Friday, June 30, 2017

10 Things You May Not Know About Tires| Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

1.) You may not have a spare tire.
 Some late model vehicles are only supplied with some variation of a pump and a repair kit in the form of an aerosol can filled with a chemical stop leak.

2.) Your right tires are probably lower in inflation than the tires mounted on the driver's side.
From experience (50 Years Actually) we have consistently noted that when vehicles come in for oil changes the passenger side tires are lower in pressure. We have attributed this to hitting curbs while parallel parking.

3.) The week and year your tire was manufactured is on the side of the tire.
Look for a box with a four digit number inside, [2414] would mean that your tire was made during the 24th week of 2014. By the way, 6 years is said to be retirement age in the life of a tire.

4.) Most tire punctures occur after rain storms.
We repair more tires after rain events because the storm water carries all types of foreign objects and debris into the roadway. Hail storms can also be good for business because the roofers doing repairs or replacements are notoriously careless about leaving nails in their wake.

5.) Spare tires lose air pressure while stored in your trunk.
Temperature variances, moisture and humidity take their toll on the inflation of your spare. Taking a trip and don't remember the last time you looked at the spare? Check before leaving home!

6.) Tires have makes and models just like automobiles.
This becomes important if you have to replace a single tire. In this case, the tire must match the tire on the other side of the vehicle - exactly. So if you are replacing a tire on the left front of your vehicle it must be the same as the one on the right. For example, if the tire is a Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max you can not replace it with a Goodyear Assurance Triple Tread, even if the size and speed rating match.

7.) The correct tire pressure for your vehicle is not found on the tire.
The tire pressure mentioned on the tire is the maximum pressure. The right pressure for your tires is found on a decal located on the driver's door pillar. This pressure must be maintained to keep your low tire out. The only exception is space saver spare tires, which say in large letters INFLATE TO 60 PSI (in most cases).

8.)  Remaining tread is not the only consideration when deciding to replace tires.
As previously mentioned, age can be a factor. Also cracking,dry rotting and damage can also be determining conditions that may exist.

9.) Always insist on an inside patch when repairing a tire.
Inside patches require the tire to be removed from the rim, which gives the technician a chance to inspect the interior of the tire for additional damage. For example, a nail entering a tire near the outside edge may be long enough to be tearing up the sidewall from the inside. This very dangerous scenario would never be uncovered if the tire is repair with a plug applied from the outside.

10.) It takes very little driving on a completely flat tire to destroy it. 
If you don't want to replace a flat tire, immediately safely pull to the side of the roadway and call for assistance. The inside of a tire can be ruined by the tire rim- if you drive a matter of feet.    

Tire Sidewall Damage by Puncture at the Edge


Friday, January 20, 2017

With Winter Comes Rust & Corrosion | Joe & Tony's Service Inc.

The ill effects of highway treatments are very evident in the undercar area of your vehicle. Brine, road salt and calcium and magnesium chloride are all used to deice roads. What they all have in common is their harmful reaction to your vehicle's metal components. The most vulnerable part of your vehicle is the part that faces the roadway. It's here that the fuel and brake lines and various suspension parts (not to mention the frame itself) live.

So how can you combat nature's war on your vehicle's metal? According to Popular Mechanics the car makers try by treating their cars with different rust preventative chemicals but over time the protection gets blown away as your vehicle speeds down the highway. What they do think is effective is to rinse or wash your car often, including the undercarriage. Another suggestion is to identify the drain holes at the bottom of doors and the frame itself. These drains prevent water from laying in the cavity of the part and rusting it from the inside out.

So the idea is to keep the drains free of debris by using a pipe cleaner or similar object to open the holes.It is also recommended to dry out the cracks, crevices, and depressions of the steel parts of the vehicle. Sound impossible? It is, but don't feel bad because it's not unusual for the car manufacturers to resort to recalls to replace poorly designed components that retain water and fail prematurely. So the takeaway is to keep your car clean as best you can including under the vehicle.

The attached photo shows the badly rusted brake lines from a Chevy Tahoe that graced our shop recently.
Badly Rusted Brake Lines