Tires Archives - Page 3 of 3 - Oldsmar Automotive

What’s the Right Tire Pressure for My Car?

December 13, 2018 By Oldsmar Automotive Leave a Comment

It’s like Goldilocks and the beds, you don’t want your tires too soft or too hard, you want them just right. The right tire pressure keeps you safe and helps your tires last longer. But how do you know what the right pressure is for your tires? Unless you have a new car with dash warning lights that tell you when your tires are underinflated, you should check yours regularly, especially with extreme temperature changes.

Newer cars have sensors that indicate if a tire has low pressure. Some cars tell you which tire, while others only tell you that your pressure is low. You want to make sure to attend to the issue as soon as the alert goes off to keep your tires in the best possible condition.

Maximum VS. Recommended

Far too many novice car owners look at the side of their tire and see a maximum PSI and assume that their tires are safe up to that number. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Inside your door jam is a number that gives your car’s recommended PSI. You should always go by the car’s recommended PSI when you have the correct size tires on the vehicle.

How Often and When Should I Check the Pressure?

Your tires can lose 1-2 pounds of air every month so you should check them that often. However, don’t make the mistake of checking them after you’ve been driving. For the most accurate reading, you should check your tires while they are cool. You can find a good tire pressure gauge for less than ten dollars at your local auto store or even on Amazon. Although it’s not hard to check the pressure, you may want to do each tire a few times as it’s not always a perfect science getting the gauge onto the valve stem. Also, you can’t check just one tire, always check all of them.

If you’ve purchased your tires from Oldsmar Automotive, we’ll be happy to check the tire pressure anytime. Of course, if we do a tire rotation, we will check them during the rotation process. If you find that you have a tire that constantly needs more air, you likely need a flat tire repair service. Oldsmar Automotive can help with all your tire maintenance needs. Call us today at 727-784-3501 to schedule an appointment or stop by 3166 Tampa Road.

Maintenance Tips for an Uneventful Road Trip

September 27, 2018 By Oldsmar Automotive Leave a Comment

If you’re planning a trip to grandma’s house in the upcoming holidays, you should make sure your car is well maintained before you go. Taking the time before you leave to make sure your car is in good working order will save you time and frustration while on the road. Here are four things you should check before you head out on a road trip in the upcoming holiday season.

1. Your Tires

Make sure your tires have adequate wear left, have been rotated at the appropriate intervals, and are properly inflated. You can check the tread depth with a penny. Put it in between the treads with Lincoln’s head facing you and upside down. If the tread doesn’t at least touch the top of his head, you need new tires. As for the air pressure, your car’s manual should guide you to the right number.

2. How’s Your Battery?

When was the last time you got a new battery? Have you ever had the battery life checked? Your automotive repair center will check your battery for free. They can tell you its expected remaining life or recommend replacement. You don’t want to be stuck in a parking lot unable to start your car on a holiday.

3. Brake Check

Sometimes holiday travel means sitting in stop and go traffic. That puts a lot of wear on your brakes. If yours are squeaking or it’s taking you longer than it did to come to a complete stop, you probably have an issue with your brakes. Let your automotive repair center check your brakes and recommend the right repair.

4. Fluids

Some fluids are essential to keeping your engine running and others are nice to have. If you haven’t checked your fluid levels and had them topped off or even different parts of your engine flushed, it might be time to do so. If one of the critical fluids are too low, your engine can seize up. Let your automotive repair center check and refill yours before you go.

If you don’t have an automotive repair center you trust to provide auto repair and proactive maintenance, call Oldsmar Automotive. We’re local and trusted as members of AAA and we employ ASE® Certified Master Technicians. We’re located at 3166 Tampa Road or you can schedule an appointment online or by calling 727-784-3501.

Why You Should Get Your Tires Rotated Regularly

June 11, 2018 By Oldsmar Automotive Leave a Comment

Some people don’t understand why they need to regularly rotate their tires. We recommend having it done every 6,000 – 8,000 miles. which on newer model cars means in conjunction with your oil change. You will benefit in three ways when you rotate your tires regularly.

Wear

The main reason you should get your tires rotated regularly is because tires wear at a different rate depending where they are on the car and if your car is front, rear, or four-wheel drive. If you never rotate your tires, you’ll notice that the outside of the front wheels lose their tread faster than the rest of the tire. This is because the tire leans slightly when you turn a corner.

Traction

With the often wet roads, having good traction will help you avoid an accident. When tires aren’t rotated and wear unevenly, you may lose traction on wet roads. You want the entire tire to have contact with the surface and proper tire pressure and rotation helps ensure this.

Warranty

If you make a claim on one or more of your tires, the manufacturer may ask for the rotation records. They warranty their tires based on proper rotation and balance. When your tire fails and you haven’t followed their recommendations, they may not honor your warranty claim.

What About Balance and Alignment?

Many times, a tire rotation service company will ask you if you want a rotate and balance service. You should also get them balanced at every rotation service in order to have the smoothest ride. The balance is done while the tire is off the car. The more a tire’s tread wears, the more important the balance becomes. As for alignment, you shouldn’t need to do this as often. Most manufacturers recommend an alignment every 10,000 miles, so approximately every other time you have a tire rotation and balance. If you notice your car is pulling to one side, you may need an alignment sooner.

Oldsmar Automotive will always follow the manufacturer’s recommendation on all services. If you’re unsure if you need a rotation, balance, and alignment, stop in and talk to our service technicians. They’ll help get you set on a regular maintenance schedule which will help your tires, and car, last for years. Stop by our shop at 3166 Tampa Road in Oldsmar or schedule an appointment on line or by calling (727) 784-3501.