News

Q: Why is it harder to start my car in the winter? – Ms. Maloney   A: Ms. Maloney, It’s chemistry. The electrochemical process that produces battery current slows in cold temperatures. Less amperage is achieved (the rate of flow of the electrical current.) Also, the motor oil in your engine thickens, making it harder to crank the engine. 

Q: I’ve heard that you can tell whether shocks need to be replaced by pushing down on the front and rear bumpers. If the car takes more than a second or two to stop bouncing, you need new shocks. Is this true? – Melissa   A: Dear Melissa, Not really. Take your car to a trained auto technician with proper diagnostic equipment. Modern auto suspensions are engineered and manufactured to close tolerances and are a part of a complex and interrelated system with steering and wheel alignment...

Q: When should I rotate my tires? – David   A: Dear David, The tire should be rotated in accordance with the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation. If no recommendation is shown in the owner’s manual, tires should be rotated every 5,000 miles. Visit Tire Pros of Frederick for more auto repair advice!

Q: When should I rotate my tires? – David   A: Dear David, The tire should be rotated in accordance with the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation. If no recommendation is shown in the owner’s manual, tires should be rotated every 5,000 miles. Visit Tire Pros of Frederick for more auto repair advice!

Q: How much difference can an oil change make in my fuel economy? – Tony   A: Dear Tony, Using the correct grade of oil can improve fuel economy by 2%. You would be surprised how many car owners use the wrong oil. Check your owner’s manual or ask the experts at Tire Pros of Frederick. Regular oil changes are also crucial to the life and health of your engine. You can also “Like” us on Facebook and receive a coupon for a $10 oil change. Tire Pros of Frederick are always happy to give...

Q: How do I know when I need new tires? – Mr. Larrimore   A: Mr. Larrimore, When your tread wears down to 4/32 of an inch you start to lose significant traction on wet or snowy roads. A Washington quarter, placed upside down in the tread grooves at several points is a handy gauge. You’re ok if the tread covers part of Washington’s head. To be legal in most states, tires must pass the Lincoln penny test, a minimum tread depth of 2/32 of an inch. Manufacturers also place wear bars in t...

Q: How often do I need to change the timing belt on my vehicle? – Mrs. Miller   A: Mrs. Miller, Depending on the model year of the vehicle, it is typically between 60,000 and 90,000 miles. If your vehicle has a timing chain, instead of a timing belt, replacement of the timing chain is not required. Refer to the Scheduled Maintenance section of the appropriate owner’s manual for specific information.

Q: How do I know the difference in tire patterns – asymmetric, directional and symmetric? – Mr. Johnson   A: Mr. Johnson, Asymmetric – Tire will have “outside” printed on one side of the tire and “inside” printed on the other side of the tire. A properly mounted tire will show the “outside” side when it has been mounted on the vehicle. An asymmetric tire will have differences in tread pattern design between the inside and outside of the tire tread area, which necessitates prope...

Q: When can I expect the brakes on my new vehicle to need servicing? – Rob   A: Rob, Truck and SUV brakes need to be serviced between 20,000 and 30,000 miles. Cars need to be serviced between 25,000 and 45,000 miles. Visit tireprosoffrederick.com for more helpful auto repair tips. 

Q: When can I expect the brakes on my new vehicle to need servicing? – Rob   A: Rob, Truck and SUV brakes need to be serviced between 20,000 and 30,000 miles. Cars need to be serviced between 25,000 and 45,000 miles. Visit tireprosoffrederick.com for more helpful auto repair tips.