Posted on 12/22/2015
Safety Tips You Don't Know 1) Men's Health states that ramp metering...you know...those annoying red lights that stop you from entering a highway...will save you time. The use of traffic signals at highway on-ramps regulates traffic flow forcing a small time penalty on drivers at the beginning of their commutes. However, it pays off states the magazine. They quote David Schrank, Ph.D., of the Texas Transportation Institute: "Requiring vehicles to wait 20 or 30 seconds can save drivers 5 to 10 minutes on their trip." 2) Always be prepared for a water landing; most cars have electronic windows. Water and electricity don't mix well and your windows will short out when they come in contact with water. Result? You're trapped. Men's Health says, "Spend a few bucks on a center punch, a device shaped like a screwdriver but with a sharp center point. It makes breaking a window a cinch. Store it in your center console or glove box—not your trunk." 3) Just like airplanes seats, roads have ... read more
Posted on 12/18/2015
Detailing Your Car Like a Pro - part 2 Okay, so you know this is not just about cleaning the outside with a bucket a hose, right? We did say like a pro...so here you go with deep cleaning areas you probably never thought of! Got a small air compressor? It's THE WAY to successfully blow dust and dirt out of the vents from your heater and air-conditioning system. Aim the high-pressure air at the walls of the ducts behind grills, vents, etc. Dirt and grime stick to the walls of the vet system and can leave you car smelling musty. Change your cabin air filter if you have one....at the least blow the dirt and dust out of it. We hope that a clean smelling car is not one of those Christmas tree looking air fresheners that hang from your rear view mirror. Continue to use the compressor to blow leaves, wrappers, whatever from the nooks and crannies of your vehicle's floor onto the middle of the carpet. That's where it will be easier to vacuum it up. Stiff brushes also loosen dirt from the carp ... read more
Posted on 12/14/2015
Renting a car for holiday travel? It's advisable to spend about 15 minutes plus acquainting ourselves with the features in the new car we just stepped into. But, that's easier said than done when you have the pressure of stepping behind the wheel of a brand new car, have to quickly acclimate yourself, start it and keep the line of existing drivers and cars moving out of the rental car's garage or parking lot. You may feel pressured because of the line behind you. After exiting, just pull over and do a quick study until you feel comfortable. Here's a hint about gassing up which you will need to do sooner rather than later if you don't want to pay the rental company's gas price: Your rented vehicle's fuel gauge tells you which side your gas tank is on in the new cars.Vehicle manufacturers use what has been called a "secret triangle" to show you where your tank is....see below. Next time you hop in a rented car, look on your car's fuel indicator for this small arrow beside the gas pump i ... read more
Posted on 12/14/2015
Got No Wiper Fluid? Here's a quick "recipe:" 1 and 1/2 cups rubbing isopropyl alcohol 5 cups water 1/2 Tablespoon of liquid detergent (best kind? the ones that degrease dishes and pots) you can double the above and get one gallon, however, don't over use the alcohol which may damage your wiper blades so take that under advisement. This is a quick fix in a pinch. CAUTION: label and store properly; isopropyl alcohol is poisonous but is needed in this recipe as an anti-freeze agent. USE ONLY AS AN EMERGENCY for auto safety only. Keep kids and pets away from this, please
Posted on 12/13/2015
So...where's the snow? No snow SO FAR is no guarantee we won't have the usual January and February weather challenges. And 106 St Tire & Wheels is certainly not advocating you buy snow tires just in case. All weather tires can work fine. But, here's the deal...tire tread must be at a safe depth and our 106 St Tire & Wheel locations will check your tire tread for free! Drivers need to be really careful about tire tread getting too low because it's dangerous and the danger increases when the weather gets ugly. Once you can touch the wear bar on your tire at any point on that tire then the tread is too low and it becomes dangerous. If the edges of your tires are worn down that means your alignment is probably off and you should seriously consider new tires and 106 St Tire locations have used tires that will do fine and are very affordable. You can test your own tires but why bother when this is a free no obligation service at all of our locations. But, if you want to give it a tr ... read more