Learn How to Break In New Tires!

Selecting the right tires for your vehicle is an important decision. Your safety, as well as driving enjoyment over the next years and thousands of miles will be determined by this decision. To ensure you get the maximum life-span from your new tires, make sure to have a basic tire service performed on a regular basis.

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Tires are comprised of many layers of rubber, steel and fabric. Thus, a break-in period is required to ensure that they deliver their normal ride quality and maximum performance. As tires are cured, a release lubricant is applied to prevent them from sticking in their mold. Some of the lubricant stays on the surface, reducing traction until it is worn away. Five hundred miles of easy acceleration, cornering and braking will allow the mold release lubricant to wear off, allowing the other components to begin working together.

It is also important to note that your old tires probably had very little tread depth remaining when you felt it was time to replace them. As any racer who has tread rubber shaved off of his tires will tell you, low tread depth tires respond more quickly. Don't be surprised if your new tires are a little slower to respond (even if you use the exact same one as before). Their new, full depth brings with it a little more tread squirm until they wear down.

Vehicle owners should understand the importance of having the correct air pressure. Checking air pressure is a vital tire service! Maintaining correct inflation pressure helps optimize performance and fuel economy. Tire deflection (the tread and sidewall flexing where the tread comes into contact with the road) will remain as originally designed and excessive sidewall flexing and tread squirm will be avoided. Heat buildup will be managed and rolling resistance will be appropriate. Proper tire inflation pressure also stabilizes the tire's structure, blending the tire's responsiveness, traction and handling.

NOTE: Be careful whenever you explore the capabilities of your new tires. Remember that every tire requires a break-in period of 500 miles for optimum performance.

Need new tires? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive by calling (763) 389-3811, or go on-line at http://www.rumriverauto.com/ for more information about tire service. Since 1997, our auto shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN, and in the surrounding areas of Milaca and Zimmerman, MN.

Automotive Service Tips: Enjoy Your Summer Road Trip!

The temperatures are climbing as we approach the middle of the summer. If you haven't already done so, be sure to get your car ready for summer's hot temperatures with the appropriate automotive service. The right maintenance services, performed at the recommended intervals, can be literal lifesavers in hot conditions. It may also save you hundreds of dollars in automotive repair expense.

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Tips on How to Avoid Major Automotive Repair while on your summer road trip: 

• Regularly change the oil and filter, as well as other fluids and filters (coolant, brake and transmission) at the recommended intervals. High-quality filters are always a wise choice.
• Safe brakes are very important, especially on a long road-trip, so check the braking system. Are the rotors warped or cracked? Do they have deep grooves or are the pads worn close to their minimum clearance? If so, it may be time for a brake repair.
• Make sure all your lights are working properly. New bulbs are easy to install and only cost a few dollars, either yourself or when getting an automotive service.
• If your windshield wiper blades are more than six months old, it's probably time to replace the windshield wipers. Don't forget to fill the washer fluid reservoir. Be ready for those sudden summer thunder storms.
• Have your tires rotated, inspected and filled with the correct air pressure. Be safe and replace any that are too worn. Don't forget to check your spare tire so you aren't left stranded by the side of the road with a flat on a hot summer day.

The dollars spent on automotive service to enhance the safety of you and your passengers as well as other motorists is money well spent. An added bonus is that your gas mileage will increase, and your vehicle will run smoother and stop quicker.

Need the help of an automotive service professional? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive by calling (763) 389-3811, or go on-line at http://www.rumriverauto.com/ for information about our automotive repair services. Since 1997, our automotive repair shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN and in the surrounding areas of Milaca and Zimmerman, MN.

Vehicle Suspension: The Ups and Downs!

You may be surprised to learn just how important a properly functioning vehicle suspension actually is.  Some drivers think it is fun when their car bounces up and down the road.  However, don't put off replacing failing shocks or struts. These are crucial components for safety that help you maintain control behind the wheel.

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How do you know whether or not you need the components of your car suspension system replaced? What does a shock or strut do? Every driver should know the answers to these questions, yet few actually do.

What is a shock?

The shock is essentially the component that keeps the "spring" of your vehicle in check. The purpose of the shocks is to dampen the oscillation of the springs. That's why you'll hear mechanics use "shock" and "damper" interchangeably. Functional shocks keep those springs in check, letting you enjoy the impact-absorbing properties of the springs without any undue bouncing after the fact.

What is a strut?

The strut, too, is responsible for keeping your vehicle's spring in check. It's more than just a damper though--struts also add structural integrity to the suspension. It is possible, though dangerous and not advisable, to drive a car without shocks. But a strut-based suspension without struts would simply fall apart, because the struts are part of what holds the front end of the car together. They're like super-shocks.

When do shocks or struts need replacing?

Your mechanic is the best one to answer this question. Shocks and struts aren't like wiper blades--there's no surefire way to determine when they're spent. Have an annual vehicle suspension inspection at your preferred auto shop. Your trusted technician can tell you whether or not it's time to replace your shocks and/or struts.

There a few indicators of failure that you may start to notice yourself, such as:

• Your car starts to "bounce" around after hitting a bump in the road;
• A hard ride (although that may have more to do with the springs);
• Your car suddenly starts swaying at highway speeds or wallowing around corners.

Shocks and struts are not simply luxury items that give your car a smooth ride! They are integral to car control, so when they fail, your car becomes a hazard to both yourself and other drivers. The best practice is to be proactive and have your mechanic perform a vehicle suspension inspection on a regular basis.

Replace your shocks and struts whenever necessary. Be smart and be safe!

Need to schedule a car suspension inspection? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive by calling (763) 389-3811, or go on-line at http://www.rumriverauto.com/ for information about our vehicle suspension services. Since 1997, our automotive repair shop has served vehicle Princeton, MN, and in the surrounding areas of Milaca and Zimmerman, MN.