Four critical points on a car - where the rubber meets the road. One sure way to tell if you need new tires is to look at the tread wear. After driving 50,000 miles, or so, there’s no surprise if you need new tires. Of course, that also depends on how you drive. A heavy foot, either accelerating or braking can lead to faster tire wear, not to mention higher fuel usage and brake wear. But, there

For some folks, it’s easy finding an auto repair shop, right? Not for you though. You drive that Volkswagen. Or, maybe, you drive a Subaru or a Daewoo. Whatever your car, it’s not one of those ‘run-of-the-mill’ vehicles that everyone else drives. And that poses a problem when you bring the car to an auto repair shop. You can’t bring that more unique vehicle to just any repair shop. You

Tires are designed to provide your vehicle with traction so that when you apply the gas, or hit the brakes, the tires grab the road. That’s why they make tires out of rubber. That’s also why design engineers have spent decades developing tread patterns that will channel the water, dig through mud and snow and maintain a degree of grip even on ice. No matter how good the design of your tires’

Wouldn't it be nice if, the next time you went to the butcher shop, they gave you one steak for free – if the next time you went to a show, they didn't charge the last member of your party? Of course, what are the odds that would happen? You’ll turn a nice color of purple holding your breath until it does. Well, take a deep breath because that’s exactly what can happen when you purchase and

It was the second time Jean noticed the little orange warning light flash on in her dashboard beside the speedometer. The first time, she thought it was a fluke. Or, maybe, just hoped it was a fluke. She told herself, “If I see it again, I’ll worry.” But then it flashed again. “It may not have meant anything, or at least not something important,” she thought out loud. But, deep down, she

It’s an easily recognizable chain and the word “Tires” is in its name. So, of course, that’s where you go for tires, fully expecting that tires are their expertise. But, when you walk in the door, some pimple-faced kid starts explaining tires, in a monologue clearly rehearsed, as though you didn’t know tires are actually round. The truth is, “Tire” stores are often the automotive equivalent

In the rear-view mirror, you see your daughter’s anxious smile from the car seat in back. Dressed in her ballet outfit, you wonder to yourself how anyone could be so incredibly precious. Though your eyes were off the road for just a moment, that’s all it took; In that instance, a car has missed the red light and pulled into your path. Before you’re fully conscious of what has happened, your foot

A customer, at Ringwood-based Performance Unlimited, had their car towed in the other day because the engine wouldn’t run. The damage to internal parts of the engine were extensive and, unfortunately for the customer, avoidable. The car’s timing belt broke causing a chain reaction of internal-engine damage. Denny Norton, the owner of Performance Unlimited, feels bad for the customer. More than

There are 10 days left – 10 days to bring your car into a NAPA AutoCare Center, such as Performance Unlimited in Ringwood, for a rebate on electrical components – NAPA battery,, alternator or starter. The offer is extremely timely in a general sense as, with autumn and winter pending, you’ll probably want to have your charging system checked anyhow. Checking your charging system before winter

How do avoid these excessive and costly automotive repair bills or breaking down unexpectedly on the side of the road somewhere while traveling miles from McHenry? The answer to both questions is simple – automotive maintenance. If you take care of your car it will take care of you. If you treat it badly and let it lapse into disrepair, don’t be surprised if the additional costs and unreliability