Tag: Tires

Give Your Car Some Love This Valentine’s Day

Car LoveAre you looking for the perfect gift for the auto-enthusiast in your life this Valentine’s Day? Give them a great and practical gift by helping them take care of their car!

We rely on our car for so many things in our daily life; Taking Billy to hockey practice, running errands on the weekend and getting to work on time, but sometimes we take the car for granted. For some people, the only time they preform regular maintenance is when something breaks down or the Check Engine light comes on. Today, we’re going to share three quick and easy tips so you can keep the other love in your life running smoothly.

1) Oil Change

If you’d rather have your car’s oil changed by a professional, or if you don’t have a space to preform the task, we’d be more than happy to do the service for you, but changing the oil can be a fun teaching moment for couples or parents/children. Drain the oil into a disposable tray, and be sure to reattach the oil cap underneath your car before you pour in the new oil, otherwise you’ll have a mess on your hands. Dispose of the old oil in an environmentally safe location, and viola! You’ve successfully changed the oil.

2) Car Wash

Winter grime builds up as slushy roads and tires kick dirt up onto your vehicle. We don’t recommend washing your car in the driveway this time of year, so treat yourself or someone special to a car wash gift card at a nearby station. Your freshly washed car will stand out from the rest, which will look nice if you’re going to be driving to a restaurant for dinner on Valentine’s Day.

3) Treat Your Tires

Pothole season is almost upon us, and if your tires are already in bad shape, a nasty pothole could cause your tire to burst. Take a look at your tires and see if they should be rotated or replaced. We can have your tires rotated in no time, and this will ensure that your tires wear down evenly. By doing this, you can save money on gas and keep your suspension in top shape.

If you have any questions about other ways to keep your car running smoothly, simply scroll through some of our past blog posts.

Buying Tires in Minnesota? Look No Further than Affordable Auto

Tire TreadTires are an essential part of any vehicle. Much like shoes for a person, tires are the one thing between you and the ground, so it’s critical you buy the right type of tire for your car. After all, you wouldn’t play football in high heels or go for a run in sandals!

That said, picking out a new pair of shoes is probably an easier task than purchasing the right type of tires for your vehicle. When picking out tires, there are a few things to consider:

1. Tread Life – You’ll want to buy tires with a high tread life so you don’t need to buy new tires in a year or two. The easiest way to evaluate tread expectations is by examining a tire’s Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG). Every manufacturer is required by law to test its tires in order to establish a UTQG rating. The higher the rating, the longer the tread life and quality of the tire. Although the tests can’t account for all variables (like temperature, road conditions, or speed), the UTQG rating provides a good basis to help determine the quality of each tire.

2. Remember the Weather – The type of tire you purchase is directly related where you live. Say, for example, you live in Arizona or Texas. You’ll want a tire that can preform and hold tread at above average temperatures. In Washington and Oregon, they look for tires that preform well during wet conditions. Since Minnesota experiences all four seasons, you’ll want to make sure you purchase a versatile tire that can keep you safe throughout the year. Ask a technician for more information if you need help determining which tire is best for your local weather conditions.

3. Stick with what works – Before you head into the shop to purchase a new set of wheels, take a look at what you currently have on your car. If they held their tread well, consider buying the same tire model this time around. You can also peruse the Internet or ask a trained service expert which types of tires are common for your vehicle. Also, for more information about tire size and speed rating, check out this helpful article.

4. Buy a Complete Set – You’ve probably had your car in the shop on at least one occasion where the mechanic says your front tires are running low on tread. You may be tempted to buy two new tires to fix the problem, but this could actually make the situation worse. See, tire tread wears out differently for a variety of reasons. Usually, the tires on the front of your car wear out faster as they are tasked with shouldering the majority of the engine’s weight. Also, unless you always ride with a friend, your front-left tire generally wears out the fastest because of the additional weight of the driver. The less tread left on the tire, the more susceptible you are to experiencing a dangerous blowout. If you end up only buying two new tires, your car’s alignment could be damaged if they aren’t the same size as your old tires. Instead, buy four tires at a time and get in the habit of regularly rotating your tires so the tread wears evenly.

These tips can help you make your decision when shopping for new tires. Also, if you’re wondering if your current tires should be changed, check out our previous blog on preparing your car for a road trip. In that blog we provide a simple test for checking if you have a safe amount of tread on your tire.

If you’re in the market for new tires, or you simply want to talk with an experienced auto technician, give us a call at (952) 933-0735.

Related source: Edmunds.com

How Long Can I Drive on a Spare Tire?

CC image Wikipedia.orgUnless you’ve only been driving for a few years, chances are you’ve had to deal with a spare tire at some point in your life. Whether you popped a tire on the middle of the highway, or you simply returned to your vehicle to find a deflated tire, you’ve probably had to throw the old donut on the car to provide a short-term fix for the problem.

Your spare tire can get you out of a sticky situation, but you don’t want to rely on the tire for too long. Because the spare tire is usually a smaller, different version than the four tires on your vehicle, it’s not built for extended travel. The job of the spare tire is to keep you safe until you can visit an auto repair shop to have a regular tire installed.

Although you should consult your owner’s manual for a specific answer, a good rule of thumb to follow is to limit your travel on the spare tire to no more than 50-70 miles.

The main reason why you shouldn’t drive too far on your spare tire is because you may be putting yourself and everyone else on the road in danger. The spare tire is a small tire with very little tread, meaning it doesn’t have a very good grip on the road. This is especially dangerous if you are driving in elements like snow or rain.

When you’re driving on your spare tire, you may notice your car has poor handling or braking. This is more evident if your spare is needed on the front axel, where braking occurs. You may also notice that your car slightly pulls in the direction of the spare tire. As you can imagine, this occurs because the spare is not as equipped to handle stress like your regular set of wheels.

If you have any questions about your spare tire, or if you need to have a regular tire installed on your vehicle, don’t hesitate to contact us!  We’re always happy to help.

Related source:  AOL Autos

Why Does my Car Pull to the Right or Left?

Reasons your Car Pulls

Ever get the feeling that your car is dragging or “pulling” to the left or right? This could be the result of several different factors, including:

  • Vehicle alignment. Alignment keeps your tires parallel with one another and even with the ground. If the alignment is off, it can cause a car to pull.
  • Brake Hose. The brake hose distributes brake fluid to your tires. If it gets clogged, fluid is dispensed unevenly to the tires, causing a car to pull as a result.
  • Tires. Over time your tire tread will wear out. If you don’t help distribute the wear evenly by rotating your tires on a regular basis, one will inevitably wear out quicker than the others. Low tire pressure can also be a cause of pulling.

A car that pulls to the right or left is more difficult to control as it requires the driver to constantly correct the pull. This can put an increased burden on the driver and take their focus off of driving safely.

Cars designed for driving on the right side of the road are manufactured to pull slightly to the right. This is to prevent the car from drifting into oncoming traffic if the driver falls asleep at the wheel. That being said, this should only be a very slight pull to the right. If your car is pulling significantly, it’s a good idea to get it checked.

How to Correct the Pull

There are a few home remedies you can try to stop the pull, such as:

  • Switching your front tires is a good test to see if the problem lies in the tires. Only rotate your tires if you know exactly what you’re doing.
  • Check your tire pressure to make sure one tire isn’t significantly lower than another.

If none of these tests work or you’re uncomfortable rotating your tires, it’s best to bring your vehicle into an auto repair shop and have an auto technician take a look. An experienced mechanic can examine your vehicle, identify the cause of the pulling, and fix the issue.

Top 4 Car Repairs you Shouldn’t Skip

It’s a fact of life that cars break down over time. But if you take good care of your vehicle and keep up with routine repairs and maintenance, you can extend the life of your vehicle. Most people don’t even think about vehicle maintenance until something goes wrong. Following repair procedures can also help avoid a vehicle breakdown. With that in mind, here are 4 car repairs that you shouldn’t skip.

1. Oil Change

There is a lot of confusion about how often you should change the oil in your car. Every 3,000 miles? Every 5,000 miles? The truth is there is no universal answer to this question since every car is different. When to get your oil change depends on numerous factors such as:

  • Driving conditions
  • Driving frequency
  • Vehicle age

But the bottom line is that your car’s engine needs oil to run smoothly. It’s absolutely essential to get your oil changed in order to keep your vehicle running at top performance levels.

2. Tire Check & Rotation

Since the weight of any vehicle is not distributed evenly across all 4 wheels, certain tires will wear out quicker than others. This is why it’s important to have your tires rotated. Your vehicle owner’s manual should have instructions on when and how exactly to rotate your tires. Or you can bring your car in and have your tires checked and rotated by an auto professional.

3. Brakes & Brake Pads

Brakes are one of the most essential elements of your vehicle. Checking your vehicle’s brakes is an obvious safety precaution. An auto technician can examine your brakes and brake pads and catch any flaws before they break down while you’re driving.

4. Fluids

This includes brake fluid, transmission fluid, and coolant – all important for keeping your vehicle running efficiently. These fluids can run low or deteriorate over time. Make sure you keep an eye on your fluid levels and ask an auto mechanic if you are unsure about anything.

What Causes my Car to Overheat?

CC image Wikipedia.orgMost of the dials on a person’s dashboard are easy to understand and interpret.  Everyone knows what makes your speedometer increase and your fuel gauge decrease, but what about your car’s temperature gauge?  What causes the dial to creep up towards the big “H”?

There are three main reasons why a car might overheat.  They are:

  • Loss of coolant
  • Inability of the coolant system to get rid of excess heat
  • Excess heat in the engine

We’ll examine common problems that cause all three of these issues.

Loss of coolant

Coolant helps regulate the heat in your car.  If your coolant is empty, certain parts will begin to “run hot”.  If your car’s internal systems begin to overheat, it can cause serious and expensive damage.  Leaks in your water pump, radiator, hoses, gaskets or plugs can lead to the loss of engine coolant.  Another simple reason why your car may be leaking coolant is because your radiator rap is loose, which allows coolant to spill out.  These are usually the first places a mechanic will check to identify the problem with your heating system.

Inability of the coolant system to get rid of excess heat

If the coolant system is unable to flush out the heat produced by the engine, your car will begin to overheat.  This usually occurs because there is a clog in the cooling system.  Deposits in your cooling system can develop over time, so it’s important to make sure you get routine diagnostics tests.  A mechanic will attempt to de-clog the system by doing what is called a “reverse flush”.  If your system is extremely clogged, it may be wiser to have the system replaced.

Excess heat in the engine

A working engine typically coverts about one third of the energy derived from the combustion of fuel into work that powers the vehicle.  That means about two thirds is converted into heat, which needs to be removed from the engine.  Half of the heat in the engine exits the vehicle through the exhaust pipe, while the other half is removed by the coolant.  If all the hoses and fluid levels are in working order and your engine is still overheating, you might want to check what type of coolant you are using.  Generally speaking, a 50/50 coolant-to-water ratio is recommended.  You should double check to make sure the coolant you use has the proper ratio as specified in your owner’s manual.

5 Tips to Prep Your Car for a Long Road Trip

tireCross country road trips can be a blast, but it can become a nightmare scenario if something happens to your car far from home.  You never know what type of terrain or weather you’ll encounter on your trip, so it’s best to be prepared of all sorts. Below, we’ve outlined some of the proper precautions you should take to ensure your car is in top driving shape before you take it on a road trip.

Check your Tires

Since you’ll be putting hundreds or thousands of miles on these puppies, you’ll want to make sure they still have a safe amount of tread on them.  The simplest way to test your tire tread wear is to use the penny trick.  Have the heads side of the penny facing you, and position Lincoln so his head goes in first (just like the image to the right).  If you can see any space between the edge of the penny and Lincoln’s head, you should have your tires replaced.  Also, make sure your tires are properly inflated by referencing the owner’s manual or by using a pressure gauge.  Properly inflated tires will help keep you safe and save money on gas.

Check your Fluid Levels

Whether you’re driving south for the warmth or north for the snow, be sure your car’s fluid levels are in order.  Most people can check their windshield wiper and coolant level by referencing the owner’s manual, but if you’re taking your car in for a diagnostics test, ask them to check the other fluids, like transmission, power steering and brake fluid.  Some service centers top off these fluids at no extra charge depending on the work you’re having done.

Address any Minor Issues

If you’re overdue for an oil change, or if you’ve been ignoring that rattling sound that happens when you hit the brakes, now is a time to get those issues fixed.  Many mechanics say regular oil changes are one of the best ways to extend the life of your vehicle, so don’t ignore the sticker in the upper-left hand corner of your windshield.  Also, if your car is making any funny sounds, or if any dashboard lights indicate that service is needed, bring your vehicle into the shop before you hit the highway.  If you have any major issues with your vehicle, you should consider a different form of transportation.

Prepare for an Emergency

Most people have some equipment in their vehicle to help them in the event of an emergency, but now is an important time to double-check your supplies.  Make sure your spare tire is properly inflated, and grab any other tools that may be necessary to help you change it (jack, wrench, AAA card).  Consider storing a disposable camera, flash light, pen, and paper in your glove compartment in case you need document an accident or to assist you in the dark.  Storing a first aid kit under your passenger seat can also help in the event of a minor emergency.

Clean out your Car

Not only will your passengers be happy that they’re not sitting on stale cracker crumbs, but cleaning your car can also save you money.  If you have sandbags or snow chains in your trunk to help during the winter months, now is the time to remove the extra weight (unless, or course, you’re heading on a winter retreat).  This will also make added room for any luggage you might be bringing along.  Vacuum the inside of your car in the days before your trip to make sure your passengers can ride clean and comfortably.