I am a typical "gas and go" type of driver. I really do not care how it all works as long as it does. However, I do have to buy tires. I recently had bald tires on my Mini Cooper (yes, it is true I do let it go that long oops!!). I decided to explore how difficult or easy it would be to purchase tires online. Being a small business myself I know that sector suffered much more than the big box stores during covid. I am a fan of Amazon, but I do have some reservations about what I buy from them. [...more]

The best way to ensure that your chrome rims will last for a long time, and not incur any damages is by regular and proper maintenance of them.  One of the problems with chrome wheels, can that be a costly issue to deal with, is that once a chip happens in the rim--a chip that goes through the chrome plate and down to the metal, the only way to repair it is to remove the wheel entirely, sand it down and get it re-dipped in chrome. This can be a bit costly, but is necessary when one wants that p [...more]

Many people have different preferences with regards to whether or not they prefer to stud their tires for the winter. This video discusses how tires are studded and the pros and cons of studding tires. Should you stud your own tires? It depends. Watch the video and check out this blog post to help you weigh your options and see if studding is the best decision for you and your vehicle this winter.

The tire pressure monitoring system, or TPMS, is designed to alert you when a tire’s pressure has become significantly low. Maintaining proper tire pressure is critical to safe driving and fuel economy. On select models, the multi-information display will indicate which tire is low, along with a check tire pressure message. On all models, a low tire pressure indicator, in the shape in the tire cross-section will light on the instrument panel. In either case, you should stop and check the tires [...more]

A nice video showing you how to change your tire when a flat occurs. Information includes using the jack, hubcap removal, unfastening the nuts, removing the old tire, installing the new tire, tightening the nuts, lowering the jack and more.

Many people have little knowledge about maintaining their tires, or are ill equipped to deal with an emergency tire situation. Here is a video showing some tips:

Since April is National Car Care Month, it's a good idea to look at caring for your tires. Tires are one of the most important systems in a vehicle, responsible for putting power to the ground, holding the road during corners, and griping securely during hard stops. Charged with all these important tasks, it’s hard to believe many vehicle owners ignore their tire care. For yourself and your wallet’s health, here are some simple steps you can take to maximize the life of your tires. Visual Inspec [...more]

When the temperature drops, you may notice a warning light near your vehicle’s gauges. If the warning light looks like a deflating tire surrounding an exclamation point, don’t freak out; it’s an easy fix. This warning light happens because tires, of course, are filled with air. That air responds to the environment, and gets warmer or colder with the seasons. In late fall and winter, the air is colder, so it is also denser, which means less outward pressure in your tires than earlier in the year [...more]

There are countless articles and blog posts discussing the dangers of driving on worn out tires.  Still, many drivers don't have a clue how to tell if the problem they are having is due to tire wear or some other issue. The video shows you close up what various wear patterns look like, what causes them, and gives suggestions on how to deal with the problem.

We can already hear you asking, “what's a valve stem?”  Well, it is one of the most important parts of your tires because of it's function and because it is a big potential problem area.  The valve stem is the bit that sticks out that allows you to add or remove air from the tire.  So, how often do you check yours? If you answered, “never,” then you're probably in the majority of Americans.  It is, after all, a very small part that is easy to forget, even if you regularly check your tires.  How [...more]

In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it's easy to forget the little things.  Laundry, cleaning out the refrigerator, and reading all that mail can easily take a back seat to the more important things, like picking up junior from school, getting to work on time, and making sure that the water bill gets paid.  But sometimes something gets put on the back burner that really shouldn't.  That's right, we're talking about checking the pressure in your tires. The process is really simple, and anyon [...more]

A question for the ages, “How long should my tires last?”  The answer, of course, is, “it depends.”  The life of your tires depends on the tire itself, how you drive, where you drive, and a lot of other factors.  One reason you may not have considered is that if you move to a different climate, odds are you will need to change tires. Starting with that one, individual tires are designed with certain weather conditions in mind.  Some will perform better in rainy conditions, while some are design [...more]

We have a complicated relationship with cars.  It's one of give and take; the car gives us freedom to go where we please and a comfortable environment to do it in, and all it asks in return is a little bit of attention through maintenance.  The longer you wait to perform basic tasks like oil changes, the more upset your car gets, and the bigger the problem when one manifests. But here's one thing that you can do to keep your car in good working order: tire rotations.  They sound intimidating, b [...more]

More often these days, car manufacturers pack a lot of new technology into their cars.  Usually, it's for the best--like sensors that warn you if you are straying out of your lane or the latest entertainment system that makes commuting more enjoyable.  It's difficult to keep up with all the new products out there, but we'd like to touch on a valuable piece of technology: TPMS sensors. TPMS or the Tire Pressure Monitoring System, is a small computer with multiple sensors that continually check t [...more]

Okay, that may be an overstatement, but if you picked up a nail or otherwise have a leak, plugging can be a bad idea.  There is always the issue of lazy mechanics, but also the fact that plugging a leak can cause a number of other problems.  The best bet is usually to replace a damaged tire with new ones, but for certain things you can get away with fixing the tire. The first issue with plugging a tire is that the safety and effectiveness of the plug is almost entirely dependent on the skill of [...more]

Cars speak to us, but a lot of the time, we can't hear them.  Every single time something breaks and you get stranded on the side of the road, waiting for a tow truck, your car warned you.  It sounds odd, but if you speak Car then you're aware of it. But the majority of us don't speak Car, and those little bumps, rattles, and noises could be anything.  There is one way that you can brush up on what your car is trying to tell you: the tires.  The wear on your car's tires speaks volumes about its [...more]

If you own a vehicle chances are you have had to buy new wheels for your car, whether it is due to a flat or routine wear. Tires are an essential part of every vehicles function and safety. Without tires we would have a pretty hard time getting where we need to go. And without properly maintained tires it's a challenge to get around safely. An important part of vehicle maintenance is tire care . Routinely checking and maintaining proper tire pressure as well as visually checking the tread depth [...more]

We all like saving money , right? In this type of economy that has become more important than ever. Every dollar counts and every dime earned is carefully tracked in a budget that doesn't allow much wiggle room. It is during times like this that expenses like new Cooper tires are even more difficult to swallow. Fortunately there are some things that you can do to extend the life of your tires and save yourself the expense of purchasing new tires for down the road. As convenient as vehicles can [...more]

Tire pressure. It's something that most people don't give a lot of thought to. As long as the tires look full and the vehicle keeps running smoothly, they assume that everything is okay. Unlike keeping your car clean and waxed, maintaining proper tire pressure is an important part of maintaining your tires and your vehicle. The easiest and fastest way for your tires to loose pressure is if they suffer a tire puncture . Nails, glass, and other materials on the roadway can quickly damage your tir [...more]

Winter is a unique time of year. Even with the cold weather and sometimes harsh conditions we still love getting together for the holidays, planning outdoor activities on the mild days, and even taking road trips. Road trips --whether they are to visit family and friends, to carve it up on a ski trip, or a just a relaxing time away --can be a lot of fun. But before you head off here are a few maintenance and winter road trip tips to keep you safe and make sure that your trip is filled with good [...more]

Proper vehicle maintenance is a process that takes time and just a little bit of money. Performing monthly checks of the oil level, tire pressure, and tread wear may take a little time but it can save you a good deal of money in costly repairs. Getting the oil changed in accordance with your vehicle's owner's manual as well as getting your tires rotated and realigned is also an important safety check that can some trouble down the road. [caption id="attachment_1015343" align="alignright" width= [...more]

Snow. It's beautiful and fun to play in but it can also cause some pretty treacherous driving conditions. Everything from slick, icy roads to snow packed highways can be a real danger if you and your vehicle are not properly prepared for the loss of traction that you experience under such conditions. Living where it snows, winter tires are a must. The type of winter tires that you get depends a lot of where you live. If you live in an area that receives most rain and only trace amounts of snow [...more]

One of the nice things about owning your own vehicle is having the opportunity to customize it however you want. Whether it is a sick new paint job or luxury chrome rims, the sky is the limit. A popular customization for truck owners is installing a lift kit. While it definitely makes the truck look bigger, it doesn't work as well on cars. To really make your sports car sizzle, perhaps you should consider widening your rims. Tire widening can be done on nearly any vehicle, but it is most common [...more]

For many Americans cars are one of our favorite toys. Many people have not just one car but two or three. Some choose to sign a lease agreement that allows you to get a new car every couple years, while others go a different route--total customization. From custom paint jobs to features, hot rod wheels to car rims ; there is nothing you can't do to make your vehicle your own. One of the most popular items that people choose for their vehicles is chrome rims. They are sleek and shiny; making an [...more]

Tires are made of a number of different components: sidewall, inner tube, liner, belts, piles. While each of these is important to the overall performance of the tire, drivers generally look at the tire's tread in order to measure how fast their tires are wearing down. Understanding why tread wears at all is a matter of understanding how tires work. The biggest enemy of tire tread aren't sharp objects or road debris. It is heat. Tires are made of rubber and when you expose rubber to heat, the t [...more]