TIPS & TRICKS

Spring Driving:

• Spring is finally here and with it comes the rainy season. Remember to have your wiper blades checked as the winter can take its toll on them. We all know we have to reduce our driving speeds in the snow but sometimes we don’t think about it in the rain. Tire tread depth is what channels away the rain or snow to allow your tires to grip the road. Worn tires don’t allow the tire to channel the water away properly which can cause the vehicle to hydroplane in heavy rain or standing water. This is the last week for the Goodyear tire rebates. We now offer the Goodyear credit card which allows you 6 months no interest on all tires and/or auto service.

Brake Maintenance:

• Spring is here and hopefully the snow is gone for awhile. The ice melting chemicals used on the roads today can wash away the lubricant that keeps your brake calipers free and helps extend brake pad life which keeps your brakes cooler and saves gas. When you step on the brake pedal the caliper piston moves out compressing the brake pads to the brake rotors, when you let off the brake pedal the piston and caliper are supposed to return to there rest position. When they become sticky or frozen that no longer happens and your brake pads wear prematurely and your fuel mileage decreases. Another problem area is the brake fluid itself. Brake fluid is very prone to moisture contamination, new brake fluid has a boiling point of 500-600 degrees when contaminated it can then boil at less than 300 degrees, when it boils it turns from a liquid to a vapor and you lose your brake pedal. I recommend having your fluid tested annually. This is a very big problem with motorhomes or vehicles towing trailers or driving in the mountains. To save money while performing brake maintenance we recommend  having this done  during an oil change or tire rotation as the vehicle is already on the lift and the wheels are removed. Your friends at TPS wish you a safe and satisfying summer.