Have you noticed your vehicle’s headlights have grown foggier over time, even though you’ve kept up with car washes and other general maintenance? Are you having difficulty seeing the road in front of you at night or are worried about your visibility to other drivers? Foggy or yellowed headlights are a fact of life for many drivers, but they don’t have to be for you and your vehicle. Read on to learn what you need to know about headlights and the headlight restoration process from our experienced auto technicians. What Are Headlights Made Of? Headlights were originally made with glass, but this fragile material made them prone to cracking and shattering. Over the years, auto manufacturers have moved to making headlights from polycarbonate — a hard type of plastic that’s been specifically tempered to resist shattering. While this type of plastic is strong, it is notoriously porous and can collect dirty and grime easily, so a UV film was added to protect the lens and extend its life ... read more
With so many different types of tires to choose from, finding the right tire to meet your needs can be overwhelming. The choice ultimately comes down to the type of vehicle you drive and what you’ll be doing after you get that new set of tires. You want to pick a reliable tire which meets your needs and is compatible with your vehicle. Tire types such as snow tires and mud tires serve a specific purpose, while all-terrain and all-season tires are fine for most conditions. Read below for a more detailed description of each tire and their optimal uses. All-Season Tires – All-season tires are the everyman’s tire. They offer good traction in the rain and in normal conditions all year long and offer a quiet and smooth ride. All-season tires also hold up again excessive wear quite well. One downside, however, is poor performance in dirt and snow. For that you should go with mud tires or snow tires, respectively. Snow Tires – If there is a lot of snow on the ground, snow tires are the way ... read more
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. Nothing can put a damper on a summer road trip quite like vehicle trouble. Before heading out, it’s a good rule of thumb to do a quick check – and service if necessary – of some items on your vehicle. Your tires are the only part of your vehicle that come in direct contact with the road, so it’s vital they are in proper working condition before your trip. We can’t think of anything much worse than having to pull off the side of the highway on a hot day to change your tire. You can minimize the ... read more
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 your tires is regular tire rotations. A tire rotation is the simple act of moving Your tires from one position to another to ensure they wear evenly. You may be wondering how moving your tires around can increase your tire’s life. Well, it’s simple! The weight on the front and rear axles differs, which causes uneven tire wear if your tires never change positions. Typically, the front tires bear more weight and will wear faster than rear tires. Front tires also take on additional stress from braking an ... read more
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 puncture is located and how quickly you spotted the damage. Sure, repairing the tire is the most cost-effective option but not at the expense of you and your passengers’ safety. Before deciding to repair your tire versus buying a new one, you’ll want to ensure your tire is a good candidate for a repair. The first factor when deciding if your tire can be replaced will be how long you drove on the tire before noticing and responding to the puncture. Driving for any period of time on a low or flat tire ... read more
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 foot? When you really stop and think, you realize brakes are a pretty amazing invention. They have the power to bring a large, multi-ton machine traveling at 70 miles per hour to a complete stop with just a push of the pedal. This ability is all thanks to science! A moving car has a lot of kinetic energy, meaning “energy in motion.” To stop your car, your brakes must eliminate that kinetic energy. When you push your foot to the pedal, a connected lever will be pushed into a small cylinder fill ... read more
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 type of tire you purchase and what use it is intended for. Belts (or Belt System) Directly below the tread of your tire are the belts. Most commonly, belts are constructed of steel. Their primary purpose is to provide stability and strength to the tread so that the tires will handle better and last longer. Body Ply One of the most important parts in the construction of the tire, the body ply, is located beneath the steel belts. The body ply is typically ... read more
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 you are trying to steer straight, you could have a misaligned steering system. Other signs include uneven tire wear, squealing tires, or a crooked steering wheel while driving straight. Tires Potholes can damage your tires by resulting in punctures, bulging sidewalls, and excessive wear. If you notice damage to your tires after hitting a pothole, get it checked out as soon as possible to avoid a blowout. Rims Most vehicles are equipped with aluminum-b ... read more
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 possible to calculate how long that will last using your car’s average range, but we would advise against it, just to be safe. Avoid doing the math if you know you are the type of person to risk it and drive on empty anyway. One reason it’s not advisable to drive on an empty tank is the potential damage to your fuel pump. The fuel pump is responsible for transporting gasoline from the tank to the engine, and it depends on that same gasoline to stay lubricated and avoid overheating. Overheating any part i ... read more