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tires

Car fun, Uncategorized

How to Travel With Your Dog

April 24, 2014

Don’t leave your furry companion at home this weekend, I’m not talking about your husband!

I have some tips for traveling with your dog.

Tip #1. Safety first! Animals should be just as secured and safe as your human passengers! Perhaps you didn’t know this but you can buy seat belts for your dog! They range in sizes, so you don’t have to worry about your small dog.

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Tip #2. If you’re going on a long road trip, remember that dogs get just as bored as humans. Make sure to pack toys and treats for them. If you can, try to find a spill-proof water bowl so you don’t make a mess in your car.

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Tip #3. Dogs car get car sick just like anyone else. Make some stops to ensure that your dog can walk around and get some fresh air. Also, if you do leave your car, make sure to never leave your dog alone when it’s incredibly hot or freezing cold.

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Those are my quick tips on how to travel with your dog!

Happy traveling!

Behind the Wheel

The United States is in a crisis.

December 6, 2013
A weather crisis, that is. Granted the above photo was taken earlier today, the point is still very much obvious: It is a cold, cold world out there, and that means potentially icy roads and lots of car drama. With all that said, I’d like to take a moment and share some suggestions about tires, more specifically tires in the snow and the safety that still needs to come with them. It doesn’t matter if you have the biggest, baddest truck in town, if you have old tires, your car isn’t going to get very far (or at least get very far safely) in the snow. Take a look at the advice I gave on Thursday: Screen Shot 2013-12-06 at 2.29.18 PM Some great comments were given by a few of my followers. Take heed! Screen Shot 2013-12-06 at 2.34.16 PM Yes, you’re obviously find peace having a car/truck with 4WD, but it doesn’t mean you need to act fearless. The rules still apply to you just as much as they do to the little smart car up the road with rear-wheel drive. Go slow, and go safely.
Behind the Wheel, Under the Hood

Bundle up and buckle up, it's time for cold weather!

November 6, 2013
It is 41 degrees right now and all I want to do is curl up in the warmest blanket possible right next to a fireplace with a huge cup o’ cocoa. As you can probably tell, I don’t fare too well during winter 😉 And you know what else doesn’t run at peak performance during cold weather? Your car! So bundle up and buckle up, folks, it’s time to prepare your vehicular transport for the chilly weather! 1. First off, shout out to all the mamas and papas in the world who’ve given this advice to their kiddos driving in icy weather at any point in their life: “Take it slow. Don’t drive any faster than the speed at which you’re willing to hit a brick wall.” Driving slowly and carefully will always be an option that the driver can have full control over. 2. Pack some heat for the cold. Some items I’d suggest for your trunk in case of emergency: ice scraper, windshield de-icer, flashlight, blanket(s), extra layers of clothing, a first aid kit, water, and  snacks. 3. Double-check your headlights and any other lights on the exterior of your car! 4. I went on a tiny road trip this past weekend, and before I left I checked the air pressure in my car tires… And thank goodness! The air was almost 10 PSI lower than I normally had ’em at. The cold weather is going to do funky things to your tires, so make sure you double check, especially before trips! 5. Replace your windshield wipers every 6 months, and make sure you’re super on top of that once it starts raining, hailing, and snowing. Special wipers might be necessary if the weather dictates. 6. Always make sure your heater and defroster are in proper working order. 7. It can’t hurt to take a trip to your local auto store to have certain things looked over. This includes the battery, exhaust system, and anything else that might normally cause problems during winter. 8. Have chains or snow tires if your area is known to get dumped on with snow. I cannot stress this enough. 9. Keep your gas tank half full at all times. 10. Don’t be a hero when it comes to driving! Take it slow and steady if you feel it necessary!
Behind the Wheel

November is for traveling, so be prepared!

November 1, 2013
If I were a certified fortune teller, I’d tell all of you that November is going to be the BEST month EVER! October is great, and I had a blast on Halloween, but November is the month of family, food and unnecessary Christmas music! So let’s get it going! To start off the month, I’m suggesting a few tips for car care before you start traveling around and head home for Thanksgiving! 1. Check your tires! There’s a couple things to do:
  • It’s as easy as pie: take the penny test (see picture below) to make sure your wheels are in prime condition. Simply placing a penny upside-down in one of the crevices of your wheel will tell you what you need to know: If the top of Lincoln’s head is covered, you’re fine; but if you can see his entire head, it’s time to renew your tires!penny
  • Having your tires rotated will extend their life as much as possible. Take care of it now at the beginning of the month before it’s too late and you’re supposed to start road tripping tomorrow.
  • Invest in a tire air pressure gauge and before every trip, make sure your tires are inflated to the proper amount. Good news is, air for your tires is free and can be found at most gas stations! (I’m heading on a little trip tomorrow, so I’ll be checking my pressure tonight!)
2. Replace any burned out bulbs. I know we’ve all been procrastinating this forever, but today is the day! Either have an auto mechanic do it, or head to an automotive store to buy your own bulbs. Regardless of how it gets done, it needs to. It is 100% necessary to have fully-functional headlights and blinkers. 3. Oil change, duh! I know a lot of you folks are avid do-it-yourself-ers, and this project won’t tear you away from your ways! It doesn’t take long, so spend some solid time in your garage and ready your oil so everything is in pristine condition! Those be but a few tips for car care, but they’re important! Make sure you cross these doings off your checklist earlier than later, so you don’t end up on the side of the road with a broken car and mashed potatoes getting cold in the back seat.
Money Matters, Under the Hood

Tires, tires and more tires …

September 17, 2010

Me and the Goodwrench guy!

Well, I definitely learned something new today. In regards to tires, there’s a lot to know about ’em. Different sizes, widths, height, all-terrain and off-road, all season vs. winter tires; just to name a few. Each tire manufacturer supplies a variance of tires for each car manufacturer (GM, Hyundai, Nissan). Each vehicle make and model therefore, offers an array of tires. Depending on trim level (base model to luxury package), it will reflect the type of tire on that car. So, what type of tire do you need? I asked my Service Manager what all the hoopla was about tires! Here’s a list of things to think about:
  1. What size do you need? Here’s a tip: It’s stated inside the drivers side door 🙂
  2. What kind of driving you do – winter, off-roading, highway
  3. Most of the time “all season” tires are recommended!
  4. Tire lifetime (how long they last) – 30,000 miles up to 80,000 miles
  5. Price
Here’s a list of some of the tire manufacturers we house in store:
  • Goodyear
  • Firestone
  • Bridgestone
  • Handkook
  • Michelin
So, there’s more to tires than being black and rolling! If there’s anything here you want to know more about, shoot me a note and I’ll find out for you!

Helping my close friend, Emily pick out some tires!

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