Queens Tire Dealer

At 106 St. Tire & Wheel, we get a lot of questions about wheel alignments...so we thought it would be a good idea to set the record straight and clear up any misconceptions. Your car leaves the factory with the wheels set at specific angles for proper drivability, stability, and handling. The crucial alignment angles for the front wheels are toe-in/toe-out, referring 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. There are only two major signs that can indicate improper wheel alignment. One is a persistent pull to the right or ... read more

The ABCs of TPMS:FAQ about TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) from the experts at Queens 106 St Tire & WheelI'm hearing a lot about tire pressure monitoring systems; what exactly is TPMS?TPMS is a fairly new automotive warning system feature displaying tire pressure in new vehicles equipped with them. The law requiring TPMS was mandated by the federal government in 2007. And right from the start everyone at Queens 106 St Tire & Wheel shop locations ... its techs, managers and staff were trained to answer questions about TPMS, maintain, replace and service tire presure monitoring systems. TPMS systems have warning lights on the dashboard (see image above) informing the driver whether anyone of the 4 tires is compromised in safety because of improper tire pressure. (Please note: the batteries powering the display on the dashboard wear out like any other batte ... read more

If you've driven around in Queens, NY very much, it's no secret to you that we've got more than our share of potholes. You can try to keep a sharp eye out for them and dodge them or swerve around them as much as possible, but eventually you're going to drop a wheel into a moon-crater-size pothole that rattles your teeth. Here are some ideas on how to minimize the damage (and auto repair bills) that come from encounters with potholes. Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Underinflated or overinflated tires are going to be much more prone to damage or blowouts from hitting a pothole. Properly inflated tires will also absorb more of the jolt, lessening the chance of damage to the rim or suspension parts. Slow down if you see one coming up and you can't avoid it. Easing your way through a pothole drastically reduces the risk of damage to a tire or rim. Watch cars in front of you. If you see other drivers swerve, there's a good chance they're trying to miss a pothole, and you shou ... read more

1) Where do used tires come from? Take a look around after the carnage of natural diasters like Hurricane Sandy and remember the millions of dollars in ruined vehicles? Cars, trucks, vans, more all ruined because of damage from fallen trees and flooding. When flood water gets inside your car, the inside is ruined. Flood water carries with it not only waste water but also street water containing spillage from leaking transmissions, oil leaks, antifreeze, etc. Interiors are ruined and drying them does not solve the situation as they are stained with waste materials like oil, grease, etc and maybe worse. Most times, a vehicle recovered from a flood will have the engine ruined by dirt, sand, debris getting into the engine and exhaust. Between body and fender damage, interior damage and engine damage, most cars will be totaled and ready for a junk yard. Also, cars in serious accidents that are "totaled" by insurance companies may be a pile of crushed metal but....the tires ... read more

At 106 St. Tire & Wheel, we know that driving around the streets of Queens, NY can be pretty tough on tires and wheels. We also know that many drivers want to dress up their rides a little and personalize them with custom tires and wheels, so here are a few tips for buying tires and wheels in Queens, NY: When shopping for wheels (<=see some of famous make wheels), make sure that your new wheels will be load-rated to your vehicle. Find the information placard on your vehicle (usually located on the door frame of the driver's door, or inside the glove box) and find the Gross Axle Weight Rating of the heaviest axle on the vehicle. Your wheel load rating is based on 50 percent of the heaviest GAWR of the vehicle. If you're planning on oversize wheels and tires, be mindful of outside fender clearance, inside fender well clearance and suspension and steering specs, including the number of turns ... read more