News

Q: How do I know when I need suspension work? – Sean   A: Hi Sean, Suspension work is needed when there is heavy leaning or swaying on corners or ramps, rocking or swaying on lane changes, excessive bouncing on dips or bumps, and nose diving at stops. Visit tireprosoffrederick.com for more helpful auto repair tips. 

Q: How often should I check the air in my tires? – Deborah   A: Dear Deborah, For safety and maximum tire life, check the air pressure in your tires at least once a month. Use an accurate tire pressure gauge. Don’t fill your tires by look. Every time you bring your car to Tire Pros of Frederick for an oil change we inspect your tires and show you how they’re wearing. We would be happy to check and fill your tires for free anytime. 

Q: My car has an anti-lock brake system (ABS.) Do I need to brake differently? – Mrs. Lewis   A: Mrs. Lewis, Yes. Instead of pumping your brakes, press the pedal firmly and without letting up. Let the ABS work for you, so that you can concentrate on steering. It is normal to fell or hear vibrations as the ABS adjusts you car’s brakes to hazardous situations. Visit Tire Pros of Frederick for more auto repair tips. 

Q: What are torsion bars? – Alex   A: Alex, Torsion bar suspension systems are common on pick-up trucks and sport utility vehicles. Torsion bars are a type of spring. The vehicle frame attaches to a lever or arm perpendicular to the torsion bar. As the vehicle bounces the bar twists and acts as a spring. Visit tireprosoffrederick.com for more auto repair tips. 

Q: How do worn shocks affect braking distance? – Harold   A: Dear Harold, When your car nose dives, it takes longer to come to a complete stop. A study by the Royal Automotive Club showed that shocks working at 50% efficiency added 12 feet to the stopping distance of a car traveling 60 miles per hour – 117.8 feet versus 104.8 feet. That could be the difference between hitting and missing a hazard in the road. Visit Tire Pros of Frederick for more auto repair tips. 

Q: What is an oxygen sensor? – Mr. Flemming   A: Mr. Flemming, The oxygen sensor monitors the amount of oxygen in the exhaust. The engine computer in your vehicle can adjust the fuel-to-air mixture for maximum combustion efficiency, decreasing the mount of harmful exhaust even before it reaches the catalytic converter and muffler. 

Q: My car pulls to one side. Could this be a problem with one of my tires? – Mr. Breslyn   A: Mr. Breslyn, Possibly. A very soft tire can cause your car to pull to one side, but this is a very unsafe situation. Your car could also be out of alignment. Stop by Tire Pros of Frederick for assistance. 

Q: My ride is quite rough. What can I do? – Jennifer   A: Jennifer, For a smooth ride, tires must be balanced properly. Also, some tires ride better than others. Every tire is a compromise. Tires with a long tread life have a harder ride. Tires with a softer ride wear faster. Visit Tire Pros of Frederick for tire balancing and recommendations on the best replacement tires for your road conditions.

Q: My temperature warning light is on. What should I do? – Lisabeth   A: Lisabeth, Driving with the light on (or temperature gauge in red) risks serious damage to your engine. If you use AAA or some other roadside service, call for assistance. Or, call Tire Pros of Frederick to arrange a tow for you. Never remove the radiator cap until the engine has cooled completely. You could release a cloud of steam and cause severe scalding. Visit Tire Pros of Frederick for more auto repair tips. 

Q: How important is tire pressure to my fuel economy? – Steve   A: Steve, You can improve fuel economy by up to 5% by keeping your tires inflated to the correct pressure and using the right grade of motor oil. If you drive 12,000 miles per year and gas is $3 per gallon, that’s a savings of $72 per year assuming your car gets 25 miles a gallon. Visit Tire Pros of Frederick for more tire and auto repair tips.