Guide To Selecting Tires And Wheels
Some Rowlett car owners love driving, love their vehicles: To them, picking out the right tire is just as important – and just as much fun – as finding the right shoes is to a runner.
Now not everyone in Rowlett is like that. Many TX people have found that shopping for tires is overwhelming because there are just so many choices. So let’s break it down: there are four main categories of tires, depending on the kind of driving you do.
First, there are summer tires. You would buy summer tires if you’re looking for maximum summertime performance. The rubber is a little softer to help you stick to the road in fast corners. The tread has wide blocks at the shoulder to stiffen the tire in turns. The tread design can handle rain, but really isn’t set up for snow and ice.
Next comes winter tires. You would buy winter tires if you still like performance driving when it’s cold and slippery out, so you need a tread design that’ll really bite into ice and snow. The rubber compound is formulated to stay pliable when temperatures drop below 45 degrees so you get great traction even on dry roads. On the other end of the winter tire spectrum are tires designed to handle severe ice and snow conditions.
The third category is all-season tires. Now, most new cars come with all-seasons in Rowlett. The idea is a tire that you can use all-year round in TX. Naturally, the tread design and rubber compound is a compromise that won’t give you the extreme capabilities of summer or winter tires, but if your driving and weather conditions aren’t at the extreme ends of the spectrum, all-season tires might suit you just fine.
The last category is all-terrain tires. These tires are designed for both Dallas highway and off-road use. If you need a tire that gets good traction in the dirt and is tough enough for rocks and ruts and stuff, but still performs well on the road, an all-terrain tire might be just what you need.
Talk with your cheerful Compton Automotive tire professional in Dallas about how and where you drive and get his suggestions for tires that’ll work for you.
Give us a call!
Compton Automotive
10333 Garland Road
Dallas, TX 75218
At Compton Automotive in Dallas TX (75218) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 214.321.2617. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.
Your Courtesy Inspection At Compton Automotive In Dallas
Most Dallas motorists come to their cheerful Compton Automotive service advisor with specific services in mind and an idea of how much they’ll be spending. Sometimes, a courtesy car inspection and a review of your service history will uncover additional items that require attention. How should you react to that?
Here’s some advice: It’s not as if your cheerful Compton Automotive service advisor is saying “Do you want fries with that?” or “Supersize for 59 cents more.” He’s not recommending something extra or something you don’t need. Recommendations are either based on the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule or on a problem uncovered during an automotive analysis.
An important part of the Compton Automotive service advisor‘s role is to help you understand the manufacturers recommendations: recommendations that cover every system on the minivan and are set by the engineers that design the minivan. If Richardson folks followed every one of those recommendations they would experience better fuel efficiency, enjoy better performance, be safer and avoid a lot of breakdowns and repairs.
Your Compton Automotive service advisor is an educator who will help you with a plan for catching up on scheduled services and a partner in taking care of your family’s vehicle priorities – they are there to help you manage your vehicle needs.
Give us a call!
Compton Automotive
10333 Garland Road
Dallas, TX 75218
At Compton Automotive in Dallas TX (75218) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 214.321.2617. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.
Prevent Cooling System Problems
Cooling system problems are the most common reason for mechanical failure in Rowlett. And, they’re largely avoidable. Here’s what Dallas auto owners need to know about their cooling system. First, the terms coolant and antifreeze are pretty much used interchangeably in TX. The fluid cools your engine while it’s running and it keeps it from freezing when it’s cold.
Your cooling system is filled with a 50/50 mixture of water and antifreeze/coolant. So if you’re topping off antifreeze/coolant, it is essential to add the proper amount of each. Distilled water is much better than tap water. Now you can buy pre-mixed coolant so make sure you know what you’re putting in.
Two more cautions for Rowlett auto owners: first, never add coolant when the engine is hot. This can lead to serious burns. Second, there are many antifreeze formulas. Your manufacturer recommends a specific type that won’t harm your cooling system components. Use the wrong fluid and you could void your cooling system warranty. Your cheerful Compton Automotive service advisor can help you with all this.
All manufacturers have schedules for when you should change your coolant. It’s essential to follow the schedule, because neglecting your cooling system allows the fluid to become corrosive. You’ll get leaks which can lead to pricey damage. Check with your service advisor at Compton Automotive in Dallas to see if it’s time for a cooling system inspection and service.
Give us a call!
Compton Automotive
10333 Garland Road
Dallas, TX 75218
At Compton Automotive in Dallas TX (75218) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 214.321.2617. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.
Taking Care of Your Transmission
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve noticed that TX vehicles are getting more and more powerful and at the same time are getting better and better fuel efficiency. Much of that’s because of better transmissions. To get a understanding of why that is, let’s turn to gear experts – Dallas bicyclists.
A cyclist’s cadence is the number of times per minute he or she pedals. Their ideal pedal speed is the zone where they can most efficiently generate power over a sustained period of time. The experienced cyclist uses his gears to keep his pedal speed in the ideal zone whether he’s climbing a steep Rowlett hill, cruising on a flat stretch or killing a downhill.
Look at how it works: if you have a 1-speed bike, you really have to pump hard to get up to speed. And your top speed is limited by how fast as you can pedal. And if you’ve got a hill to climb – forget about it.
Now let’s add a couple of gears: one lower and another one higher. With the lower first gear, you can get up to your ideal pedal speed quicker. When you shift to second, your pedal speed drops below ideal for a while as you work to get back to peak efficiency. Same thing happens when you shift to third, but now you can go much faster than you could with a 1-speed bike using the same effort.
Add more gears and you can see that it’s much easier to maintain ideal pedal speed. The result, quicker starts, better hill climbing, higher top speed and, most of all, a lot less fatigue for the rider.
Like a cyclist, every minivan engine has an ideal engine speed called its power band. When an engine is running in that zone, it can make power very efficiently. It’s the transmission’s job to keep the engine in the power band over a wide range of operating conditions. Today 5 or 6 speed automatic transmissions are pretty much the minimum in TX, and 7 and 8 speeds are fairly common.
Obviously these sophisticated minivan transmissions are very expensive. In fact, next to your engine, your transmission is the most expensive component in your vehicle, so it pays to take good care of it. Modern transmissions can adversely affect minivan engine performance when they aren’t working right.
All car makers have a recommended service interval for changing your old, contaminated transmission fluid. Getting transmission service on schedule at Compton Automotive in Dallas keeps it operating at its best and can prevent expensive damage. Ask your cheerful Compton Automotive service specialist if it’s time for an automotive analysis of your transmission.
Give us a call!
Compton Automotive
10333 Garland Road
Dallas, TX 75218
At Compton Automotive in Dallas TX (75218) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 214.321.2617. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.
Suspension Integrity In Dallas
Hello Dallas motorists - today we're talking about suspension integrity. Your skeleton provides the structure to hold up your weight. Your joints cushion you as you walk and allow you to change direction. Your minivan’s suspension system is similar: It bears the weight of your vehicle, absorbs bumps in the road and controls the body as you steer.
Like the bones in your body, minivan suspension parts are connected by joints that allow all the components to move as they should. Over time and miles, the joints start to wear and your suspension gets loose and doesn’t operate as precisely as before, reducing proper tire contact with the road. An accident, pothole or hitting a curb or rock can also damage or break minivan suspension components.
If you’ve ever hurt your foot, you know you’ve had to walk differently to keep it from hurting as bad. Do that long enough and your ankle, knee, hip and even your back will start to hurt from the strain of not moving normally. The same thing happens in your minivan when one joint or part is worn or damaged: it stresses everything else and causes premature wear to the whole system.
Signs of suspension problems include uneven tire wear, vibration, rattles or clunks when you hit a bump or turn on a windy Rowlett road, or the vehicle pulls to one side.
If you suspect a suspension problem, ask your cheerful Compton Automotive technician for an inspection of your suspension system. They can also check your alignment while they’re at it. Taking care of a worn or damaged suspension component early, will head off future damage and costly repairs down the road.
Give us a call!
Compton Automotive
10333 Garland Road
Dallas, TX 75218
At Compton Automotive in Dallas TX (75218) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 214.321.2617. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.