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How a cheap tire may affect the safety of your car

In Tires and Wheels by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

When purchasing new tires, many drivers choose to focus on the price.

You may be able to buy a cheap tire that’s technically the correct size for your car for $99. But just because a tire is round and the right size, doesn’t mean it’s the right one for your car.

There are several factors you should keep in mind when getting new tires. The speed rating is one of them.

Tire speed rating

Tire speed ratings refer to the maximum speed of tires. It can depend on the type of automobile, and what you’re using it for. For example, sports cars typically have a higher maximum speed, while off-road trucks have a lower one.

Improved grip and power when stopping can be found in tires with a higher speed rating. However, the treadlife is normally lower.

Traction control and the anti-lock brake system (ABS) are two other factors you should consider when buying new tires.

Traction control and ABS

Your car’s anti-lock brake system allows you to maintain steering control by preventing your brakes from locking up during an emergency. This is applied by traction control, which watches for any tires that are slipping.

Tires are manufactured with traction control and ABS specifications. 

The vehicle manufacturers choose a tire with certain design characteristics that work with Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) they have designed.

When the manufacturers build the vehicle, part of the plan is how fast the car stops. If you put on a cheap tire, the ADAS system may still work but it might not stop as quickly as it was originally designed.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located in Woodbridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.

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Coronavirus and car problems

In Battery, Cabin Air Filter, Tires and Wheels by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

We hope everybody is getting through this time of staying home. We know it’s been tough on a lot of people. 

As people are starting to go back to work over the next few weeks, it’s a good idea to go out and check your car. There are some car problems you can expect.

Car problems to be aware of

Dead car battery

Vehicles have a lot of electronics on them, including the radio, clocks, alarm systems, and computers. Over a two week period, that can drain the battery. These are other factors that can cause a car battery to fail.

Jump start your car using jumper cables or a jump box have it run for at least 30 to 40 minutes.

Low tire or TPMS light on

Having a low tire or flat tire, or the tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) light turning on are some other issues that could come up. 

While a vehicle is sitting, its tires can lose air over time, or there may be a small leak that wasn’t noticed before.

TIP: Be careful when using gas station air pumps. Most of the time, the gauges are wrong.

Brakes

Once you get on the road, you might notice a rotating grinding noise, especially when you step on the brake. Most likely, this is from rust building up on the rotors and drums. Most likely, it will go away between 12 and 15 minutes. If it doesn’t, you may want to have it looked at.

Check engine light

The check engine light could also turn on. We have been getting a code for the Evaporative Emission Control System (EVAP) and finding that the gas cap seals are the culprit. We recommend clearing the code, top off the car with some fresh gas, replacing the gas cap, and driving it to see if the light comes back on. If it does, we know that we need to do check engine light diagnostics.

Cabin air filter

We also suggest having your vehicle’s cabin air filter changed — not just because of the Coronavirus, but because of pollen season.

This is a perfect time to change the filter, which purifies the air that goes into the front of a car. 

Part of our replacement service includes using BG Frigi Fresh, a disinfectant that gets rid of viruses and bacteria.

If you have any problems, call Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire at (703) 670-8005.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located in Woodbridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.

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Kelly Edge A/S Tire: A high quality, budget-friendly tire

In Tires and Wheels by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

A lot of drivers take to the roads on a daily basis.

Those who are frequently traveling should have high quality tires that help them keep up with life’s demands.

The Kelly Edge A/S Tire can live up to the challenges of everyday use. In fact, it was made for daily driving.

It works hard and is available for many kinds of vehicles, including cars, minivans, coupes, sedans, smaller SUVs and crossovers.

We recommend this Kelly Tire for several reasons, which we talk about below.

Traction in dry, wet and snowy weather

No matter what’s in the forecast, the Kelly Edge A/S Tire gets drivers to their destination safely.

This all season tire is able to provide improved traction in wet and dry weather, because of its tread design. The great traction it provides in all conditions, including snow, can also be attributed to its biting edges.

Wider grooves that can be seen across the middle of the tire move water and slush away. Not only does this improve its grip, it also reduces the chance of a car hydroplaning.

Kelly Edge A/S Tire provides good handling

The ability to maneuver various conditions isn’t the only reason the Kelly Edge A/S Tire stands out. Many drivers also approve of the good handling, which is the result of its tread pattern.

Solid braking and confident grip on dry pavement are other benefits. It gives travelers a comfortable ride, as well.

In addition to being a high quality tire, it comes with a long lifespan.

Thanks to sturdy tread blocks, the Kelly Edge A/S tire has a stable footprint that extends its tread life. Offering a 55,000 mile tread life warranty, it can last the average driver up to about four and a half years. 

High quality tires that are affordable

The benefits that come with the Kelly Edge A/S Tire doesn’t have to cost you your wallet. Kelly Tires, which is owned by Goodyear Tire, designs reliable, budget-friendly tires. 

Different types of tires are produced for various makes and driving conditions. The Kelly Edge A/S Tire is one they produce for everyday driving. There are also options for off-roading, such as the Kelly Edge MT Tire, and wintertime, like the Kelly Winter Access Tire.

When choosing a tire for your vehicle, it’s important to research those you are considering. You don’t necessarily want to pick the cheapest option or the one that seems to be the most popular. Instead, you should select a dependable tire that matches your car’s needs and your budget.

Reach out to a nearby tire shop, and a staff member should be able to advise you on some good options.

How do you know if you need new tires? Taking a look at the tire tread depth is one method you can use. We cover how to check the tire tread in this article we published.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located in Woodbridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.

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Are my tires getting old?

In Alignment, Tires and Wheels by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

One of the tires on your vehicle is looking a little low, and you decide to have it checked out.

When you grab your phone — or computer — and Google “Tire shop near me,” many businesses will mostly likely appear. In addition to finding a shop that’s conveniently located near you, it’s a good idea to check out their reviews and services.

Tire repair is one of the services Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire provides.

How often tire replacement should be done

Over time, tires wear out and are in need of replacing.

The latest you should wait to replace your them is eight to 10 years. We recommend that you begin planning for new tires at six years, depending on the climate.

If you live in Northern Virginia, tires tend to last a long time. Those residing near the beach — where it’s saltier — may need to replace them every four to six years.

How to tell if your tires are getting old

You can tell the age of a tire by looking at its date code. A date code tells you the week and the year it was manufactured. This can help you determine if the tire is getting too old.

An example is if the last four digits of the DOT code are 0304. That would mean the tire was produced during the third week of the year 2004.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire, which is a Virginia Safety Inspection station, looks at tires during the annual Virginia Safety Inspection.

The minimum tread depth Virginia Safety Inspection specification is 2/32 of an inch, but the manufacturer may recommend that the tires need to be replaced by 3/32 of an inch to 5/32 of an inch, depending on the tire. 

The spare tire may be as old as your vehicle. When getting new tires, you should also consider replacing the spare, even if it hasn’t been used. Spare tires that are stored in a vehicle can deflate over time. Those located underneath vehicles, such as trucks, are out in the open, where they face weather conditions and debris.

Having a wheel alignment performed when you replace your tires and every 15,000 miles is also important.

If you don’t do a regular wheel alignment, your tires can experience premature wear. A tire with a 60,000 mile tread life can decrease to 30,000 miles.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located in Woodbridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.

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All season tires from Goodyear

In Tires and Wheels by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

Are you looking for all season tires?

Goodyear offers an assortment of tires that can be used in all types of weather.

All season tires available

Some of the all season tires Goodyear produces include the Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring Tire and the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady Tire.

The Goodyear Assurance MaxLife Tire is another reliable option. It provides traction in dry and wet conditions, including light snow.

Offering an 85,000 mile treadlife warranty, the Goodyear Assurance MaxLife Tire provides wide grooves and rubber that lasts longer.

This all season tire offers a better value for your money.

The Goodyear Assurance MaxLife Tire also features built-in wear gauges that make it easy to perform tread-depth readings.

Wear Gauges.

Wear Gauges

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located in Woodbridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.