Tire Trouble Taking a Toll

By know you know the old trick of putting a penny in the treads of your tires to see if you can still see the top of Lincoln’s head.  If some of Abe’s head is covered, you more or less have healthy tires.  If not… Mr. Lincoln will be very disappointed in you.

 It’s not a perfect test, and you really need to check all around the tires to be sure there isn’t uneven wear, bulges, or cracks.  But, it’s a good place to start.

Here are some other things to consider:  How exposed to the elements are your tires?  Places with extreme swings in temperatures and harsh weather conditions can shorten the life of a tire.  So can having tires exposed to the sun and air for long periods of time.  If possible, park in a covered area during the day to extend life.

Also, be sure to pick fresh tires.  All tires are stamped with a production date so that you know how old the tires are before you buy them.  By law, tires have to be clearly marked… unfortunately, the law didn’t say anything about the markings being understandable.  You may see a code that says something like “LMLR5107.”  Focus on those last numbers and you’ll see that the tire was manufactured on the 51^st week of 2007.   “PQRR313” would suggest it was made in January of 2013.   

That date is pretty important because after 7 to 10 years, the rubber just isn’t as good as it used to be.  If your “new” tires are already 3 or 4 years old, you may not get the 6 years/60,000 miles you were expecting.

Proper inflation, stay away from rusty nails, see how Lincoln’s head is doing once in a while… and you should have safe tires for your nextjourney.

Do Your "PART" for Your Tires!

Remember the acronym PART

When was the last time you took a good, long look at your tires? I mean really checked them over to make sure what you are driving on is safe? There is an easy way to remember what you need to do to make sure your tires are safe for the road. The acronym is PART: Pressure, Alignment, Rotation and Tread. If you do your part and follow PART, you will end up riding safer and spend less money when you need new tires down the road.

P=Pressure: This is fairly simple and one that almost everyone will remember since it is a tire. If the tires are under-inflated, that causes uneven wear (and gas mileage issues, by the way). Wear on the tires means you have less control of your vehicle during an accident. Get a tire gauge and check your tires periodically. Get into a routine and put it in your calendar. Once a month is a good amount.

A=Alignment: Your car wants to pull you to the left or right as you travel at higher speeds. Your alignment is out of whack and your front tires are facing in different directions. It happens all the time when you hit a large pothole or a curb. Make sure to get this taken care of right away when you feel that pull. Misalignment can cause major damage to your tires and cause accidents.

R=Rotation: Front tires wear faster than the back because they guide the car when you steer. Regular rotation eases the wear and it’s good to get this done every two oil changes or 7,000 miles. Some manuals have suggested times…be sure to follow those.

T=Tread: This is what grips the tire to the road. Other than the air inside your tire, this is the most important attribute. Without proper tread, the rain or snow or even some unseen liquid on the road can mean the difference between arriving safely or not arriving at all. When you check pressure, be sure to check tread. It’s really easy if you have a penny! Point Honest Abe’s head down into the tread. If it touches his head, you’re OK. If you put the penny into the tread and there is space between his head and the tread, you are low. Check several parts of the tires, as tread is different along the entirety.

Remember: PART. It’s the best defense against bad tires and possible accidents.

Avoiding Costly Repairs in Winter

While we would love to take care of your car should anything happen, we would rather you not get into a horrible accident during the winter and be forced to see us.  Maintenance is one thing. Repair because of an accident is another.

Avoid this!

 So, here are a few tips to avoid costly repairs while driving in winter conditions.

Check your tires:  you will lose 1 pound of tire pressure for every 10 degree drop in temperature.  Check your tire pressure RIGHT NOW!  Maintaining proper tire pressure help with traction AND improve your fuel economy. Also, even if you have all-season tires, you need to watch your speed. These tires also have reduced performance at cold temperatures.

Check your fluids:  We recently wrote about the importance of checking fluids before it started getting too cold. If you haven’t yet, do it now…with windshield-washer fluid being key right now.  Also, keep your gas tank at least half filled. Your lines could freeze.

Be Prepared to Dig Out: If you spin out into a snow bank or even off the side of the road in a little bit of ice and snow, do not let your wheels spin in an attempt to get out. Have a shovel in the trunk and sand to help with traction. You can even use kitty litter thrown under the tire to help.

Keep Your Eyes on the Road: Potholes, debris…hidden in the snow. If you hit something like a pothole, be prepared for some bent rims or axles as well as alignment issues. And, be weary of ice flying off of cars in front of you. That can damage the windshield.

Just Ask!

We get it…we love our trucks and cars just like you do! If you didn’t, you wouldn’t bother caring for them or getting minor issues fixed when needed. We are here to take care of all issues from maintenance to “motor-meltdown!” There are several things you should be asking us or your technician when getting service for your car.

How’s the Exhaust System? When is the last time you got under your car and checked out your exhaust? That’s what we thought. Make sure to get this looked at, if your technician doesn’t normally. A bent pipe or leak could cause even worse problems down the road.

Is My Battery OK? With the cold weather already creeping in, it’s a good time to get the health of the battery checked. Most service facilities have battery testers.

Are My Tires Worn and How’s the Pressure? If your tires are worn, that could mean even more problems for the car. It could affect alignment and steering. This is a simple check; same with tire pressure. Ask to get it checked at the start of the service and again at the end to see if there’s a possible leak.

What is that Noise? Trying to pinpoint the cause of a strange noise in your car can make anyone go crazy! If you hear something, ask the tech to drive the car to hear for it. Describing the sound is great...but they do need to hear it to guess where it’s coming from.

It’s always better to be safe than sorry. A minor problem today could become major very quickly.