Like many drivers, you probably never think about the difference between a tire balance and a wheel alignment. Both services are essential to maintaining your vehicle's performance and extending the life of your tires. It's important that wheel alignment and tire balancing are included in your car's regular maintenance schedule, and that you recognize the signs of imbalanced tires and wheels that have become misaligned. Tire balance The tires on your vehicle are balanced on the wheel by small weights placed between the tire and rim. Why? Because even a new tire will never be perfectly balanced. When our technicians perform a balancing service on your car, we make sure the weight of the tire and wheel is distributed as evenly as possible. This way, the tire rolls smoothly. Like most things, your tire balancing endures normal wear and tear. The weights shift or even become lost when hitting a pothole or slamming on the brakes. If you notice any of the foll ... read more

If you’re looking for a vehicle that is compact and fun to drive, Mini Coopers are pretty hard to beat. These vehicles are small, but pack a powerful engine. They can speed fast and make turns like they’re driving on rails. While they do use premium gas, these small vehicles offer decent fuel economy that shouldn’t hurt your wallet too bad. Despite these great perks, the Mini Cooper can develop problems. If you pull up to a stop sign and notice that your vehicle is struggling and idling rough, it may seem like a minor inconvenience, but there may be a major problem. Rough idling can be caused by a variety of issues, below we highlight three common reasons.  Dirty Fuel Filter Fuel injectors disperse a specific amount of fuel into your vehicle’s cylinders and engine at a precise angle. If the fuel injectors can become dirty over time, this will prevent them from injecting an adequate amount of fuel from reaching the engine. In ad ... read more

BMW is a luxury vehicle whose brand is based on efficiency and reliability. While BMW's are durable, they can develop mechanical issues over time. Despite being well made, they can encounter similar problems as other vehicles occasionally. One common issue seen in BMW's is coolant leaks. Coolant is one of many essential fluids your vehicle needs to perform optimally. Healthy coolant is vital for BMWs top performance, and if a leak develops, it can have a significant impact that can cause costly engine damage. Below are three ways low coolant can impact your vehicle and how you can avoid them in the future. Your BMW has fast-moving metal parts that generate a lot of heat, making the engines internal temperature too high. The cooling system serves the critical function of regulating the engine's hot temperatures. The cooling system comprises several components, such as the radiator, water pump, coolant, and water. If a leak is developed within the cooling, it can also impact ... read more

There’s nothing worse than being in a rush to get somewhere only to find that your car won’t start. Turn the ignition only to be greeted with silence or a mere click sound. Once you pop your hood and do some inspecting, you realize your car battery is dead. If you don’t have a portable jump starter, you’ll need to rely on the help of another driver to get your vehicle back on the road. Below is a list of simple, helpful instructions to jump-start your car to keep you prepared. Before you learn how to jump your battery, it’s essential to understand what causes your battery to die in the first place:  • The Battery is Old. Depending on driving habits, a car battery typically lasts about five years. If the car battery is frequently dying, jump-starting it may only be a temporary solution. The car battery will need to be replaced.  • Too Many Short Driving Trips. Longer road trips allow the alternator to recharge the battery. Short drivin ... read more

Before you fork out hundreds of dollars for new tires, do you know what type of tire tread you need? There are four standard tire treads, and depending on the location and weather, each is created to improve the drive’s performance. We’ve outlined a few differences between them all to help you decide which is best for you:   There are symmetrical tread patterns that have grooves that are uniform across the tire’s tread face. Symmetrical tire treads are popular for touring tires. They provide a quiet ride and a long lifespan. Symmetrical treads are versatile and useful for a variety of drives. These tires are multidimensional, so they can be rotated in any direction without impacting performance.  The asymmetrical tire tread has a mix of tread patterns. They usually have a section down the middle and on the edge, that’s designed for wet weather. The outside edge of the tire has an aggressive tread that gives opti ... read more