet.

Feel free to add your own ideas.

1. Furniture and Chair leg pads: You can cut small pieces of tire in appropriate shapes and use them as anti-skid pads for your furniture or chairs. As tires comprises of mainly rubber, they will make very good furniture pads. Take necessary precautions in cutting the tires, as they are very hard and may also produce splinters. Therefore, protect your eyes and hands.
2. Paintball Defense: Stack of tires will make great castle for paintball games. Simply stack few of the old tires and support them appropriately. Now you can hide behind them and have a great paintball game.
3. Swing: This is an old use of the tires. If you have tree in your backyard and have strong branches, you can create a great swing for your kids. They will always thank you for taking care of them. Make sure to punch holes in the tire to prevent the collection of rain water.
4. Garage Wall Protector: How many times have you cursed when your kids leave a skid marks on the garage wall whenever they park their bicycles? Now you can prevent this by putting a strip of tire just over the base board. You can stick this strip with a good adhesive and all your worries will go away!
5. Fishing Uses And Recycling : The fishing fleets use them as bumpers for boats, tied off short and thrown over the port or starbord side they prevent boats from slamming into each other or the dock when tied to them.
6. Great ideas at http://www.tirecrafting.com, for tires.
7. 1. Retaining Walls: You can use whole tires, just like block walls staggering them. Start off with a level surface, dig down if you have to and start your first row, making sure it is level from one end to the other. Pack each tire with soil When you get the first row, done drive a 24 inch piece of 3/8 rebar at the back of each tire. Start your next row, staggering the tires so the lines do not match up and do the same thing all over.
   2. Tire Table : You take 2 or 3 old tires and place them one on top of another with a round of different shaped wooden board and either paint it or cover it with faux diamond plate. Use it as a nightstand or table top stand for a room or guys area.
   3. Sand Box: Get hold of a huge tractor tire, lay it flat on the ground and fill it up with play sand. You can put a tarp over it when not in use to keep it from being the local “kitty box”.
8. Paddling Pool – drape a shower curtain over the centre of a large truck tire and fill with water to make an instant pool for small children.
9. Planter – tomatoes, potatoes, egg plants and peppers can be grown inside tires which have been laid on the ground. The tires give wind protection and the dark rubber helps keep the surrounding soil warm.
10. Got a big dog? Put their dog dish inside a small tire and the dog won’t be able to drag it around the yard.
11. Cut in half and hung on a wall they make a great hose hanger.
12. Put a trash can in the center and you have a no tip container for baseball bats and other long sporting equipment.

I’m sure there are many more possibilities and refinements possible: have at it, folks!

What most people don’t know about tires is that they have a huge impact on fuel economy. Your car tires type and their care, can impact significantly how much gas you can save.

What kind of tires you have, will impact how much resistance your car is creating against the road and thus reducing the car mpg. With new technology, you can now buy lower rolling resistance tires-LRR. LRR tires are designed to improve fuel efficiency by minimizing the energy wasted as heat as the tire rolls down the road Fuel efficient tires are made with materials that heat less during a drive. Heat deforms that shape of a tire making it harder to roll. Heavier tires are less efficient, as are those with deeper treads. If you live in a climate that requires snow tires, take them off as early as feasible.

New car owners are not the only people who can benefit from LRR tires. In fact, Consumer Reports publishes a rolling resistance score when rating new tires. So as a consumer you do not necessarily have to pay more for this benefit. Many LRR tires cost the same as their standard brothers, moreover theses LRR tires have about the same tread wear rating and do not sacrifice grip. Just be sure to do your homework when buying new tires.

Tires with a good LRR rating can save upwards of $100 in gas a year at the very least! That is just the savings that one individual can accrue. The California Energy Commission has been thinking about LRR tires at the state-wide level. “California could save approximately 300 million gallons of gasoline annually by using low-rolling resistant tires.

Another factor which affects the mpg is the tire inflation. Lower pressure causes increased side wall flexing. Under inflated tires can add 6% to your fuel consumption, which could easily translate into burning an extra gallon of gas with every fill up if you’re getting around 20 MPG. Tires tend to lose air pressure more in the winter, 1 pound of pressure for every drop of 10 degrees Fahrenheit so check them more frequently when the air chills.

According to Mark Chung, director of strategic marketing for Yokohama Tire Corporation, which manufactures everything from ultra-high performance tires for passenger cars and SUVs to tires for buses, trucks and airplanes, “Tires that are under-inflated by just four to 12 psi (pounds per square inch) can reduce gas mileage by five percent or more and tire life by as much as 40 percent”.

“When a tire is under-inflated, the car’s weight rests more on the tire’s shoulders than its center, causing poor fuel economy, uneven wear and a less-than-firm ride, which can significantly reduce driver control.”

The tire’s proper inflation level, which is usually between 20 and 36 psi, can be found on a placard in the glove box or on the car door.

Follow following two simple steps to ensure that you always have right inflated tires:

Once a month, when the tires are cold, or at least three to four hours after the vehicle has been driven, check tire pressure with a reliable tire gauge. (Normal driving causes tires to heat, raising air pressure. Releasing air when tires are hot may dangerously under-inflate the tires.) And be sure that the valve stems have a plastic or metal cap to keep out dirt and seal against leakage.

Tires should be rotated at least every 5,000 miles and the Wheel alignment should be checked once a year. Misaligned tires can cause the car to drag, which lowers mileage and causes unnecessary tire wear.

As you can see from the above information, taking good care of yoru tires can save you money.