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The days are getting longer, school is out, and summer is almost here! The rising temperatures have a lot of people itching to hop into their car and head to a body of water or hiking trail. Summer vacations are a time to unplug, relax and have fun with your family and friends. They do, however, require a bit of preparation beforehand. If you are foregoing the airport in favor of a road trip, it’s important to give your vehicle a little TLC before hitting the road to ensure a safe, smooth trip...

If you’re like most people, the thought of opening your wallet to shell out money for tires isn’t at the top of your “things to get excited about” list. Unfortunately, this is a necessary part of owning a vehicle. How often you must replace your tires depends on your driving habits, how well you maintain your tires and the type of tires you purchase. Taking steps to maintain your tires will extend their life significantly, saving you time and money down the road!    One step to maintaining ...

It’s early in the morning, and you are walking out the door to head to work. As you walk up to your car, you notice your tire is flat. “I just bought these tires two months ago,” you think. Unfortunately, no matter how new your tires are, they are always susceptible to being damaged by nails or other debris in the road. Can it be replaced, or will you have to buy a new tire?    The ability to repair the damaged tire instead of replacing it will depend on how large the puncture is, where the ...

It’s a sunny day and you’re driving down the road with your windows down and music turned up. All of a sudden, the car in front of you stops abruptly, causing you to slam on your brakes. Thank goodness your brakes worked perfectly, and you avoided a collision. Until this incident occurred you probably haven’t given your brake system much thought. Sure, you know your brakes should be inspected and serviced every once in a while… but how do they actually make your car stop with just a tap of ...

The construction of the modern tire is a testament to how far engineering and technology have come over the centuries. No more are the days of an air-filled donut comprised of rubber. Years of research by the world’s top tire companies have resulted in the tires we have today, which are full of state-of-the-art materials and technology.   Tread   The outermost layer of your tire is called the tread. This is the patterned rubber layer you can see. The pattern of the tread will depend on the typ...

You’ve probably been told at some point in your driving career to not drive your car while the gas tank is on empty, but did you know why that is? This recommendation is more than just an old wives’ tale—you can damage your car by ignoring that gas light for too long.   First, you should understand what your fuel light indicator really means. When you hear the familiar “ding” that accompanies your fuel light, your fuel tank has reached “reserve” levels, or around 10-15% capacity. It is p...

Most of us have been taught to avoid potholes while driving. It was probably one of the very first things we learned behind the wheel! Although most us know driving over potholes is bad for our vehicles, very few know exactly why that is. These are the parts of your vehicle you should be worried about if you accidentally drive over a pothole:   Steering System   If you hit a pothole, you risk misaligning your steering system. If you have noticed your vehicle pulling to the left or right while y...

Unless you consider yourself a car enthusiast, you may find yourself feeling a bit lost when having conversations with your mechanic. At times, it can feel like you are speaking to someone using a different language with words like “grease monkey,” “kickdown,” and “oversquare” whizzing past your head like dodgeballs. Hopefully, this list of common auto repair terms will help your next conversation with your mechanic go a bit more seamlessly:   Aftermarket – This term applies to parts w...

If you’ve never done it before, purchasing tires can be a frustrating and intimidating task. How do you know what brand is best? How do you get the best price? We will discuss these questions and more in this blog post. 1. Read Reviews It’s impossible to know how tires will perform after a few thousand miles… unless you read the reviews of people who already have those tires. When looking through reviews, look for people who drive a similar car to yours (truck, SUV, sports car, etc.) and ski...

If you’ve ever driven in a foreign country, you’ve probably encountered your fair share of strange traffic laws. Did you know you’ll be fined for driving a dirty car in Russia or for driving without a breathalyzer in your car in France? Some of these laws are hard to believe!   1. In Russia, you will be fined for driving a dirty vehicle.   2. In Germany, it is illegal to run out of fuel on the Autobahn.   3. In Alabama it is legal to drive the wrong way down a one-way street, but only if yo...