by eastsideautoserviceca on March 22, 2012
Keep a watchful eye with arrival of pothole season
As the ravages of winter subside and temperatures rise, there is probably a pothole out there with your name on it, cautions Car Care Canada. Cold temperatures, snow and rainfall create the perfect storm for the motorists’ dreaded “perils of potholes period.”
Drivers know immediately when they hit a pothole. The heart-stopping, teeth-jarring noise is hard to mistake. However, it’s not always immediately clear if hitting the pothole caused damage to the vehicle, and to what extent.
Hitting a pothole can damage tires, wheels, steering and suspension, wheel alignment and more. Car Care Canada recommends that motorists who experience any of the following warning signs after hitting a pothole should have a professional technician at their local repair shop inspect the vehicle:
- Loss of control, swaying when making routine turns, bottoming-out on city streets or bouncing excessively on rough roads. These are indicators that the steering and suspension may have been damaged. The steering and suspension are key safety-related systems. Together, they largely determine your car’s ride and handling. Key components are shocks and/or struts, the steering knuckle, ball joints, the steering rack/box, bearings, seals and hub units and tie rod ends.
- Pulling in one direction, instead of maintaining a straight path, and uneven tire wear. These symptoms mean there’s an alignment problem. Proper wheel alignment is important for the lifespan of tires and helps ensure safe handling.
- Low tire pressure, bulges or blisters on the sidewalls, or dents in the rim. These problems will be visible and should be checked out as soon as possible as tires are the critical connection between your car and the road in all sorts of driving conditions.
Car Care Canada offers these tips to help protect vehicles against a pothole encounter:
Maintain full air pressure in all tires to provide as much cushion as possible between the pothole and the rim of the tire.- Watch for potholes by leaving plenty of space between your vehicle and the one in front of you.
- Before swerving around a pothole, be sure to check surrounding traffic.
- If you can’t avoid a pothole — at least slow down! Hitting a pothole at high speed increases the chance of damage to tires, wheels, shocks, struts or springs.
- When driving over a pothole-filled road, hold the steering wheel firmly to avoid losing control.
- Do not brake when directly over a pothole. Applying the brakes causes the car’s weight to shift to the front of the wheel and can increase damage from the impact.
- A broken shock or strut from a pothole encounter could alter the steering and handling of a vehicle and create dangers when driving at high speeds or in tight corners. Broken suspension components should be repaired immediately.
by eastsideautoserviceca on November 18, 2011
Some insurance companies are offering discounts for using Winter Tires.
Eastside Auto Service offers these great services:
Eastside Auto Service offers the best Tire Storage Rates in Oakville! And we have added more space to accommodate more tires this winter! Come in and take advantage of our superior tire storage this winter! 905-844-9641
The Benefits of Winter Tires
The facts about winter tires and why all-season tires just won’t do.
Ever since the introduction of the all-season tire, Canadian drivers have slid and spun their tires through the coldest months of the year. Here’s the kicker: it doesn’t seem to matter whether there’s snow on the ground or not.
Unlike all-season tires, severe-condition winter tires (identified by mountain and snowflake symbols on their sides) have tread patterns and rubber that are tailored for colder conditions. And that helps them perform better than all-season tires once temperatures plummet, whether or not they have to dig through the white stuff.
In contrast, all-season tires can turn into four round black rocks when the cold hits. Even on dry pavement, at a balmy 5 degrees C, a severe snow-rated tire outperforms an all-season tire. And a study conducted by the Quebec Ministry of Transport showed that a proper winter tire can improve braking by up to 25 percent over an all-season radial and CAN IMPROVE COLLISION AVOIDANCE BY ABOUT 38 PERCENT!
Drivers should also not be tempted to skimp and buy only two tires. Do you want to slide off the road forward or backward? Four winter tires are necessary to maintain proper handling and balance.
Regardless of where you drive, you need to keep a close eye on the condition of your tires. Ensure that your tires still have deep treads to help with snow traction. And pay attention to their inflation. In winter, temperatures can drop rapidly. Tire pressure varies by approximately 1 p.s.i. (pounds per square inch) for each 5 degrees C rise or fall in air temperature.
In winter the temperature can easily slide from 5 degrees to -15 degrees overnight, dropping tire pressure as much as 4 p.s.i. In an already under-inflated tire, that could put you into the danger zone. Tires, therefore, should be checked monthly. If you’re not up to keeping track of the pressure of your tires when winter’s chill sets in, consider stopping by Eastside Auto Service.
by eastsideautoserviceca on November 29, 2010
Eastside Auto Service now offers environmentally friendly, Remolded Tires!
THE REMOLDING PROCESS
Remolded tires use a European technology that was developed about 15 years ago for remolding airliner tires, which is comparable to that used for manufacturing first-generation tires. These tires are top quality ecological tires that have been made new again, often surpassing the durability of new tires — at a lower cost.
These tires can be driven at the same speeds, including highway and Interstate speeds, as new tires, with no loss in safety or comfort. Virtually all of the world’s airlines use recycled tires. These tires are used on school buses, racing cars, taxis, SUV, trucks, military and federal, provincial, municipal vehicles. These users all know that remolded tires can be depended upon for safe and dependable performance.They are also approved and meet the very stringent demands of the D.O.T. They will stand up to any kind of road you may drive on.
- Quality control begins with a visual inspection to select the most suitable tire casings; unlike tread, which may be worn away, casings remain valuable for the recycling potential.
- Laser devices precisely measure the crown and side rubber removed.
- Nail holes requiring repair are detected by electronic means, which uses electric currents to scan each casing.
- Cement and veneer are applied over the sides ensuring the sidewalls remain intact during the process.
- The rubber tread is applied using the most advanced technology.
- The exact tire size is measured and created.
- The tire is cured using bladder presses.
- The tire is visually inspected and trimmed while still warm.
Watch video of Remolding Process - by Discovery Channel
In simple terms a worn tire undergoes the following processes to become a remolded tire.
- Initial inspection
- Automatic tread buffing
- Bead brushing
- Cementing
- Application of the new rubber
- High pressure vulcanization in heating moulds
- Trimming
- Final inspection
Information from http://www.ongreengo.ca/
by eastsideautoserviceca on November 15, 2010
Toronto Star Wheels
Saturday, October 30, 2010.
Now is the time to buy winter tires. Not tomorrow, not next week and certainly not next month.
The reason for this is that by mid-November, there will be nary a winter tire in the manufacturers’ warehouses. All of the 2010 winter tires will be at dealers and tire distributors. The racks will be empty waiting for next spring’s tires to start trickling in.
For the consumer, that means choices in brands and haggling ability over price diminish as the clock ticks. This is especially true if you have a size that is not common. By mid-November, the tire dealer will be telling you what brand you can have and what price you will pay.
When you start shopping for winter tires, arm yourself with some basic information. Start by knowing what your tire size, speed rating and load index numbers are. READ MORE
by eastsideautoserviceca on October 19, 2010
It’s time for winter tires and with forecasts of a cold and snowy fall and winter season, don’t delay in getting prepared!
While most new vehicles are equipped with all-season tires from auto manufacturers, there is a definite difference between all-season and winter tires. In light snow road conditions, all-season tires provide enough traction, but in heavy snow, slush, and ice conditions, winter tires are the proven answer to better road grip, cornering, braking and overall handling.
In one recent independent tire test, a BMW equipped with ani-lock brakes and winter tires stopped in 17.28 meters (59 feet) on a snow-packed road, while the same vehicle with all-season tires did not stop for another 9.17 meters.
Testing of acceleration and cornering determined that vehicles equipped with tires designed specifically for winter driving out-performed all-season tires in every test. Even vehicles equipped with traction control and stability systems achieved safer and more efficient handling with winter tires.
Winter tires simply provide better traction and vehicle control, as well as safer winter driving. So consider these factors as the season changes and take advantage of our October specials on several quality brands of winter tires!!
by eastsideautoserviceca on October 14, 2010
With the winter season fast approaching, it’s that time of year to get your car geared up with Winter Tires. Winter tires’ treads have more biting edges for better grip on snow and ice, while their softer compound remains flexible even in extremely low temperatures.
Learn more by watching Winter Tire Demonstration videos here!
by eastsideautoserviceca on September 10, 2010
Exterior lighting on your vehicle is an important part of your vehicle operation and is a major contributor to road safety. According to a recent study, one of every five auto accidents caused by technical failure is a result of defective lighting.
Head lamps that are burned out or not aimed properly can cause accidents as drivers do not have full road vision during night time driving. Deer and other animals, pedestrians, and traffic entering the roadway are up to 10 times more difficult for drivers to see when head lights are not fully operational.
Burned out tail lights are also a hazard as vehicles approaching your car need to see your tail lamps and brake lights clearly, especially inclement weather.
You also want your turn signals to work properly so other drivers know what your intentions are when making left or right hand turns.
Another common problem due to moisture, degeneration, and rock/debris damage, is the loss of high beam head lamps. High beams can be vital during night time road driving, particularly on unlit roadways or during rain storms.
In virtually all states and Canadian provinces, defective lighting is against the law and fines can be more than $100 in some cases.
So, with fall and winter weather approaching, make sure all your exterior lighting is functioning and head lamps are properly aimed for maximum night time road vision.
