There are so many tire choices in the St. Peter, Le Sueur, and Saint Peter area, selecting the right one can be a bit overwhelming for Cleveland motorists. And even though it’s kind of fun to have new tires on your minivan, they’re a significant investment for most Cleveland folks so you want do it right.
Tip: talk with your knowledgeable Autotronics of ST Peter tire professional. He’ll help you sort through the choices.
Here are some of the vital issues you’ll talk about: One is size – you know, all those numbers on the side of the tire. The right size is important. All new vehicles are required to have stability control which, along with other important safety systems, is calibrated to work with specific tire sizes. Your St. Peter tire professional can help stay within car makers’ specifications or program a different tire size into your minivan’s computer.
And you’ll want to discuss how and where you drive in Cleveland to determine the type of tire you need: summer, winter, all season tires or all-terrain. There are tires for every St. Peter auto owner’s needs.
Like we said, tires are a big investment, so you want to get a good value on tires. Now that doesn’t always mean the cheapest tire. A top tier tire from Autotronics of ST Peter will last a long time and give St. Peter drivers good performance throughout its life. Tires sold in St. Peter bargain tire shops may not live up to that promise. Again, your knowledgeable Autotronics of ST Peter tire professional can give you options that offer the best long-term value within your immediate budget.
Last, with a 2-wheel drive vehicle, it’s vital to always replace both tires on an axle. Modern sensors and computer safety systems for minivan brakes, stability and traction control need both tires to have the same amount of wear to work properly. And always put the new tires on the rear so you don’t fishtail in a turn. With all-wheel drive you should replace all four tires at the same time.
Schedule a tire inspection at Autotronics of ST Peter to see how much life is left in your minivan tires and seek the help of a professional when choosing new shoes for your vehicle.
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Autotronics of ST Peter 507.934.9290 111 Jefferson Avenue St. Peter, MN 56082
It seems like everywhere you go in the Cleveland area you see custom wheels. Big trucks, little cars, mini-vans – it doesn’t matter, auto owners are expressing themselves with custom wheels. Some MN auto owners want smaller tires and wheels – some want larger – and some want them enormous. So where do you start if you want new wheels? At Autotronics of ST Peter, we suggest you start with your budget. We know, that sounds so practical. But if the look you’re after goes beyond just new tires and wheels and enters into the world of suspension modifications, you need to be prepared for the additional cost.
Let’s start with something easy – you want to give your ride a unique look and the stock wheel size is just right for you. One of the concerns you will have is that the new wheels have the same offset as your minivan factory wheels.
First, what is offset? The wheel bolts onto the hub on the minivan’s axle. The distance from the inside edge of the wheel to the point at which it bolts on, is the offset. If the new wheel has a different offset from the factory, the tires may rub on the inside or outside of the wheel well. That could lead to catastrophic and (costly) tire failure.
Your tire and wheel professional at Autotronics of ST Peter in St. Peter can help you find the right size wheel – or install adapters to make your new wheels fit. All you have to do is pick from the hundreds of styles available.
Autotronics of ST Peter 111 Jefferson Avenue St. Peter, MN 56082 507.934.9290
So, what about St. Peter drivers who want to upsize? Well, if you select bigger wheels, but you want to keep the same overall tire diameter, that’s pretty easy for the team at Autotronics of ST Peter. The same offset concerns apply. You need to know that the tires will likely be a little bit wider than the originals and you don’t want them to rub when you make sharp turns. Your tire professional at Autotronics of ST Peter in St. Peter will help you avoid this.
It is also essential to keep the same overall tire diameter because changing the rolling diameter can mess with your minivan anti-lock brakes and stability control systems. Are you starting to see why you want to communicate with your knowledgeable Autotronics of ST Peter tire and wheel expert at Autotronics of ST Peter in St. Peter? Is “super-size me” your motto? If it is, you are going to have to lift your vehicle to make room for those huge tires. A mild lift doesn’t require extensive modifications. An extreme lift means a lot of new hardware under the vehicle. It also means a lot of stock electronic systems need to be recalibrated to the new tire size. For example, your speedometer and odometer will give false readings if they aren’t recalibrated. (You don’t want to risk getting speeding tickets on MN highways because your speedometer shows a lower-than-actual speed.)
St. Peter car owners who want to upsize should also be aware of possible performance issues. Bigger tires and wheels weigh more. MN automotive experts refer to this as unsprung weight because it isn’t held up by your minivan suspension system. Increased unsprung weight affects performance in different ways than an equivalent amount of groceries or little soccer players in the minivan passenger compartment. Acceleration is negatively affected. Stopping distances may also be increased – sometimes significantly. St. Peter auto owners who want really big tires and wheels, might need to upgrade their brakes to compensate.
Heading the other direction, some car owners in the Cleveland area like to run smaller than standard wheels and lower the suspension. All of the same fitment issues still apply as well as calibration issues. Don’t think that minivan suspension modifications are a bad thing. Many systems actually improve ride, function and performance over the stock set-up.
Regardless of your budget, you want your minivan to continue to do all the things you need it to do. Some of those show cars and trucks you see on TV and St. Peter showrooms look outstanding, but have been modified in ways that may not suit your needs. For example, if you put large rims on your SUV with low profile tires, you may be in for busted rims if you go off-roading a lot around Cleveland. There just isn’t enough sidewall to absorb the impact of thumping over rocks.
Some drivers stuff the largest tires and wheels possible in their vehicles but have to severely restrict suspension travel so that the tires aren’t rubbing all day. That can lead to a very harsh ride around MN. Again, talk with your Autotronics of ST Peter wheel professional about all of these things: how you drive in St. Peter, what look you are going for, your budget and what compromises you are willing to make.
At the end of the day, you’re going to be rollin’ out of Autotronics of ST Peter with one sweet ride.
Safe MN travel starts with preventive maintenance and good car care at Autotronics of ST Peter. But there are other things St. Peter car owners can do to prepare for emergencies on the road. Here’s some auto advice that can help you plan for emergencies, and just may save your life — or someone else’s.
First, St. Peter car owners should consider keeping an auto emergency kit in their car. The kit should contain items that will allow you to deal with common emergencies on the road.
Some critical items you should carry in your minivan include jumper cables (or a booster box), flares, a flashlight and some basic hand tools. Other useful items include gloves, two quarts of oil, some antifreeze, water and everything you need to change a tire. You might also consider a can of tire inflator, which is a great temporary fix for minor flats.
But taking care of your minivan is only part of emergency preparedness. It is essential to take care of the people in the car, too. For this reason, you should carry a first aid kit, drinkable water and blankets. Other items to consider include high-calorie food items (like energy bars), toilet paper, a towel, a hat and boots. And, of course, when you travel in MN and out-of-state you should always have your cell phone, some emergency cash and a credit card.
Depending on where you live, you may need to add other vital items to this list. For example, sunscreen, sunglasses, and extra water would be good to have on hand in a hot climate. For the cold and snowy MN season, some salt, a hand shovel, emergency blankets and matches might be in order. Also, if your MN area is prone to severe weather or earthquakes, you should check with your local Red Cross or disaster preparedness office for their recommendations on what to keep on hand in your minivan for emergencies.
When you travel away from your St. Peter home, you should check the weather forecasts before you leave, and pack appropriate emergency supplies. Also, do some research about the areas you will be traveling through so you can be prepared for the climate and terrain. Remember the basics: heat, water, shelter, light, and food.
When you travel, it is critical to leave your itinerary with a trusted friend or family member. Check in periodically at prearranged checkpoints. That way, if something does happen, someone else will quickly know you are in trouble and will be able to send help. These checkpoints will also help rescuers find you quickly, as they will have a better idea as to where you are. The automotive professionals at Autotronics of ST Peter want St. Peter drivers to be safe. Preventive maintenance, proper planning, smart communication: these are the basics of safe travel.
