As you brace yourself for the impending Iowa winter, you’re likely stocking your car with emergency supplies, rounding up windshield scrapers, and making sure your vehicle is filled with gas at all times. An additional precaution that not enough people take is purchasing winter tires to help prevent snow and ice related car accidents. If you’ve never had winter tires before, anyone who has can tell you what a huge difference they’ve made in providing additional traction on slippery roads. Our professionals at Car-X in Des Moines and Ames can give you recommendations on the right winter tires for your vehicle; we’ll install your new tires, too! Read on to learn about a few of the primary ways winter tires can keep you and your car safe this season.
Tread Created Specifically for Winter Driving Conditions
When you purchase all-season tires, the tread design has been created to accommodate for all seasons and conditions: Wet roads, snowy roads, hot tarmac, etc. Winter tires have the benefit of having tread that was designed specifically to allow your car to navigate slick, icy roads more easily. The tread design on winter tires isn’t compromised for other seasons, so your tires will perform to full capacity in the winter months.
Enhanced Traction
When it comes down to how your car handles, the suspension system is the most important thing. Many people are aware that they have a suspension system on their car, but most people couldn’t tell you what it does or how it works. We at Car-X would like to take this time to break down three of the most important parts of a suspension system: the shocks, struts, and springs. Although suspension units are quite complex, these three units of it are the most important parts in understanding how they work and when you should have them serviced.
Shocks
When you look right above the wheel of a vehicle, you can visibly see the shocks. Shocks are the pole-looking device that allows you to drive down roads and feel as if you are gliding, even when the surface beneath your vehicle is quite bumpy. As the road, gravel, hills, and even gravity battles your car with opposing forces, shocks keep your car handling smoothly. Due to the constant stress they are put under, shocks can wear out in as little 25,000-30,000 miles. We at Car-X recommend having your shocks checked at least once a year. If your car is riding uncomfortably, your sh
As Autumn sets in and Winter approaches in the next couple of months, it’s time to analyze your tires. Although tires are rated for a certain amount of miles, a variety of factors impact the length of their life. Things such as driving habits, road conditions, the tread, and the climate are a handful of the factors that can add wear and tear to your tires. How is the common driver supposed to know when they are due for a tire rotation or tire replacement? The Car-X Man is here to provide you with some insight so you can avoid being stuck on the side of the road with a blown tire.
Tire Tread Depth
One of the most noticeable ways to know if your tires are worn out is checking the tread of the tire. When you buy a new set of automotive tires, the average tread depth of a new tire is 8/32”. These tread patterns, which are created for so that the tires can grip the surface of the road, wear down with age and mileage. A fairly practical test of understanding if your tire tread is too low is the “Penny Test”. Take a penny (as in the 1 cent coin), turn it upside down so Abe Lincoln’s head is facing downwards, and hold it in between the tread of each of your tires. If you can see the top of his head, then your tires tread depth is roughly at 2/32” and in need of a change. Having bald tires is dangerous, especially when it st
Road Trip Breakdowns: How to Avoid Common Issues
Heading out on a road trip with friends and/or family in the near future? Between planning and packing it can be easy to forget about the most important thing for your road trip: your car! At Car-X Des Moines, we pride ourselves in making sure that your vehicle gets you to your destination without any issues. Here are some tips you should consider before going on your next road trip to avoid being stuck on the side of the road.
Vehicle Alignment
One of the most commonly overlooked maintenance services is vehicle alignment. For the common automobile owner, it’s one of the last things they think about getting fixed before it becomes an issue. If you notice that your car quickly drifts to one side of the road when you let go of the wheel for a second, you need to get your alignment checked at your local Car-X shop. Not only can having your alignment off be a hazard for others on the road; it causes your tires to wear down faster, it decreases gas mileage efficiency, and it puts more stress on the steering column and other parts of the vehicle. Make sure you get your vehicle properly aligned if you have any hesitation about it before hitting the
Summer is officially in full swing! This wonderful time of the year comes with days at the beach, road trips, and… avoiding large animals? Unfortunately, that is the case. According to State Farm, an estimated 1.25 million claims are filed annually due to collisions with deer, elk, and moose. For those of us who live in Iowa, we understand this problem all too well. Here are some tips that we at Car-X Des Moines recommend to keep you and your vehicle safe on the road this summer.
Location and Time of Day
Where and when you drive can increase your chances of colliding with an animal. The surrounding landscape along your route can be an indicator of whether or not deer may be close by. Take extra caution when driving around:
- Timber
- Woods
- Rivers/Streams
- Crop fields
It is almost impossible to avoid these environ
Valvoline Professional Series
Service Plus Program
The VPS Service Plus Program Protects your vehicle for up to 210,000 miles or eight vehicle model years at no additional charge! Talk to the Car-X professionals and see how you qualify.
