Need tires for your car before the bad weather hits? Give us a call today for a quote on the new Starfire Solarus AS all season tire. The Solarus AS offers great all season performance at a very affordable price. 

All tires sold in the US must have a DOT (Department of Transportation) number stamped on the sidewall. Most people pay no attention to this and are just happy to have tires with descent safe tread on their cars, but there is very important information contained in this number. The plant that made them, size, manufacture and brand are coded in the first grouping of numbers. Most important to the consumer is the last four digits of the number that identify the date of manufacture. Take note the the complete DOT number normally 10-12 digits is only engraved on one side of the tire, the other side will be lacking date coding.  Why is it so important to know the date? Because tires age out and must be replaced based not only on wear but their age as well. Depending on the source you look at recommended age required replacement ranges 6-10 years. Dry rotted and cracked tread and sidewalls are one sign a tire is starting to age out. There is no federal law requiring tire replacement at a specified age, but most shops will refuse to mount a tire that is 10 or more years old and will start to recommend your tires be replaced if there are signs of dry rotting or they are 6 plus years old.  The environment and care tires are subjected to also will influence their useful life span, I have replaced tires less than three years old due to sever dry rotting. Remember to check the date code on new tires you are purchasing  because they may have been on the rack at the tire store for years before they are ever sold. Always purchase tires with the latest date code possible. Have your tires checked regularly at oil change time for condition issues of any kind and replace them before they leave you stranded or cause a more serious problem.      

Is it time to buy an electric car?

 Many people think electric cars are the future of the automotive industry. There is no doubt  they have come a long way in the last ten years. The first modern era electrics were not much of advancement over the ones sold 100 years ago, low range, low performance and very expensive to purchase. Tesla changed all that and proved electrics can out perform their ice (internal combustion engine) counterparts in almost every way and be very desirable at the same time. Other new full electric car companies are about to release their vehicles and are taking orders now such as Rivian.  Ford and GM have made new resent electric car production announcements with Ford making a 500 million dollar investment in Rivian.  Volvo has started an all electric car division called Polestar. GM , Ford, Nissan, BMW, VW, Audi, Hyundai, Fiat all have EV's available now and many more are planed in the near future. 

So, what are the pros and cons of electric car ownership and are they the right fit for you. Lets start with the most common fears most people have when they consider an electric car purchase.  The biggest fear is range anxiety, can an electric car fit my daily use without leaving me stranded? Where do I charge? How long does it take to charge? Can I take long trips?  Even some of the lowest range EVs will work for most people. The 2019 Nissan Leaf 40 KWH battery has a range of up to 150 miles, most people travel far less than that in their daily commute. Plug your car in at night and wake up to a full charge and go about your day, just think how nice it would be to never have to stop in to a gas station. There are now models of EVs with ranges of near 400 mile (Tesla Model X long range) with new ones coming with 500 mile ranges. Fast charging is available with most EVs that have liquid cooled battery packs. Tesla states under 30 minute charge to 80% battery capacity making long trips possible.  Tesla has it's own supercharge network that is expanding everyday. Many other charging options are out there as well. Websites like A better route planner (https://abetterrouteplanner.com/) will make your trips more stress free.  

What are the advantages to going electric? How about greatly reduced maintenance. No more oil changes, timing belt services, tune ups. No more Check Engine Lights, no exhaust system or catalytic converts to fail. Brakes last many times longer due to regenerative braking, the list does on. Of course many will argue that the batteries will eventually need to be replaced and they will, but with what you save over the years in maintenance costs over an ice car will outweigh that. The motors in a Tesla a rated at one million miles of service, even a well cared for Toyota can't beat that. Then there is the performance of EVs. With full toque available from a dead start Evs are extremely quick, quicker than any muscle car you can think of. Over the air updates will keep a Tesla up to date with any new software advancements always improving performance and safety.  There is also the safety factor, Tesla claims very high NHTSA ratings. Judge for yourself see https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/nhtsa-rejects-tesla-safety-claims/

So when it comes time for your next new car purchase consider going electric. They aren't just golf carts anymore. 

New NJ inspection rules

 

Are you a vehicle owner in the state of NJ?  New Jersey no longer checks basic safety items during the biennial inspection of passenger vehicles. Vehicles that are from MY 1995 and older with a gross vehicle weight of less than 8500 lbs. now are no long required to be inspected at all.   It is now up to you as the vehicle owner to properly maintain all of your safety and emission components on your car.  This is a quote directly from the NJ MVC website. “Vehicle owners are still required to maintain all safety and emissions equipment and may be at any time be cited for malfunctioning or missing required equipment”.     

 Here are a few tips to help you maintain a safe car and help reduce the chance of getting a citation from your local friendly law enforcement officer.

 

Frequently check all exterior lighting. Head and tail lights, turn signals, marker lights and don’t forget the often overlooked rear license plate light.

 

Tire pressures should be check at least twice a month. Don’t rely on the Tire Pressure Monitoring light only (For cars equipped with TPMS warning lights). Use an accurate gauge, not the one on the air pump.

 

Tire wear. Tires may be considered for replacement between 4 and 5 /32”  and require replacement at 2/32”. Also look for signs of dry rotting of the rubber. Tires do go bad over time just from age. Consider replacing tires that are more than six years old even if remaining tread is good. If you are unsure of the tires age have your locale tire expert check the date code to see when they were produced.  

 

Check all fluids at least once a month. Oil, coolant, brake fluid, power steering and washer fluids are all important for your safety and your cars long life. See your owner’s manual if you are unsure of how to check any level and what type of fluids are needed for your car.

Low brake fluid may indicate that it’s time to have your brakes inspected. As the brake pads wear on a disc brake system the fluid in the brake reservoir will drop down as the caliper pistons move out to take up the place of the worn pads, this will happen gradually with normal wear. If you are adding fluid frequently you may have a hydraulic leak and will require immediate attention. If you notice any unusual noises, vibrations or pulling to one side or the other during braking it is also time to have your brakes looked at.  

 

Keep an eye on dash warning lights and gauges. If your car is equipped with gauges get to know were the normal range is so you will be well informed when something does go wrong. Don’t ignore the Check Engine Light, it can be trying to tell you anything from a minor emissions system malfunction like a loose gas cap to something more severe that can cause farther engine damage. 

Don't forget those wiper blades. Replace them at least once a year. This will prevent poor visibility and keep your windshield from getting damaged.   

 

Remember as a New Jersey motorist it is up to you to be sure your car is safe for public roads. Don’t take this responsibility lightly, your safety and the safety of fellow driver’s is in your hands.         

  

Some overlooked general maintenance

 

1. Brake flush. Your brake system is one of the most important safety features of your car, but also has one of the most overlook maintenance items on the car. The brake fluid itself. Everyone knows to periodically have the brakes check for wear, but did you know the brake fluid must be changed too. All non silicone brake fluids like DOT 3 & 4 are hydroscopic and absorbed moisture. Over time this will lower the boiling point and effectiveness of the fluid. Most manufacturers recommend changing the fluid every two years.

2. Gear oil. If you own a rear wheel drive car or truck or a four wheel drive vehicle your differential level should be check at major service intervals to ensure it’s not low. Always top up with the recommended fluid for your car. Look for leaking axle seals if the fluid is low. Check your owner’s manual to see if the manufacturer recommends changing the fluid at a certain mileage.

3. Manual transmission fluid. Most people know they must service their automatic transmission fluid, but many forget about the fluid in their manual transmission. Once again it’s very important to check the manufacture’s maintenance schedule to see if there is a change interval on the trans fluid as well as the type of fluid to be put in.                      

4. Lighting. On todays cars with composite headlights it’s not good enough to just check that the bulbs work, you also have to make sure the plastic lenses are not cloudy to the point hardly any light is getting out. Cloudy headlight lenses will greatly reduce the distance you will see at night. There are many commercially available headlight restore kits on the market and most do a good job of returning the lights back to working condition. If your on a budget and don’t want to spring for a restoring kit you can try some very light polishing compound on a clean soft cloth. Try a small area first to make sure what your using works safely before doing the entire light. This will clean the lenses nicely, but does nothing to seal them as the restoring kits do, but it will get you by for a while.