Queens Tire Dealer

You may not think about your brakes often however there's a stiff penalty for that: BRAKE FAILURE!...and NYers, you more than any other city, need to remember you have special conditions that wear out brakesmush sooner than any city in Idaho, Nebraska, Albany, Tuscany...think "severe driving conditions." While other systems in your vehicle can be forgiving in that they will continue to work and it won't keep your car from starting, the really scary thing to keep in mind is once your brakes go, you may not be able to stop which will certainly hurt someone, something or perhaps kill pedestrians, kids, yourself or your own family, etc. There's no point in saying "brakes last 1-2 years" or the wear out in 10,000 miles. That's not the way it is, at least, not here in the Big Apple, NY, USA. Here are some factors that make that kind of advice dumb and dangerous for we NYers: 1) do you ride your brakes rather than adjust your speed for road and traffic conditions? 2) you live in NYC and, as ... read more

Okay, so it's the day after Easter and you had a great dinner of roast leg of lamb, maybe, or perhaps, a slow roasted baked ham....great sides, desserts and, of course, those wonderful colored Easter eggs. So, on with life as the Monday after Easter takes us all back to work. All of a sudden, you smell rotten eggs. Quick, check your pockets and see if you grabbed a few before you left your hosts house. If you don't have the eggs but you got the smell, you got a catalytic converter issue. Bad news, too, because this replacement is expensive...your car will not pass inspections because of emissions so you will have no choice. This is not a regular maintenance issue although your check engine light should go on. The biggest concern is emissions and you may have a car that can't get out of its own way because of a very sluggish engine and that could pose a threat in traffic. Here's what catalytic converters do: they change harmful emissions into harmless gas. And if they go bad, they need ... read more

Have you been hitting potholes this winter? If so, read on about wheel alignments: Every new vehicle's wheels are set at very specific angles for proper drivability, stability, and handling before it leaves the factory. The critical alignment angles for the front wheels are toe-in and toe-out. This refers to the direction in which a wheel points (relative to a dead-ahead straight line); caster, which refers to the position of the top of the wheel, and camber, which is the offset of the suspension relative to an imaginary vertical straight line behind the wheel. Many newer vehicles also are designed with adjustable rear suspensions, and a four-wheel alignment ensures that the rear wheels' “thrust angle” is at a proper relationship with the front wheels. Frankly, there are only two major signs that can indicate improper wheel alignment. One is a persistent pull to the right or left, as an improperly-aligned wheel constantly tries to steer the car in a different direction. T ... read more

A good auto service technician could adjust things like idle speed, fuel/air mixture, fuel metering and timing on older vehicles so you could get more pick up from your ride. Today, that's all handled by the engine control computer. Still, there are a few ways to coax your engine into better performance. Air Filter: An engine relies on air, fuel and spark to run. The “air” part of that equation is pretty easy to enhance. A dirty air filter will, of course, restrict the flow of critical fresh air into the fuel system. This compromises fuel economy and power. The filter should be changed at regular intervals; for those who are looking to enhance performance. Aftermarket air filters are available for even freer breathing ability. Engines also perform better when they can take in colder, denser air, and cold-air induction systems can offer a slight boost in power and fuel economy. It's an easy auto repair item that can offer a noticeable, immediate improvemen ... read more

Simple maintenance check list: FAQ about maintenance made Real Simple: No maintenance=expensive problems1. Check your tire pressure...simpler, have 106 St Tire do it FREE. More than 90 percent of cars on the road are driven every day with improperly inflated tires with most being under-inflated. Results? can compromise cornering can compromise braking can compromise stability and safety more likely to have a tire-related accident because of the above like tire failure (thousands happen every year and cause deaths which are avoidable!) MPG? HA! Shot to hell Tire life? Lower your expectations away from what manufacture says under-inflated tires overheat & could lead to catastrophic failure 2. Check the oil -a no-brainer; check it every time you fill up! Simpler, 106 St Tire will do it FREE! Where has all your oil gone? burning oil leaking oil. Frequently repla ... read more