Maintaining Your Vehicles Tires

We take our tires for granted until they fail us. Most of us forget that the most important part of any vehicle is its tires. Unless you are a professional driver, it is most likely that the tires on your vehicle have been neglected. So what can you do to maintain the tires on your vehicle? Here are some suggestions.

1. Tire Pressure - The single most important aspect of tire maintenance is tire pressure. Always keep in mind that tires naturally lose air over time. If you hit a pothole, or strike a curb while parking, this can also result in tire pressure loss. Maintaining the correct pressure not only increases gasoline mileage, but helps the car handle and ride better. Correct tire pressure also increases the life of the tire. All tires have the correct tire pressure imprinted on the tire. Although car manufacturers advocate for a lower setting to improve the ride of the vehicle, it may not always be the best thing for your own personal driving style. The information on tire pressure and load limits is almost always posted on a placard on the vehicle door edge, door post, glove-box door, or inside of the trunk lid. You can also find the recommended tire pressure and load limit for your vehicle in the vehicle owner's manual.

It is a wise idea to buy a good tire pressure gauge, and check the pressure at the minimum of once a month - more often if you drive high mileage. You may also wish to consider a portable air compressor that runs off your cars electrical system as well. A small air compressor in the home garage will also suffice, and are not expensive if bought with maintaining air pressure in mind.

Always check tire pressure when the vehicle has not been driven for at least three hours. This is called recommended cold inflation pressure. A tire that is hot will show a much different reading than a tire that is cold, because driving causes a tire to heat up, increasing the tire pressure and giving you an incorrect reading.

2. Check For Nicks, Cuts or Uneven Wear - Examine your tires on a regular basis for damage. Inspect the rim to see if it has been damaged as well. If you are constantly driving on poor roads with lots of potholes it is essential that you make tire inspection a part of your regular routine. A visual inspection can help you determine whether or not the tire is under or over inflated. Uneven wear on the outer edges of the tire is a very good indication that the tires are not carrying the proper tire pressure. If wear is evident in the center of the tire, then it has been continually over inflated. Be aware that these visual checks do not apply to radial tires, which have a different ground profile than regular tires.

3. Rotate Your Tires - Experts report that the front tires of a vehicle wear the quickest, especially in front wheel drive cars. Each time the steering wheel is turned, the tire receives extra wear. Turning the wheel causes resistance, and the end product is heat, which is a real contributing factor to tire wear. As each individual vehicle is different, refer to your owner's manual for instructions on tire rotation. Be sure to have your tires rotated on schedule as this is critical for maintaining your car’s balance.

Front-end alignment is also highly recommended to reduce tire wear and handling. Your tires should be parallel to one another as well as perpendicular to the ground. Sophisticated equipment is used to determine the correct alignment for each vehicle so this will require you also taking your vehicle in on schedule for review.

As far as visually checking your cars for wear, all tires have wear indicators built into them. Inspecting these small bumps or nubs can help you determine when the tire needs to be replaced. These numbs are located throughout the tread pattern, and especially on the ridge where tire tread meets the sidewall. If you spot this wear indicator, compare it to the height of the tread surrounding it. If the tread is of equal height as the wear indicator, it is time to purchase new tires. Proper tread depth is essential for proper tire performance. If you notice a loss or change in wet traction, you may not have enough tread left on your tires. Once the tread depth reaches 1/16th of an inch it must be replaced.

Following a few simple guidelines will pay for itself in both cost of tire replacement and your own personal safety. Keep tire pressure correct, rotate tires on a regular basis, keep the front end aligned properly, and do a visual check of your vehicle's tires. Doing so can save you a lot of grief down the road.

Greg Chapman of Greg Chapman Motors is a knowledgeable and leading provider of used cars, trucks, and SUV’s. Since 1959, Chapman motors has supplied reliable used cars in Austin and the surrounding area and is known as one of the bad credit car dealers in Austin. For more information please visit http://www.gregchapmanmotors.com.

Get The Most Out Of Your Vehicle

Our vehicles represent large investments in our life. For this reason, we want to maintain them as well as possible and get the most out of them. So what can you do to get the most out of your car?

1. How is the Oil? - The lifeblood of an engine is its oil. Oil lubricates vital engine parts. Even the most mechanically challenged drivers know to change a car’s oil and oil filter on a regular basis — even if they don’t always do it. Oil changes every 3,000-7,500 miles or every 3-4 months is essential for keeping your engine in good shape. Over time, oil loses its viscosity and also it's lubricating additives, which help keep your engine from excessive wear. Oil is not free of contaminants over time, your car's engine builds up carbon deposits, dirt, and even water can build up in your engine over time.
2. Keep Your Engine Cool - A cars engine generates enough heat to destroy itself. The cooling system protects against damage keeping the engine operating within the correct temperature range. Maintaining your car’s cooling system and the proper coolant level is as important as making sure the engine is well lubed and can potentially save you thousands of dollars in repairs.
3. Transmission Fluid and Filters - This is one of the most neglected fluids in our cars. Transmission fluid protects the 2nd most expensive mechanical feature in our car, protect it like your engine. Automatic transmission fluid should be changed around every 30,000-40,000 miles. If you live in a hilly area or where you are constantly driving in heavy traffic, you might even change it more often. Just like motor oil, you should check your Automatic/manual transmission lubricants often. Low or even too much transmission fluid can cause transmission failure, premature wear, and rough shifting.
4. Protect Your Car’s Body – Car’s rust and wear out of not protected. Store your car in a garage or under a carport or cover. Keep your car out of the sun if possible or cover it to keep off bird droppings and tree sap. During the winter months, salt, sand and road grime can severely damage the finish of a vehicle. Another concern is more than one-third of car owners use non-automotive products when washing their cars, which can cause considerable damage and lead to costly repairs. Washing and polishing a car with quality cleaners and waxes goes a long way toward protecting the vehicle’s exterior. Keeping your car’s body maintained will not only make it last longer but also will make it much more pleasant to drive.
5. Watch Your Tire’s Pressure - A very important, and often neglected, maintenance area on your vehicle is your tires. Proper tire inflation is a key ingredient in driving safety and long tire life. It is wise to check your tire's inflation at least once a month with an accurate tire pressure gauge. Continuous loss of inflation pressure is an indication of a possible tire/wheel assembly problem; consult your tire professional immediately if you encounter this situation. Be sure to check the pressure while the tires are cold, and have not been used recently. When temperatures rise, the air inside the tire expands. This can mean you are driving on over inflated tires -- ultimately resulting in premature tread wear. Tire tread is crucial during emergency situations; a quarter inch of tread depth could affect your stopping distance by 180 feet. Improper or neglected maintenance of tires and wheels can cause extensive damage and lead to pricey repairs.


Greg Chapman of Greg Chapman Motors is a knowledgeable and leading provider of used cars, trucks, and SUV’s. Since 1959, Chapman motors has supplied reliable used cars in Austin and the surrounding area and is known as one of the bad credit car dealers in Austin. For more information please visit http://www.gregchapmanmotors.com.

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Greg Chapman of Greg Chapman Motors is a knowledgeable and leading provider of used cars, trucks, and SUV’s. Chapman motors has supplied reliable used cars in Austin and is known as one of the bad credit car dealers in Austin. For more information please visit gregchapmanmotors.com.

Finding The Right Mechanic

Our vehicles are important to us. Not only are they a big investment in our life but they are also greatly depended upon. This is why it is important to have the right mechanic in maintaining and repair our vehicles. But of course finding the right mechanic can be more of a challenge than finding the right doctor. This is why you need to be extra cautious about where you take your car for repairs as; unfortunately, all mechanics are not created equal.

So, here is a list of points to keep in mind when shopping for a mechanic.

• Ask around: a recommendation is always a good way to go. Ask friends, coworkers and family members for the names of mechanics that they use. Also be sure to find out about any bad experiences with certain mechanics. You may want to keep away from these service providers or at least approach them with caution.
• Check with your local consumer organization regarding the reputation of the shop in questions.
• Look for signs of professionalism in the customer service area: civic and community service awards, membership in the Better Business Bureau, AAA-Approved Auto Repair status, customer service awards.
• Start shopping for a repair facility before you need one; you can make better decisions when you are not rushed or in a panic.
• Neatness counts: obviously, a garage is going to have dirt, but a semblance of neatness and order will indicate that the establishment is competent and professional. Look for a neat, well-organized facility, with vehicles in the parking lot equal in value to your own and modern equipment in the service bays.
• Specialties: find out what cars they service, and if they service your make of car in particular. If you have invested in an expensive vehicle like a BMW or Saab, you will want to find a mechanic that specializes in similar or, better still, the same make.
• Ask questions: be aware that you are buying a service and have a right to ask questions. So ask away and insist having your questions answered in layman's terms. A mechanic who refuses to do so may want your business but definitely does not have your best interests at heart.
• Be prepared: If you have had indications that there is something wrong with your car, be prepared to express these symptoms and any concerns you might have to the mechanic in as much detail as possible. Making a list is always helpful!
• Be patient: You wouldn't want your doctor to diagnose your problem in two minutes, and you don't want your mechanic to do so, either. Take your time, and let the mechanic give your vehicle a thorough once-over.
• Know the shop's policies: Once you think you have found the right shop, by all means put your car in their hands. But don't do so without being aware of the shop's policies, including service/labor charges, rates for parts and guarantees on work.
• Start small: Bring your car in for something minor, like an oil change or tire rotation, before you commit to a complete overhaul. This will give you a much better feel for the quality of the shop's work and how they treat their customers.
• Last but not least - do your homework…before something goes wrong! Don't wait for your engine to fail completely before you find the right mechanic!

Take the time to take some of these steps into consideration and you may find your perfect mechanic that will last you for many years to come.

Greg Chapman of Greg Chapman Motors is a knowledgeable and leading provider of used cars, trucks, and SUV’s. Since 1959, Chapman motors has supplied reliable used cars in Austin and the surrounding area and is known as one of the bad credit car dealers in Austin. For more information please visit http://www.gregchapmanmotors.com.