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Q: I'm coming in to buy new tires this weekend. My husband works on a construction site and I always worry about him getting nails in my tires. Is there any kind of warranty I can buy for incidents like that? - Nancy A: Hi Nancy,  Yes, here at Tire Pros of Frederick we offer something called Road Hazard Protection. Here is how it works, at the time of the tire sale, let your Service Advisor you would like to purchase it. This is the ONLY point where it can be purchased. It costs 10% of th...

Q: I am coming in tomorrow for a Maryland State Inspection and I am just curious what happens if my car fails? - Marilyn A: Hi Marilyn,  If your cars fails the inspection, we will give you an inspection checklist along with a fair and honest estimate for the repairs. If you choose to have us perform the work to fix it, the inspection sticker will be issued immediately after the repairs are done at no extra charge. If you would like to have the repairs done elsewhere, that is fine too. Ins...

Q: With fall just around the corner I am starting to worry about winter. I have to drive a lot for work so I was wondering what kinds of things I can start doing now to protect my car against winter. Thanks. - Steven A: Hi Steven,  There are several things that you should always do prior to the start of winter. First, check fluids like your antifreeze, and oil. Make sure your antifreeze is not a rust color, and that your motor oil is new. Check your battery. If it is weak it can fail on c...

We see it all the time…people tend to not think about their tires until something goes wrong. Sometimes, this can mean sitting on the side of the road waiting for help, and other times it can mean more serious consequences. Here are a few things to remember for tire safety as the summer winds down and back-to-school season starts. • Check your tire pressure regularly. This one is really important. Your car’s tires will lose air through the valve over time, and an underinflated tire...

Q: My friend told me that since my car has 50,000 miles on it I should replace my timing chain. Is that true? - Ashley A: Hi Ashley,  If your car has a rubber timing belt, then yes, they should be replaced around 50,000 miles. If your car has a timing chain; however, your car can be driven considerably farther because the chains are stronger, and lubricated, so they last longer. Keep in mind though, that timing chains can still break, causing a considerable amount of damage to your engine...

Q: Why does my brake pedal vibrate when I'm slowing down from faster speeds? - Shawn A: Hi Shawn,  Most commonly, this is due to rotors warping. Rotors warp when wheels or wheel hubs are not cleaned when new rotors are installed, or when the hub is bad. The rotors won't warp right away, but can take severeal hundred miles for the vibration to start. Bring your car to Tire Pros of Frederick so one of our mechanics can inspect the car to see if the rotors are in fact warped, or if the hubs ...

Q: I just bought my first car and my dad is always telling me to make sure I take care of preventative maintenance. What exactly is preventative maintenance and is that something you can do? - Alex A: Hi Alex,  Preventative maintenance is simply regular maintenance that keeps your car running efficiently, as well as helping to eliminate potentially costly repairs. A car that is properly maintained will be more dependable and safer, and will last longer. This can include things such as rou...

The kids are going to be headed off to school again before you know it, and then of course, the holidays will start coming one after another between Labor Day and the end of the year. There’s a lot to stay on top of, and auto repair should be one less thing for you, the grownup, to worry about as the year marches on. Here are some suggestions for things you might want to take care of before it all starts rolling again:    • Oil Change – Can’t remember the date of your last oil chan...

We frequently get questions about all-season tires when consumers are trying to make the right purchasing decision for  a set of new tires. As the title of the blog asks…”are all-season tires really all-season?”   The answer is: it that depends on what part of the country you’re living in.   All-season tires are a compromise from the very start. They’re designed for a forgiving ride, low noise, decent handling and good road manners. Maybe not as much as ...

Time has a way of sneaking up on everyone, and so does mileage on a vehicle. If you have a long commute or regularly put lengthy interstate trips on your car, you can easily rack up 15-18,000 miles a year. Even though today’s cars don’t need as much maintenance as cars from a generation ago, it’s still something you can’t neglect. Here’s a reminder of some important milestones for service on your vehicle:    Monthly  • Check tire inflation • Check oil and transm...