With the unexpectedly early arrival of really cold weather, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your tires. Many cars have aluminum alloy wheels these days. Cold weather can cause leaks when tires are matched with aluminum wheels.

On the one hand, cold weather hardens the rubber in tires. Additionally, the pressure inside the tire is reduced by the cold. The result is a potential leak. You may have a perfectly good tire and come out one cold morning to find it flat.

The remedy when tires do go flat is, first of all, to keep an eye on tire pressure at all four corners of the car. If a tire does go flat, or loses air, bring it in to a trusted auto repair shop. Their auto repair technician will remove the tire and clean the bead of the tire and the edge of the rim. After putting the tire back on the rim, they’ll check for a leak.

Once the tire passes the pressure test, it should be good for the season ahead. Of course, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the tires in the winter months anyhow. A flat tire in the summer is an inconvenience. A flat tire in the winter is a potentially hazardous situation.

Only 9 days left until Shop With A Cop fundraiser

From 5 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 20, there is a must-attend party at the McHenry VFW – just east of the Fox River on the north side of Route 120. The event is free to attend and will raise money so that area police officers can take deserving children for a one-on-one shopping experience.

Each child receives a winter coat, hat, gloves and boots, along with $150 to buy holiday presents. In many cases, the officers have to remind the children to buy something for themselves, too – they’re too busy buying presents for their families.

The event Nov. 20 includes table after table of raffle, silent and live auction items. Attendees can do a pretty good job of holiday shopping themselves. The event also offers live music, including a sing off by the Johnsburg and McHenry High School Madrigal Choirs, food, games and fun.

There are still opportunities to contribute auction and raffle items. If you have something you’d like to contribute, please, call Mike Kutnick, with MC3, the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce business networking group that sponsors the event. His number is 815-363-8600. You can also send an e-mail to info@MC3Online.com.