Express Car Care of Denver

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Chilling In Denver With Winter Tires

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Chilling In Denver With Winter TiresThere is more to winter tires than Denver drivers may think.  Those days of clunky, tractor-like snow tires are long gone in Colorado.  They have been replaced by high-tech winter tires with special rubber compounds and advanced tread designs.

In Denver winter temperatures, the rubber in summer tires becomes hard and inflexible and they don’t grip the road as well.  In contrast, winter tires use special rubber compounds that are more pliable when the thermometer drops below 45 degrees, giving you better road contact; so even if you don’t get much snow, winter tires will really add to your cold weather safety in Denver.

Winter tires may also use a micro-pore rubber compound that increases surface area so they can bite into ice and packed snow on Denver roads and highways.

The tread on winter tires needs to clear out water, snow and slush as the tire turns so it’s ready to take another bite when it comes back in contact with the road.  But summer tires can actually be dangerous because they get packed with snow, making them very slick, so your vehicle will be hard to control.  Winter tires have a lot of thin slits in the tread which help the tire grab ice and packed snow, providing extra traction.

Many new vehicles in Denver come with all-season tires which are good for a wide range of Denver weather and road conditions, but don’t provide top performance in Colorado snow and ice.  For example, winter tires provide 25 to 50% more traction than all-season tires.  And all-season tires take up to 42% longer to stop than winter tires in slick conditions.  For all these reasons, the tire experts at Express Car Care in Denver recommend you put winter tires on all four wheels because it makes sense to have equal traction and handling at all four corners of your vehicle.  Uneven traction could result in loss of control for Denver motorists.

Your vehicle may be equipped with stability control, anti-lock brakes and traction control – all important safely systems for Colorado auto owners.  But in order to do their job you still need good traction.  Winter tires help you start, stop and corner when things get cold and slippery.

So when temperatures drop below 45 degrees, be sure you have a set of four winter tires for maximum performance in snow, ice and wet Denver roads.  Your Express Car Care professional can help you find the right winter tire for your vehicle and driving needs.  Give us a call @ 303-691-2760 or come in and see us.

High Altitude and Your Tire Pressure

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High Altitude and Your Tire Pressure

Want to know the two biggest factors that can affect your tire pressure here in Denver? Temperature and altitude.

While there are many things we all love about living in the Mile High City, when it comes to your tires, they aren’t nearly as excited. We can go from 90 to 30 degrees in days. You can go up and down thousands of feet in altitude in a matter of hours. And one of the biggest things that keeps you safe as you head out on your journeys is your tires. Which means your auto maintenance routine should begin at the bottom.

Standard tire pressure depends on the size of your tire and the weight of your car. The best way to determine what your tires’ correct pressure should be is to look in your vehicles manual. Keep this number in mind as our temperature varies greatly, or you travel thousands of feet in direction over a short period of time. Tire pressure is measured in pounds per  square inch (psi) and can be measured easily at your local gas station or with a gauge you can buy at any auto supply center. As a guide, air pressure at sea level stands at 14.7 psi.

An increase in temperature causes the air in tires to expand. Likewise, cold temperatures have the opposite effect, reducing air pressure and causing tire to flatten. As a result, tires filled at one temperature could no longer be correct as the temperature changes. And here in Colorado, temperature change is something that can happen quite rapidly, going from winter to summer temperatures in a matter of days. Meaning your tires can quickly be over or under inflated – impacting the way your tires will wear.

When a car changes altitude, the external air pressure around it changes. The level of pressure in a tire is created from the relationship between the air in the environment and the air inside the tire. Climbing higher in altitude means the air offer less resistance, which creates a higher level of pressure within the tire itself. To keep your tires perfectly balanced, pressure should be adjusted while you are at higher altitudes and again when you make your descent.

A tire without the correct tire pressure is harder to control and creates unnecessary wear and tear on the vehicle. Whether they are over or under inflated, the tires will not be able to properly grip the road, which results in longer stopping distances. Not only does your car have to work harder, your tires do too.

To ensure your tires are at their optimal level, stop by today.

Best Tires For Snow

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Well, here it is, the first snow of the season, and it certainly won’t be the last!  Since we live in a state where the winters are very unpredictable, sometimes we have a lot of snow and other times, not so much.  We need to make a smart decision about which are the best tires for us.  All-season tires or snow tires, which do we choose?

Driving in the snow can be the biggest challenge that a driver will ever face.  If our vehicles aren’t equipped with the best tires for snow, we could be in real trouble.  We are driving with less daylight and colder temperatures, as well as in snow, slush, and ice.

Most tire experts, including Tire Rack, say that only dedicated snow tires will actually improve your vehicle’s grip in winter conditions.  All-seasons tires are intended to provide traction in a wide variety of weather conditions but have fallen short in their performances during tests on ice and snow.  An inexpensive snow tire has proven to perform better in ice and snow tests than an all-season tire.

Many of today’s vehicles are also equipped with anti-lock brake, traction control and stability systems that help them get more from their tire’s potential.  But none of these aids actually causes traction, traction is provided by the tires, and snow tires provided better traction than all-season tires.  Although the all-season tire performed well, in driving situations with four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicles the snow tires had a distinct advantage.  The results were especially striking during braking and cornering.  Snow tires improved performance by as much as 20%.

Narrow snow tires are better for driving on ice and in the snow.  They are better at cutting a path through the snow and slush.  It is always best to use the tire size that has been specified for your vehicle.  This information can be found in your owner’s manual or on the sidewalls of the tires that are already on your vehicle.

Once you have decided the best tires for you, make sure you buy four tires.  It was once a common practice to install just a pair of snow tires in the rear of a vehicle, this isn’t recommended now because of all the advanced technology that has gone into the new designs of snow tires.   Putting snow tires only on the rear tires can cause unpredictable handling and could be dangerous.  So don’t scrimp when it comes to your safety!

 

Rotating Tires

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If you are interested in getting the maximum life from your tires, whether you do the job yourself or have it done by an auto repair shop, rotating your tires regularly is very important.  Rotating tires evens out the way the tires wear and when it is done properly can extend the life of your tires, as well as improve the way the car handles sudden stops and turns. 

The best indication that it’s time for rotating your tires is when you notice an uneven tread wear.  When you look closely at your tires, is there more wear showing on the inside or outside of one tire more than another?  Uneven tread wear is unavoidable since the weight of a car isn’t distributed evenly to all four corners.  Most engines are in the front and because the engine is the heaviest thing in the car, the front tires carry more weight.  This means that the front tires will wear quicker than the rear. This is the reason it’s necessary to rotate the tires, front-to -rear several times during the life of your tires, to equalize tread wear and maximize their life.   This is what we mean when we recommend “rotating tires”. Tires will develop wear patterns as they age.  Some of these patterns are caused by the suspension system and the alignment of each car, this is why the tires are kept on the same side of the car when they are rotated.  By rotating the tires,  moving each tire to a different corner of the car, then each tire wears more evenly and the life of the tires is extended.  Other indications of a needed tire rotation are:  noticing trouble handling your car when you are braking, or if your tire traction isn’t good in slippery or wet road conditions.  These are all signs you should be aware of and not ignore.

The general rule for how often to rotate tires is every 3,000 to 7,000 miles, but your vehicle’s manufacturer manual will also have their recommended times.  If you are in the habit of changing your oil every 3,000 miles, you can also pair the tire rotation with your oil changes and rotate the tires every other oil change.  You can also maintain a log or spreadsheet to help you keep track of when you perform tire rotations, this will help you stay up to date and keep your car running smoothly.  If you store the log in your glove compartment, you’ll have a handy reference with you.

For all of your Denver Auto Repair needs, trust Express Car Car.  Call (303) 691-2760 or stop by our shop today.

Tire Condition

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Did you know that the condition of your tire can tell you a lot about your car?  We can learn quite a bit about our vehicles by the way our tires wear. Tire condition is determined by the wear patterns.  Abnormal wear patterns can often alert us to the need for simple tire maintenance or the need for a front-end alignment.  Being aware of these patterns and how to interpret them can help you lengthen the life of your tires and improve the overall performance of your vehicle.  Below is a list of common tire wear patterns and what they might indicate.

Condition:  A tread cut or puncture is caused when a foreign object penetrates the tread area.  This can lead to air loss or possible tire destruction.

Solution:  If a puncture occurs, have the damage repaired if possible.  Your service technician can determine if the puncture can be repaired.

Condition:  Wear on one side of a tire can be a sign of misalignment or worn parts.  This condition will shorten the life of the tire and may lead to other tire damage.

Solution:  Have the vehicle inspected for possible mechanical or suspension problems that should be repaired.

Condition:  Shoulder wear on both sides of a tire.  This happens when the tire is under-inflated and the outer shoulders are forced to carry most of the weight.  This will lead to extreme shoulder wear and shorten the life of the tire.

Solution:  Keep the tires inflated to manufacturer’s recommended level.

Condition:  Center tread wear.  This type of damage can be caused by over-inflation.  The center of the tread will bulge outward, forcing the majority of the weight to be carried in the center of the tire which causes premature wear.

Solution:  Maintain the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended inflation level.  These are usually found inside the driver’s side door jamb.

Good driving habits and preventative maintenance, which includes proper air pressure, tire balance, alignment and rotation can add miles to the life of your tires as well as safety for you and your family.  If we can help you with any of these or other auto repair needs, call us at (303) 691-2760 or stop by our shop.

When Do You Replace Tires

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Your ability to control your vehicle depends on the traction between your tires and the road.  Tires don’t need to have tread designs or much tread depth to give you traction on a dry road, but tires do require tread designs to generate traction on wet, slushy or snow-covered roads.

A tread design is necessary to direct water and slush from between the tire and the road, as well as provide edges that cut into the snow.  When water collects on the road surface during a rainstorm, the depth of the water, the speed you are driving and your car’s weight, along with the tires’ tread design and depth, are all factors in determining when and if the tires will stop the car quickly or force it to hydroplane or float.    

It isn’t difficult to understand that the tread on tires will wear away over their life and the volume of their tread grooves will be reduced.  This is a gradual process and you may not notice it day-to-day, but eventually there will be a time when you notice your car slip in the snow or hydroplane in the rain or just not stop quickly when the road is wet.

So when do you replace tires?  If rain and wet roads are your main concern, it’s recommended you replace your tires when they reach approximately 4/32″ of remaining tread depth.  Since water can’t be compressed, you need enough tread depth to allow the rain to escape through the tire’s grooves.  If the water can’t escape fast enough, your vehicle’s tires will be forced to hydroplane on top of the water, losing traction and increasing your stopping distance.

If you drive on snow-covered roads you should replace your tires when they reach approximately 6/32″ of remaining tread depth so you can maintain good mobility.  You need more tread depth in snow because your tires need to compress the snow in their grooves and release it as they roll.  If there isn’t sufficient tread depth, the “bites” of snow your tires can take on will be reduced and your vehicle’s traction and mobility will be sacrificed.

While replacing your tires before they are completely worn out may not seem to be very economical, it is far less expensive than repairing your car after you’ve had an accident because your tires needed to be replaced and weren’t!

When you replace the tires on your vehicle it is recommended that you replace all four tires at the same time and also have your car checked to make sure it is aligned properly.  All these steps will give you longer life for your replacement tires.

For all of your Denver Auto Repair needs, trust Express Car Care. Call (303) 691-2760 or stop by our shop today.

Best Tires For Colorado Winters

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It’s that time of year again!  The air is colder, the leaves are falling and we need to prepare ourselves and our cars for winter!  One of the ways to prepare our car is to find the best winter tires for them.  Summer tires are designed to enhance traction in mostly dry and warm conditions, not winter conditions.  Wintertime has the most challenging driving conditions that we face all year.  We have less daylight and colder temperatures as well as snow, slush and ice.  We need the best winter tires on our car to get us where we need to go safely.

Tire experts, including Tire Rack say only dedicated snow tires will actually improve your vehicle’s grip in winter conditions.  All-season tires are suppose to provide traction in a variety of weather conditions but fall short in their performance on ice and snow.  An inexpensive winter tire performs better in ice and snow tests than all-season tires.

Best Winter Tires

Narrow winter tires are better for driving on ice and in snow, they are better at cutting a path through snow and slush.  It’s always best to use the tire size specified for your car.  You can find that information in your owner’s manual or by looking on the sidewalls of the tires that are already on your car.

Do you need a studded winter tire? Is that the best choice  for your car?  If you drive on icy roads regularly, the studded winter tire might be your best choice, just be sure that they aren’t banned or limited in your area.  If you are curious about which brands are rated  the best winter tire, talk to your service technician or visit consumersearch.com/snow-tire/reviews. Once you have decided on the best winter tire for you, you’ll want to have them installed before the weather turns.  It’s also important that you get four matching tires.  It may be tempting to buy only two tires, but experts don’t recommend it.  Different tires react differently, and unmatched tires can handle unpredictably.  Another small tip is winter tires wear faster than regular tires, so remove them as soon as the winter weather is gone and spring arrives!

When To Replace Tires

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The condition of the tires on your car greatly affects your safety while driving.  Here are some tips to help you determine when to replace your tires.

  1. Look at the tread pattern. Most tires are manufactured with “tread wear indicator bars” built right into the tire itself.  They usually look like small bridges in between the tread.  When these indicator bars become flush with the tire’s tread that is a sign it’s time to replace the tires.       When To Replace Tires
  2. Check the tread depth. The “penny test” has been a popular method for a while, this is how it works.  Take a penny and place it upside down with the picture of the head facing you in the center of the thickest part of the tire tread.
  • If you can see the very top of the head, or the copper above it, replace the tires as soon as possible.
  • If the hair on the top of the head is somewhat visible, this mean you should begin looking for replacement tires.
  • If you can’t see the hair on the top of the head, then this means your tires don’t need to be replaced yet.

This is a simple method that works well if you are driving mainly on dry roads.  If you drive on wet, slushy and snow-covered road you should maintain a deeper tread depth on your  tires and replace them at the second bullet above.  You need enough tread depth (4/32″) to allow the water or slush to escape through the tire’s grooves.  If the water can’t escape fast enough your car’s tires will hydroplane or float on top of the water causing a loss of control and possibly an accident.  Test all of your tires at the same time and once you’ve decided when to replace the tires make sure they are all replaced at the same time.  Mismatched tires won’t give you the adequate safety or performance levels that a matched pair of tires will.  If you see wires on your tread or notice wear on the sidewalls of the tire, don’t waste time with a penny, replace the tires!  If any of this checklist gives you a headache just thinking about it.  Have your auto repair shop do the work for you, that’s their job!

Why & When Should I Rotate My Tires?

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In order to get the maximum life out of  your tires, it is important that you rotate them regularly.  Rotating tires evens out the wear and when it is properly done, it can extend the life of your tires, improve gas mileage and enables your car to handle sudden stops and turns properly.

The best indicator that it is time to rotate your tires is uneven tread wear.  When you look closely at your tires is the inside or outside of one tire showing more wear than another? Uneven tread wear is unavoidable because the weight of a car isn’t evenly distributed to all four corners.  Most engines are in the front and since the engine is the heaviest thing in the car, the front tires carry more weight.  That means that your front tires will wear out faster than the rear tires.  By rotating the tires, you are moving each tire to a different corner of the car so each tire is worn more evenly.  Also if you notice that your car begins to handle poorly when braking.  Or your tire traction is poor in slippery or wet road conditions, these are also indicators that your tires should be rotated.

A general rule of thumb for rotating tires is every 3,000 to 7,000 miles.  You can also pair tire rotation with oil changes and rotate tires every other oil change, if you change your oil every 3,000 miles.  Your car’s manufacturer manual will also have recommended times to rotate tires.  Maintaining a log or spreadsheet of when you perform tire rotations will help keep you up to date and your car running smoothly.  Store the log in your glove compartment or garage for a quick handy reference.

How To Find the Best Tire Dealer in Colorado

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You are about to head out of town on a road trip vacation. You know it’s been a while since you’ve purchased new tires, and have started noticing your tires are looking old and worn. In order to keep your family safe, replace your tires before you head out of town.

How do you find the best tire dealer in Colorado? One that will give you honest advice, the best price, and give you quality customer care from beginning to end.

Do a little research.
Start online. The best tire dealers value their reputation and their business. They will spend the time and money on their business, and give you a sense of security when making your final selection. It’s always a bit stressful when you choose a company to work with, only to find they’ve shut down a few weeks after you’ve been in. A reputable tire dealer will be in business for the long haul.

Don’t always choose a big box store.
We’ve all heard the big box names that have multiple locations around the country. They focus on one thing, and one thing only. While they may seem to have the best price upfront, they may actually have hidden costs. Ask questions. What guarantees do they have? Do they offer extra services, such as tire rotations or free repairs?

Support your neighborhood location.
Sometimes it’s nice to build friendships within your local community. While chain stores can have low prices, they may also have a huge fluctuation in employment. Meaning you’ll never get the same person when you visit a location. Not so with a neighborhood tire dealer. In many cases you’ll be dealing with the owner. Not only can he offer you advice and great service today, but he’ll also remember you on your second, third and fourth visit. And that can bring you peace of mind that you’re getting honest service, no matter how large or small your problem.

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