Shottenkirk Chevrolet Tire Sale

Tread
The tread on your tires should never fall below 1/16 of an inch (1.6 millimeters) in depth. If you frequently drive on slick, wet surfaces, it would actually be safer to have twice the depth. You can buy a gauge or use a penny, take a Lincoln-head penny, and insert Abe's head (head-down) into the tread. If Lincoln's entire head remains visible, you don't have enough tread.

Vibration
A certain amount of vibration is to be expected, especially on gravel roads, but if you've been driving for a while, you probably know how much vibration is okay and how much means that something's wrong. Your tires may be misaligned or unbalanced, or the shock absorbers are starting to go. It could also indicate that there's some sort of internal issue with the tire. Even if the tire isn't the root cause of the vibration, the vibration will most likely damage the tire.

Tread Bar
Newer tires now have tread wear indicator bars built into the tires themselves. These bars, invisible or barely visible when the tires are new, progressively begin to appear as the tread wears down. They appear as flat rubber bars running perpendicular to the direction of the tread itself. If more than one or two of these are visible on a tire, the tread is getting low. You can even check the wet tracks your tires leave after driving through water.

Bulges
Sometimes the outer surface of the tire begins to weaken. The result can be a bulge or blister that extends outward from the surface. This weak spot can cause an unexpected blow out.

Sidewall Cracks
Not all problems with the tires are going to be in the tread. They can also appear in the sidewall. Look for tracks or cuts in the sidewall or grooves. This could be a sign that your tire is developing a leak, or that it could blow out.

Check out all our Service Deals including $100 off a set of four tires!

Appearance Modifications

There is something to be said about modifications on a Chevrolet.  For an owner it’s a sense of pride as they ride in a vehicle with personalized style.  We might enjoy our cars the way they are, but a modified car can bring out the character in our cherished metal.  Today we will touch base on appearance mods. 

There are many choices in the appearance modification genre.  Some of the choices are:

 

- Different lighting like optional under glow.  This is one modifier you might want to be cautious of because in some states it’s illegal to have a certain colors for your lighting choice. This could be helpful to see if there are any monsters lurking beneath your ride at night.

 

 - You can add a body kit to your vehicle to change the appearance altogether, like the above Disney Turbo promotional Camaro.  This modification speaks for itself. 

 -There are doors that will open up, instead of open out. This could make it much easier for parking in tight spaces.

- There are bumpers, hoods, scoops and tires that will drastically change the look of your car. In some cases, modifications such as these, could improve performance.

There are many different choices you can choose from when you want to style your ride.  What kind of modification would you choose for your favorite care in our inventory? Browse our inventory online and take the first steps to your dream car: http://bit.ly/XBVln1 

Road Rage - Safety

Do you know what to do in cases of road rage?  Most of us spend approximately an hour in our car every day to and from work.  We love our freedom so much that we hop in our car for weekend getaways adding additional hours spent in the confines of its cabin.  It is probable that, in the estimated 356 hours on the road, we’ll experience somebody’s road rage in one form or another.  How we react in these situations has more of a bearing towards the outcome than we think.

If you’re a victim of road rage, don’t get aggressive towards the perpetrator.  Reacting towards their aggression can make matters escalate further.  It is best to obey all traffic laws and be in the right.  Don’t return their gestures, their poor driving habits and definitely don’t react hostile.  If somebody gives you the bird, give them a smile.   It's better to kill people with kindness than to put yourself in harm’s way.    If they continue to act aggressively towards you, right down their license plate number, year make and model of the vehicle and call the authorities.  It might be helpful to have a passenger take a picture with their phone for reporting purposes.  Remove yourself from the situation and get to safety. 

The psychology of an aggressive driver can stem from negative events throughout their day.  People who act like monsters on the road are humans too.  They could’ve had a bad day at work, horrible news or maybe their pet hamster just died.  Send a good vibe their way and don’t partake in the obnoxiousness of the situation.  Even if they’re not thinking about their well-being, sometimes you have to think and react for yours and others’ safety.

If you are the perpetrator of road rage, take a deep breath and relax.  Use your drive time as your time to decompress from the stress, but if it is your vehicle that is stressing you out, maybe it’s time to get a new one: http://bit.ly/18682di

Summer TLC

Summer is upon us and the hot temps are beating down on our cars.  Your car’s well-being needs extra special TLC to get you from point A to point B.  Here are some helpful tips in preventative maintenance that will help you achieve the longevity of your needed transportation:   

Check your battery for a chalky substance around the terminals.  Make sure your battery is clean and free of debris.  If your battery is bulging out, it might be time to replace it with one that doesn’t pose a danger of exploding under your hood. 

Check your tires for even wear on the tread.  If it is not even, you might want to bring your car in for an alignment inspection or maybe it is time to balance your tires.  Needless to say if your wear and tear is at the point of balding, you should get new tires. 

Your car relies on a proper cooling system during the hotter months.  Bring your car into a mechanic for a proper inspection of belts, hoses, pressure cap, thermostat and coolant levels with proper ratios. 

Feel free to schedule a summer maintenance inspection with us: http://bit.ly/18JAKSj

Safety First

Do you know what to do in extreme weather situations while driving?  We hear reports about terrible weather striking across the country and causing catastrophic events.  The only thing that is safe to say is that we will come across an unsafe weather condition like high winds at some point.  The way we react in in any situation can help achieve a safe outcome.  

What is the best way to react to a high wind situation?  For starters, be aware of your surroundings.  It is important to know that high winds are more problematic for large vehicles because of aerodynamics.  The larger the vehicle, the more of a chance that the wind’s velocity can and will make the vehicle uncontrollable.  If you're in a smaller vehicle, you might have better control, but the larger vehicle next to you might fall victim to the winds and take you out too.  Slow down and get yourself out of harm’s way.   

The number one tool that should be utilized is your awareness.  Don’t drive unless you absolutely have to and if you’re on the road when the high winds come, take precautionary measures for the safest of outcomes.  

Sources: sos.state.il.us

http://bit.ly/XSNmi8

State Auto Insurance

Have you recently moved to another state? Every state has different auto insurance requirements and state’s rates fluctuate. The best thing that you can do to ensure you insure correctly is contact your insurance agent. It doesn't hurt to shop around and get a second opinion because you might find out that being compliant can benefit your wallet.

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