How Tired Are Your Tires? (Tire replacement)

Of the things you think about most, your tires are probably pretty far down the list. That’s understandable because today’s tires are engineered to do their job without needing you to pay too much attention to them. But they DO wear out, and worn tires can contribute to skidding in bad weather, not being able to stop, a ride full of uncomfortable vibrations and, even a sudden blowout. Yikes. Let’s figure out right now how to know if your tires need replacing!

Let’s face it. Most of us don’t know the first thing about tires. So, the best way to make sure what shape yours are in is to take your vehicle to a qualified service facility to have the tires checked out by a trained technician. Here are things they’ll check:

Tread. Tread is the part of the tire that touches the road surface. Different tires have different tread patterns and something called tread blocks – the raised rubber parts that contact the road. The longer a tire has been on a vehicle, the more of that rubber wears off. The technician will check to see if there’s enough of that tread left on your tire for sufficient traction to accelerate, steer, and brake.
Pressure. It’s important your tires be inflated properly so your tires will perform the way they’re designed while driving. If your tires have low air pressure, the technician will check to see why, perhaps cracks in the sidewall from age, a nail in the rubber picked up on the road, or bulges. It’s also important your tires are not overinflated too.
Wear. Your tires should wear evenly. If they haven’t, the uneven wear can cause vibrations that you can feel in the steering wheel. Maybe the whole vehicle shakes at a certain speed. Your vehicle may require other services such as balancing, alignment, or suspension repairs to prevent future tire damage.
Age. Your tires may have adequate tread, but if they’re too old, it’s time for new. Rubber gets old, and when it does, it loses its elasticity. Ever find an old rubber band and tried to stretch it? It’s brittle and will break easily. Hotter climates will age rubber—and tires—faster. All tires have their date of manufacture stamped on them, so your service adviser will be able to see when your tires were made.

If it’s time to replace your tires, you’ll find you have many choices for new ones: different brands, models, designs, etc. Your service adviser can help you figure out which ones are right for you. It’s much better—and safer—to do it before one of them fails at the least opportune time.

Autotronics of St. Peter
111 Jefferson Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
507.934.9290
http://autotronicsstpeter.com

Free Money (Almost) (Fuel Saving Tips)

You spend a lot of money on a vehicle, probably the most money you’ll spend on anything except a house. But the spending doesn’t stop after you’ve bought it. It goes into things like insurance, repairs and fuel. One good piece of news is that you can cut down the amount you spend on fuel if you follow a few tips.

Keep your speed under 50 mph/80 kph. Anything over that and your fuel economy will go down quickly the faster you go. Sure, you can legally drive faster than that, but practice this one tip and it can save you from 7%-14% on fuel.

Use cruise control. The steady speed increases fuel economy by avoiding unnecessary braking and accelerating.

If your vehicle is carrying unnecessary weight, unload it. If you can save 100 pounds/45 kilograms, it can save you 1% of your fuel.

Don’t idle. Let’s say you’re sitting in a parking lot with your engine running for 10 seconds. Any more and you’re wasting fuel. Turn off your engine and start it when you have to get going. You may have noticed that many newer vehicles automatically turn the engine off when the vehicle stops.

Avoid using a roof rack. A cargo box strapped on the top of your vehicle can reduce your fuel economy by 2%-8% in city driving, by 6%-17% on the highway and by 10%-25% at highway speeds over 65 mph/105 mph.

Also, if you have roof rails on your vehicle with crossbars, you can save 1% of fuel simply by storing them somewhere else. Some vehicles like Chrysler’s Pacifica minivan allow you to store the crossbars inside the roof rails to reduce drag.

Keep tires at their recommended inflation. It can save you 3% of your fuel bill.

Use the right motor oil for your vehicle. Using the wrong kind can cost you 1%-2% more money on fuel.

Sure, many of those savings are small on their own. But add them up and you’d be surprised at how much you can save. Also, keep in mind that a well maintained vehicle will also save you fuel, so make regular maintenance trips to your vehicle service facility.

Autotronics of St. Peter
111 Jefferson Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
507.934.9290
http://autotronicsstpeter.com

3 Winter Windshield Tips (Care of Windshield)

Cold weather can present some real challenges when it comes to your vehicle’s windshield. Think of it. Your windshield is your window to the world when you’re driving, and clear visibility is extraordinarily important for safe travels. So here are 3 tips to ensure that your windshield can do its job during the cold weather.

Don’t ever pour hot water on a frozen windshield. Let’s say you head outside and see your vehicle covered with ice. You think, hey, maybe I can heat up a pot of water on the stove and melt that off fast. Don’t do it! You run the risk of shattering the glass the second that hot water hits the frigid glass. Ditto for using a propane torch. Glass does not do well with sudden temperature changes. Instead, turn on your engine and start the defroster, which heats the windshield up gradually. Use a plastic scraper designed for windshields (don’t EVER use metal to scrape) and be patient. Don’t hammer on the ice to break it into pieces. Sudden pressure and glass don’t mix.
Keep your wiper blades up off the glass. If you park your vehicle outside and you think there’s a chance of frozen precipitation falling, do what smart winter drivers do. Lift the wiper arms off the glass and leave them extended with the blades not touching the glass at all. That way when you go back to your vehicle, you won’t have to try to pull the wipers off the icy glass (which can damage the rubber blades) or start the wipers with them frozen solid to the windshield. Many drivers have burned out their wiper motor that way, and that can be a pricey repair.
Keep your windshield washer fluid topped off and use it often. So you’ve followed the steps above and you’re on the road. Salt, brine and sand can muck up the windshield fast, causing your wiper blades to smear the glass, re-freeze the icy snow and blind you. It’s important to use wiper fluid made for low temperatures so it doesn’t freeze on your glass. Use it often so any road debris won’t scratch the glass like sandpaper. And make sure your defroster is working properly, keeping your windshield warm enough to prevent ice from forming.

Autotronics of St. Peter
111 Jefferson Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
507.934.9290
http://autotronicsstpeter.com