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Tag: tire maintenance

Things to Consider When Buying Winter Tires

December 16, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Winter is officially here, which means it’s time for winter tires. Have you been overloaded with winter tire ads or related recommendations from your regular service provider? If yes, there’s no need to stress. Here are some of the best tips to consider that will make your decision-making, research, and buying process easier.

First things first: Do you need to purchase winter tires?

If you’re a person living in an area where temperatures regularly dip below 45°F in the winter, then you probably should consider buying winter tires.

Related: “Preparing Your Car for the Winter Weather”

What if you live in an area that doesn’t get much snow?

No matter where you live in the winter, you need to get winter tires for your vehicle.Many people believe that winter tires are only needed when the roads are covered in snow or ice. However, that’s not the case. Installing the best winter tires in your vehicles will provide better grip in cold weather conditions, whether the road is wet or dry.

Things to Consider When Buying Winter Tires

Here are some of the best tips that will help you make the right choice when it comes to purchasing winter tires.

1. Specifications

More importantly, you need to determine what size tires to buy for your vehicle, as purchasing the wrong size tire will make it difficult to drive through snow. Instead, consider getting narrower tires, as they can help prevent you from getting stuck on the road. Here are a few things that you need to consider:

  • Tire Section Width
  • Tire and Wheel Diameter
  • Internal Construction
  • Speed Rating
  • Rubber Quality

Related: “Should I Plug or Patch My Tire?”

2. Reliable Tire Shop

There are numerous tire shops on the market that claim to be the best. But you need to search for a shop that not only provides you with the highest-quality tires, but also a warranty and exceptional services. Purchasing an entire set of tires is an investment, so you don’t want to regret it later.

Our Final Verdict

If it’s getting difficult for you to decide what type of wheel to buy, it’s best to seek advice from a tire expert. We assure you that we will assist you in making the right decision. For professional advice and services, head to Mike’s Brake & Alignment Shop – the best mechanical specialist in Fort Worth, TX. Visit our auto shop or check out our website for more information about our auto services.

How to Know if You Need Your Wheels Aligned or Balanced

March 25, 2022 / / 0 Comments

The world of car maintenance is teeming with technical jargon, and nothing is more confusing for all vehicle owners than trying to find the difference between a wheel alignment and wheel balancing. Both of these affect your driving experience and are important factors for a smooth and safe ride. If you’re not sure if you need a wheel alignment or balancing service, continue reading to differentiate between these two processes with our guide below.

What Is Wheel Balancing?

If you’re normally driving between 40 mph and 50 mph and you feel the steering column vibrate, this means you need a wheel balancing and your wheels need to be checked. Also known as tire balancing, wheel balancing is the process of distributing the weight of a wheel evenly around its axis of rotation. This process ensures that the entire surface of the tire is perfectly in contact with the road surface while driving.

What Is a Wheel Alignment?

When your car appears to be swerving left or right, even though it feels like you’re driving in a straight line, it is a strong indicator that your car needs a realignment as soon as possible. Also known as a tire alignment, a wheel alignment ensures that the four wheels of your vehicle are parallel to each other. This process aligns them at the correct angle according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Why Do I Need an Alignment or Balancing?

The bottom line is that maintaining proper wheel alignment and balancing is essential to your vehicle’s performance and will avoid unnecessary wear on your tires, steering, suspension, and brakes. These two services will ensure a safe and efficient operation while allowing you to maintain control on difficult roads and during harsh weather. It also ensures a smooth ride and a longer lifespan for your tires.

Conclusion

Every vehicle’s wheels at a certain point will lose its balance, whether it be due to imperfections, blemishes in its rubber, and other causes. If you notice any symptoms of unbalanced wheels or alignment issues in your vehicle, head to Mike’s Brake & Alignment Shop – the best mechanical specialist in Fort Worth, TX. Visit our auto shop or check out our website for more information about our auto services.

Identifying Tire Damage

May 25, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Maintaining your tires is crucial for your vehicle and safety. Sometimes they can be damaged for a variety of reasons and many drivers don’t notice it until they start feeling the symptoms of a deflating or unaligned tire. It’s important to regularly inspect your tires so that you can catch any potential problems early on, especially before and after a long trip or after driving on a rough road. In this month’s blog, we will discuss how to identify tire damage and what they mean.

Punctures and Cuts

Punctures and cuts are most commonly caused by running over nails or glass on the road. This pierces the tire and if the puncture is deep enough, your tire may begin to lose tire pressure and slowly deflate. Cuts can also come from driving on a bad or rough road conditions. They can be hard to notice until you start feeling the consequences of your deflating tire while driving. If this happens to you, the puncture or cut must be patched immediately.

Cracking and Bulging

Cracks and bulges are usually caused by hitting curbs or running over potholes and debris. Cracks are most noticeable along your tire’s sidewall and can also be caused by underinflating your tires. If you notice numerous smaller cracks, this is usually due to old age and wear and tear from the elements. Bulges, or impact breaks, are caused by running over curbs at excessive speed levels. This impact causes internal damage and sometimes the bulge does not begin to appear until weeks later. Bulges should not be ignored and you should get your tire replaced as soon as possible. If left alone, it can lead to tire failure and safety issues.

Cupping

Cupping, also known as scalloping, looks like a waving pattern of lumps or hills. If you notice this on your tires, the culprit may be due to damaged suspension components. This causes the tires to bounce while you’re driving and come down harder on some spots than others. Having bad shock absorbers may also be the issue.

Flat Spots

A flat spot is a single spot on your tire that is very noticeably more worn down than other areas. Often vehicles that have been parked in one spot for a very long time will experience flat spots at the bottom of their tires. Another cause would be skidding on the road after slamming your brakes.

Worn Down Sides

  • Center Wear: When your tire is only worn straight down the middle. This is due to your tire being overinflated and only allowing the center to come into contact with the road.
  • Outer-Edge Wear: When only the outside edges of your tire are worn down and not the middle. This is the inverse of center wear and is due to the tire being underinflated. This means there is too little pressure and the tire is forced to flex.
  • One-sided Wear: When only one side of your tire is worn down. This is most likely due to it being unaligned and making your vehicle lean too much on one side. 

Conclusion

If you notice any wear and tear on your tires, especially anything major, it’s best to let a professional handle it. For all of your tire patching and replacement needs, come to Mike’s Brake & Alignment Shop. We specialize in servicing tires, brakes, steering and suspension, and more! Our technicians are ASE certified with many years of experience. To learn more about our services, please visit our website or call us at (817) 834-2725.

Is Your Car Staying in Shape During Quarantine?

June 1, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Fellow Americans, as a nation we have recently experienced a great crisis in our lives. With the COVID-19 outbreak, many of us were asked to help by staying home and locking down our nation to help flatten the curve. Those whom began to work from home and began practicing social distance parked their vehicles, whom like us remained locked down. A car is much like a human, having it parked without any exercise can lead to a few mechanical issues. Read along as we discuss common situations and how to prevent them!  

Are You and Your Vehicle Experiencing Similar Side Effects of Lock Down?

Being quarantined for a long period, without participating on regular activities, can make one feel slower or sluggish. A car, just like you, can experience the same symptoms when being locked down without travel. Oil condenses when cooled, after being parked for a couple months your car will need a good warm up before hitting top speeds on the road. Don’t remember the last time you changed your oil or just want to be cautious? Take it to your trusted mechanic for a checkup!  

Is There More Flab to Your Tires?

The “quarantine 15” is no joke. Many have experienced some weight gain because of the lock down. Cars may not experience a quarantine 15 per say, but they do experience flabby tires from a decrease in tire pressure. If your car is feeling slow and you’re not getting the same mpg form your vehicle it may be a result of bad tire pressure. While many new vehicles have sensors to indicate a need in tire maintenance, most older vehicles don’t. Have your tires inspected, vehicle aligned, and your brakes maintained to assure a save stop.

Conclusion

While these are just a couple of quick tips for you and your car to safely, get back on the road,

we would like to remind you of the importance of checking your vehicle before taking off the hand brake. Hitting the trails and traveling more after lock down?  We are here for you! Bring your vehicle travel concerns to us. Our highly experienced team is here to assist you with everything from break systems to alignments and tires to ensure that you have a safe trip! To learn more about our services and us please visit our website.  

Basic Tire Maintenance Every Driver Should Know

August 31, 2019 / / 0 Comments

As the only thing between your car and the road, the tires carry quite a bit of pressure. With the amount of rotations they go through to the amount of air normally lost due to how often you drive, a lot can happen to cause excessive wear and tear on your tires. Keep reading to learn more about three of the basic tire maintenance steps every driver should know.

Checking the tire pressure.
Checking the tire pressure.

Check Tire Pressure

To ensure your gas mileage stays in a healthy range and you remain safe on the road, always check and fill your tire pressure. A car’s tires naturally lose about 1-2 psi every month which means continued neglect will result in a dangerous blow-out. Don’t risk your safety and the safety of others while on the road and check your tire pressure periodically.

Rotate Your Tires

Most mechanics recommend rotating your tires every 5-7,000 miles. This is due to the amount of wear most front wheel drive cars experience on their tires. By rotating your front tires to the rear and vice versa you will ensure an even better tread wear on your vehicle. Periodically rotating your tires will also allow you to maintain a good gas mileage. Not taking proper care of your vehicle’s tires will drastically reduce the gas mileage and performance of your car.

Mechanic rotating a car's tires.
Mechanic rotating a car’s tires.

Perform a Visual Inspection

Visual inspections of your tires are a handy way to ensure the tread is still within safety limits. While it is never a good sign that you can tell your tires are going flat, simply taking the time to inspect them will allow you to address any issues. Performing a visual inspection of your tires is an excellent way to spot any cuts or bulges on them.

Thoughts

From simply checking the tire pressure to using proper tire rotation schedules and even visual inspections, you will be able to keep a proper eye on your tire’s wear and tear. Be sure to call on the team at Mike’s Brake & Alignment Shop for all of your vehicle needs. Call us today to schedule an exceptional tire service!

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