Author Archives: Tracy

Five Ways to Extend Tire Service Life

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Tires are a serious investment. Not only in terms of what you pay for them, but also in light of what you have riding on them. Of your vehicle’s many components, few are as critical to your safety as your tires.  Proper tire care and maintenance will not only keep tires performing safely and at their best, it will extend the service life you will get from them.

Here are five easy ways you can extend tire service life:

1. Keep tires inflated to the recommended inflation level 
When tires hit the road with a pressure that is under the recommended inflation level, an additional load is placed on the shoulder of the tire, causing that area to wear prematurely. Underinflated tires also build up internal heat, which increases rolling resistance and in turn reduces fuel  economy. It is not easy to determine if tires are properly inflated by simply looking at them. It is important to use a tire gauge to check tire pressure regularly. Keep tires inflated to the level  recommended in your owner’s manual.

2. Regularly inspect your tread wear
Drivers don’t often think to check tread wear unless they are having problems or have been driving on roadways with unavoidable debris. Checking your tire tread regularly can catch wear trends before they have done too much damage. Problems can be spotted by visual inspection or by running your hand over the tread and feeling for problems. Potential issues include distortion in the tread, feathering or cupping. If caught early enough, bad wear patterns can be countered to extend the tire service life.

3. Make sure that your vehicle is properly aligned
A very common cause of unusual tread wear is poor vehicle alignment. When tires are unable to run straight ahead, accelerated tread wear occurs on certain parts of the tire. Regular alignment service will keep your vehicle from experiencing a variety of alignment related problems, including uneven and premature tread wear.

4. Keep up on regularly scheduled tire rotation
Along with regular alignment service, tire rotation should be performed on an ongoing basis. A consistent and documented schedule of tire rotation will promote even tread wear and extend tire service life.

5. Have wheel and suspension components inspected and replaced as needed
Wheel and suspension components can be the hidden enemies of tire service life. A wheel bearing that is not properly torqued can cause irregular tire wear. Worn shock absorbers can create depression wear on treads. Rather than waiting until trouble strikes, replace shock absorbers and other suspension components on a set schedule.

Alternative Rubber Source for Tires Closer to Reality

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Guayule Plants

A recent article in the New York Times reports that Cooper Tire is close to developing a tire made from rubber derived from the guayule plant, a desert shrub grown in the Southwest. This is an important development as traditional rubber sources have become more costly and may not be adequate for future demand. According to the article:

“Tire executives say that global demand for tires, which use as much as 70 percent of the world’s rubber supply, will expand as less developed nations industrialize, requiring roughly 21 million additional acres of hevea, the source of natural rubber, by 2024.”

Petroleum has been used to make a synthetic form of rubber since World War II, when the US was cut off from natural rubber sources. According to the Rubber Manufacturers Association, about 70% of all rubber used in manufacturing is synthetic, and around seven gallons of petroleum are needed to produce one tire.

Both economically and environmentally, another natural rubber source would be a highly beneficial discovery. Guayule is much easier to grow than the rubber trees from which hevea is derived. Rubber trees require a hot, damp climate, and grow only in Southeast Asia and Africa. Guayale does lack some of the attributes that hevea offers, such as resistance to cracking and the ability to prevent high heat buildup, which has presented a challenge developers are working to solve.

Cooper expects to make a make a complete tire from guayule-derived parts by early 2017. Along with Copper, many other researchers are working on the development of guayule as a practical rubber source for other industries.

Tire Dry Rot

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When it comes to evaluating the condition of tires, the main thing we focus on is tread wear. Typically, this is the best indication of whether or not your tires are safe and will perform as they should. There is, however, another type of tire problem to be aware of – especially when it comes to old or inactive vehicles. That issue is tire dry rot.

Even though the tread on old tires may look fine, periods of low pressure, inactivity or sitting for a long time in the sun or a hot garage can cause tire dry rot. Upon closer inspection, tires may show fine cracks running in a spider web-type pattern along the sidewalls to the tread, which indicates deterioration from dry rot.

On a vehicle that is driven regularly, tire dry rot is not an issue because tire pressure is more closely monitored and tread wears out before degradation from aging can occur. Vehicles that are driven only occasionally, such as collector cars or those used for recreation, are especially susceptible to tire dry rot.

In the early stages, tire dry rot can sometimes be repaired, but as a rule, tires with dry rot are not safe to drive on and should be replaced.

If it is necessary to store a vehicle for long periods of time, storing it in a climate-controlled garage and keeping the tires properly inflated will help to prevent damage from tire dry rot from occuring.

Five Signs That Your Brakes Need Attention

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Something we all take for granted each day is our vehicle brake system. Brake systems involve a number of integrated components, all of which are subject to wear and eventual failure. Brake system failure is one of the most dangerous car problems you can experience, and it could put your life and the lives of your passengers in danger.

Fortunately your vehicle has ways of letting you know that your brakes may be compromised. By paying attention to these five signs that you may have brake system issues, you can have problems addressed before they put your safety at risk.

1. Hearing Strange Noises

If you hear a high, screeching sound when you apply your brakes, there is a good chance your brake pads need to be replaced.

2. Vehicle Pulls to One Side

If you notice that your vehicle gravitates to one side when you are braking it might indicate that the brake lining is wearing unevenly or that the brake fluid is contaminated.

3. Brake Pedal Doesn’t Feel Right

If your brake pedal feels spongy or sinks to the floor, this could be an indication of a leak in the braking system. A leak affecting the brake system could be an air leak in the brake hose, or a brake fluid leak.

If the brake pedal feels hard or very difficult to press, your vehicle might have a blockage in the brake line or have an issue in the vacuum system.

4. Feeling Vibration When Braking

You feel a vibration in your brake pedal during breaking that is similar to the vibration you feel when the anti-lock brakes feature engages when your vehicle starts sliding. A vibration or pulsating brake pedal can be a symptom of warped rotors.

5. Grabbing When Braking

If you experience a grabbing or jerking feeling when you apply the brakes, it could be an indication that the rotor is unevenly worn or that the brake fluid is contaminated and needs to be changed.

Along with these signs, the warning light on your dashboard will illuminate if your vehicle’s computer system senses any problems. Although sometimes these lights can come on even when there is not a problem, you should always take your vehicle in and let your service technician determine whether or not your brakes are okay.

All In The Details – Tire and Wheel Care

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There is nothing like cruising down the road on a summer day in a car that looks showroom new. After a wash and wax, shining wheels and clean tires do a lot to enhance the appearance of any vehicle. Cleaning your wheels and tires is just good maintenance, too. Brake dust – including metal, adhesive, and carbon residue from your brake pads and rotor – collects on your wheels and tires. This dust is very corrosive, especially under intense heat and friction. Cleaning your wheels regularly will remove this abrasive grime and extend the life of your tires and wheels.

While it is convenient to have tire and wheel detailing done by a shop, it is by no means necessary to pay someone to get your tires and wheels looking great. If you have the time and a place to do it, it is easy to get the job done yourself.

You may have a lot of cleaning products on hand, but resist the temptation to just grab a cleanser from under your kitchen sink. All-purpose products may not necessarily be safe for cleaning wheels and tires. Choose non-petroleum based products for your tires, and an abrasive-free producst with no harsh acids for your wheels. To be sure you have the best option, pick up a product that is specially formulated for tires and wheels. There are a wide variety of effective and environmentally-friendly options.

When washing your car, it is best to start with the wheels and tires. Use a sturdy, soft-bristle brush to prevent scratching. Clean and then rinse each tire as you go, to avoid the cleaning product drying on the surface. Towel dry each wheel once you are done washing the entire car. Try to keep a separate towel just for wheels and tires in case any cleaning product residue is left on the towel. Your last step should be to  apply a wheel wax and tire dressing.

Ask your tire dealer or mechanic to recommend the best product for your particular tires.

Simple Car Maintenance: Windshield Wiper Check

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When your windshield wipers are worn or damaged, they will not be able to adequately clear the windshield. Windshield wipers are extremely important to ensure visibility for safe driving.

A number of factors contribute to the deterioration of your windshield wiper blades. These can include UV damage from the sun, oil from car waxes, dirt and other airborne debris, as well as salt and other contaminants in rain.

Checking your wiper blades every six months and replacing them annually is a very important part of your simple car maintenance routine.

Problems that mean your windshield wiper blades may need to be replaced include:

  • Corroded metal, particularly around the claws and joints
  • Frame is detached at any connection points or joints
  • Cracks, tears, or damage to the edge of the rubber squeegee
  • Lack of flexibility in the squeegee rubber
  • Rounding at the edges of the squeegee
  • Rubber blade is loose or not in secure in the frame

Along with inspecting your wipers, look for signs that your wipers are not working correctly:

  • Streaking on the windshield
  • Squeaking sound when in use
  • Skipping across the windshield

You can also care for your windshield wiper blades on a more frequent basis by cleaning your windshield and your wipers every time you fill your gas tank. In the winter months, clear snow and ice from your windshield before turning on your windshield wipers.

Simple Car Maintenance: Checking Accessory Belts

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This week’s installment in our series on simple car maintenance is all about checking accessory belts. If you have a newer vehicle, it probably uses a serpentine multi-accessory drive belt, which is a single ribbed belt that drives all the accessories, air conditioning system, power steering, alternator as well as other pumps and accessories. Older model cars and trucks may have separate accessory belts.

It is important to keep an eye on accessory belts because they wear and become damaged over time. A broken accessory belt can result in serious damage to the engine or its systems. Occasionally checking the accessory belt or belts will help you catch and replace a bad belt long before it breaks.

Check your accessory belt or belts by following these steps:

Inspect belt for signs of wear. Inspect the belt or belts when the engine is off and the car is cool. Along with the visual check, feel the condition of the belts checking for cracks, fraying, splits or brittle areas.

Look for places on the belt where the rubber appears slick. Slick spots may cause a belt to slip and can be precursors to overheating and cracking.

Check the pulleys. Inspect the belt for rubber deposit build-up spots or worn spots that could catch and cause it to snap.

Note the belt tension. Feel the tension on the longest length of the belt; it should be tight, with little or no give.

Any squealing sounds you hear coming from the engine could mean a worn, loose or damaged belt. Listen to how the engine sounds with the hood up if you are not sure about the sounds you are hearing. Making sure the vehicle is parked, with the parking brake on, and have someone accelerate the engine while you listen. Always be sure to keep a safe distance from belts and components while the engine is running.

If you suspect you have a problem with accessory belt condition, be sure to get your vehicle in for service as soon as possible.

Simple Car Maintenance: Check your Tires

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In honor of the Rubber Manufacturers Association’s “National Tire Safety Week” this week’s simple car maintenance tip is about tire care. Tires are not only one of the biggest investments you make in your vehicle, they are also among the most crucial components that will ensure your vehicle performs well and handles safely. Here are two maintenance practices you can follow to make sure you get the most from your tires:

1. Check Your Tire’s Pressure

Keeping your tires properly inflated is a very important aspect of tire maintenance, so check your tire pressure regularly. Find the correct tire pressure for your tires in your owner’s manual. You may see a tire pressure number stamped on the tire, but that number is the maximum pressure. You want to go with the recommended pressure instead. If you don’t have a tire gauge, you can pick up a digital model pretty inexpensively.

Remove the valve cap and press the tire gauge on the valve stem. You will probably notice a hissing sound when you first press down, but it stops once you press the gauge all the way down. Only a few seconds are needed to obtain an accurate reading. If your tires need air, you can fill them with either a portable compressor, or you can use the air pump at your local gas station for a nominal fee. The filling process is similar to checking  the pressure – instead of pressing the gauge to the valve stem, you’ll be pressing the fitting on the air hose to the stem. Check the pressure as you inflate until you reach the right pressure number. If your tires are over inflated, you can remove air from the tires using your gauge. Remember the hissing sound? When you hear it, let it go for a bit, then recheck the pressure. When you are finished, put the valve caps back on each tire.

2. Check Tire Tread

Make it a habit to check tires for tread wear or damage. The “penny test” is an easy way to check tread wear.

Hold a penny so you can read “In God We Trust” across the top. Insert it into five different sections of the tire and look at Lincoln’s head.  If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, your treads are excessively worn, and it is time for a new set of tires. If Abe’s head is covered to about the forehead hairline, the tread is in good shape and you probably do not need new tires.

Simple Car Maintenance: Check for Engine Leaks

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Small pools or leaks under your vehicle may indicate a number of problems, from transmission trouble to power steering system problems. You can perform a simple check on your own, before taking your vehicle in for inspection and diagnosis, so you know what to expect.

As long as the area below your engine does not have a protective cover beneath it, there’s a simple process for identifying the location and source of a leak. Park the car over a large, clean sheet of paper or card board and leave it there, ideally overnight. Mark the paper to indicate position of the vehicle. This will help you to identify where the leaks are relative to front, rear, right side, left side. It is extremely important to approach all checks with great caution, and exercise appropriate precautions to avoid injury. If you can’t identify your leak and it persists make a service appointment as soon as possible.

Here are common leak spots descriptions and what they may mean:

  • Clear, watery leaks located near the air conditioner are likely to be normal condensation from running the system.
  • Blackish, greasy leaks under the engine area are typically oil. Depending on where you see the stain, look under the hood for leaks around the oil filter and the engine. The leak might also be around the oil drain plug or crankcase and oil pan.
  • Thick, dark, oily leaks may mean a gear oil leak from a manual transmission, differential, an axle, or the steering gears. These leaks should be checked right away.
  • Slippery, watery leaks that are green, red, blue, or yellow and coming from under the engine or radiator are likely to be coolant. Check the radiator, pressure cap, engine, and hoses for leaks.
  • Oily leaks that are a reddish color or clear and located toward the front could be power steering fluid.
  • Light-colored or clear leaks could be brake fluid. Leaky brakes need immediate professional repair.
  • Battery acid leaks typically have an odor like rotten eggs. Avoid contact with battery acid and have the battery replaced.
  • Fuel leaks are usually recognizable by the gasoline smell. Look around the fuel pump and the fuel injectors. If the leak seems to be under the center of the vehicle, it could be the fuel lines, or if it is more toward the back, it could be the fluid tank.

Simple Car Maintenance: Oil Check

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Our series on simple car maintenance begins with a look at the basic oil check. This is an easy-to-do maintenance task you can perform in less than 15 minutes.

Clean oil is essential to keeping your engine running smoothly. An oil check will tell you if your car has enough oil, and if the oil is still clean and effective.

Your oil’s job is to reduce friction in your car’s engine and to keep it running properly. It is recommended that you check your car’s oil once a month to be sure you have the right amount and that it is not too dirty to do its job.

Follow these simple oil check steps:

  1. Park your car on a level area and wait for the engine to cool
  2. Open the hood and locate the dipstick, usually located next to the engine
  3. Remove the dipstick and wipe it with a clean, dust-free rag
  4. Insert the clean dipstick back into the pipe
  5. Remove the dipstick a second time and examine the oil on it
  6. If the oil does not reach the second or “full” indication line, you need to add oil
  7. Check the oil’s condition – if it is dirty, you need an oil change
  8. Once your check is finished, return the dipstick to its storage spot in the pipe

When you need to add oil, make sure it is a good quality oil that is right for your car. Your auto pro can help you find the best oil selection for your engine. Remember that oil checks do not replace the need for regular oil changes. See your owner’s manual to find out your vehicle recommendations.