As the weather warms up, the road hazards of snow and ice seem to fade with the cold, but with changing seasons come new risks to be aware of. Springtime tends to be wet and rainy, with melting snow and ice, and climbing temperatures. This becomes a perfect recipe for creating potholes, those sneaky annoyances that can wreak havoc on your tires. During the winter, cracks form due to moisture and ice expanding weakened fractures in the road surface. As the cracks get worse they can become torn out of the road by the weight of passing cars, winter chains, or studded tires. In areas with heavy spring and winter rainfall sinkholes can form with the potholes, creating even deeper road hazards. Because potholes can form on any road surface, keeping a diligent eye on road will help protect your from their potential ha ...[more]

The absolute easiest thing that you can do for the life of your vehicle is to be diligent about getting regular oil changes. It is the most vital part of routine maintenance and will keep your vehicle running smoother, performing better, and help prevent many of the most common causes of breakdowns. Under normal driving conditions, most mechanics will recommend changing your oil about every 3,000 miles, or every 3 months. Oil changes are typically a quick and simple service that can be done in a matter of a few minutes at your trusted automotive shop or something that you can do at home with the proper tools. With a full service oil change, your mechanic will usually check or replace your air filter, visually inspect your belts and hoses, check fluid levels, check your tire pressure, and looks for signs of ...[more]

Tire Rotation: Most of us don’t think about it nearly enough! Tire rotation should be routine maintenance on ALL vehicles and should be done regularly based on your tires and driving habits. Regular driving puts enormous strain on even the highest quality of tires. The front wheels will wear down faster than the back tires due to turning the wheel. Keep a close eye on your tread, tires will start to wear down on the outer edges with normal use, and tires should be rotated before significant wear is visible. Also, uneven wear on other parts of the tires can mean that there is a problem with the alignment or possibly other parts of the driveline. It is crucial to get this type of wear checked out because it may mean the difference of a safe drive, let alone the fact that tires would have to ...[more]

Stay safe this winter by knowing how to get the most out of your winter tires!

There are many different types of tires that can get you through the winter, and selecting the best type of tire and protection for your driving conditions will help you get through this winter season safely and smoothly. Remember to always check your tires for uneven wear, tread depth, and inflation. Improperly inflated, damaged, or bald tires can be a safety hazard in even the best driving conditions, and with winter driving precautions, can become even more dangerous. Always ask your trusted mechanic if the tires on your vehicle are rated for your weather and driving conditions.

Selecting from winter tire choices can be based on vehicle performance, driving conditions, climate conditions, and other factors. Here are the types of winter tires, and what they should be primarily used for:

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Winter driving can be an adventure no matter what climate you live in. Driving in snow, sleet, or on ice can make even the most seasoned drivers nervous. If you live in an area that falls below an average temperature of 45 degrees or lower in the winter, has winter storms of snow, rain, sleet, or ice, then winter tires are a great investment to keep you and your loved ones safe on the road this season.

• Get 4 - Four winter tires will provide the best protection against winter road hazards. With 4 winter tires, you will have consistency in handling, control, traction, and grip.
• Tread - Winter tires have unique tread, specialized for channeling snow, ice, slush, and water away from the tire. With more ‘sipes’ and ‘lugs’, essentially groo ...[more]

Are you ready for fall and winter driving? Changing leaves and snow days can be exciting, but also bring about new dangers for drivers. To keep you and your loved ones safe this season, there are special circumstances to remember when driving in the colder months. More accidents happen in the winter and fall because drivers ignore safety precautions. Here are some tips and important guidelines to follow to prevent common accidents:

Tips to Remember for Fall and Winter:

1. Check your tires. Your tires should be properly inflated, balanced, and have enough tread to avoid loss of traction. Cold weather and temperature fluctuations can decrease tire pressure. Keep a tire pressure gauge handy in your vehicle at all times and check frequently. If you can, invest into some win ...[more]

Checking your cars tire pressure is very important to the performance, handling, and life of your tire. It is especially important in the summer because the heat makes the air expand causing over inflation issues leading to a blowout.

Checking tire pressure is one of the most neglected services on a car. Some people would agree when we say that checking the pressure in your tires can take a bit of time and hassle. As troublesome as it is those few minutes and that little hassle can actually save you a lot more than you think. Having your tires at the recommended pressure can save you a lot such as fuel, money and the tires themselves.

The recommended tire pressure differs from manufacturer to manufacturer and the weight and dimensions of the vehicle. If you don't know the recommended pressure of your vehicles tires there are several ways you can find out. You can ask your trusted auto mechanic, your vehicles manual, or on the side of the driver side door ...[more]

If you have ever had a flat tire, you know how stressful it can be. The stress is then compounded, if you have no knowledge on what to do or how to put your spare on. Regardless of a vehicle’s make or model, every vehicle is equipped with a spare tire. If your vehicle doesn't, odds are the previous owner lost it or damaged it and never replaced it. A spare tire is like insurance. You don't need it, until something happens. In this post we discuss the importance of having a good spare tire, as well as keeping it in good condition and ready to use in case of an emergency.

Even if you have an inflation device or fix-a-flat, having a spare tire will always be the best option for a flat tire. There are times when you get a flat, and all you need is a little more air or some fix-a-flat, but for the other times, when air and fix-a-flat won't do the job, your s ...[more]

With the many different types of tires on the market today, the passenger tire is the most commonly used and cost-effective tire type available. Passenger tires are typically used in passenger cars and minivans.

Almost every tire manufacture out there offers passenger tires. For example, Michelin with their Michelin Destiny, and Yokohama with their A drive. There are also different types of passenger tires that offer different types of performance for your driving needs.

All season tires are engineered to handle cold, warm, wet, and dry climates. You can identify an all season tire by its tread, and on the sidewall. The tread on an all season tire typically has more sipes (cuts within the tread block) within the tread, as well as a more diverse tread design. On the sidewall it either reads all season on the tire and/or a M+S marking on there as well. What the M ...[more]

Schedule an Appointment if your vehicle could use a good tune-up or tire check from our certified tire and auto repair technicians.

Summer is here with its hot temperatures and longer daylight. With summer here it also means that more people are hitting the roads for summer road trips and summer cruises around the city. What people may not know is that summer driving is just as dangerous as winter driving. Studies show that traffic accident fatalities increase in the summer due to the fact that people tend to spend more time on the road.

Charles Powell, creator of Passing the Written DMV Test suggest that everyone brush up on their defensive driving skills in order to safeguard their families and themselves every summer.

We should always be cautious and respectful to others on the road no ma ...[more]