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March 2018

Tire Purchasing Tips

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Buying new tires isn’t exactly a purchase you get excited about, but it’s something every car owner has to do at some point. When you need new tires, pay attention to the process so you can get something that will last a long time and suit your car well. Give your tires attention now and you can have peace of mind as you drive for years to come. Here are a few tips to help you figure out which tires will work best for your vehicle as you drive around Philadelphia.

Tip 1: Make Sure you Need Them
The first thing to do is figure out whether or not you actually need new tires. Perhaps your technician at Shafer’s Auto Center is telling you that you need them, but you can also perform a visual inspection yourself between visits to see what’s going on. If you see wear on the tread, a cracked sidewall, discoloration or bulging, you should get new tires. You may even need new tires if yours are 10 years old or older. Rubber deteriorates over time and they need to be replaced even if they look okay.

Tip 2: Inspect the Vehicle
You need to know how your vehicle is doing before you get new tires. If you have something wrong with your vehicle and you get new tires, you could be throwing money away. Tires will wear quickly in certain situations (like if your vehicle has bad shocks or is misaligned). You can get an assessment on your vehicle before you put on new tires when you visit SAC.

Tip 3: Get Information from the Owner’s Manual
You will want to follow your owner’s manual regarding the size and type of tires that work best on your car. The information is placed in your car by law and it is in your best interest to follow it. You can get advice on further options from SAC technicians.

Tip 4: Buy a Full Set
Though you might want to just replace one or two tires, it’s best for the suspension and wear to get a whole new set at once. You’ll be able to maintain the tires better and evaluate issues in the vehicle when they arise because the tires are even.

Tip 5: Check the Spare
When you get new tires, check in on the spare tire as well. You might need a Philadelphia brake replacement there and can get a better deal by doing it at the same time.

Whether you need new tires or help with tire services or maintenance, call Schafer’s Auto Center for an appointment at 215-755-1270. SAC is a locally owned and operated business and we want to make sure our fellow Philadelphia residents are driving on tires that are suited for their vehicles. Our shop is located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148 and we have a full range of tire mounting from 13 to 30 inch. With nationwide road hazard warranties, free tire repairs and rotations for the life of the tire, it pays to work with us!

What Causes Abnormal Tire Wear?

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Your vehicle is an investment and you need it to work properly at all times to get you around Philadelphia when you need to be somewhere. There are many important elements that go into running an effective, efficient vehicle and the tires are one such element. The tires on your vehicle work very hard. They are the only link the car has between it and the road. The tires handle turning, braking, acceleration, and tons of weight. You’re going to see wear on your tires, but the longer you can make them last, the less money you will have to spend on replacing them. When you want your tires to last longer, it is a good idea to be able to spot abnormal wear patterns so you can correct what is wrong and extend the tire’s life. Here are some common reasons tires wear unevenly and what you can do about them.

The tire is overinflated
If your tires have too much air in them, you will get more wear in the middle of the tire than on the edges. In this case, simply let some air out of each tire. Check your manufacturer’s guide to see how much air you should have in your tires.

The tire is underinflated
If your tires don’t have enough air in them, you will see more wear along the edges of the tread. Keep in mind that when Philadelphia gets cold, the tires can vary on their air pressures. Check in with the tire inflation level regularly to ensure that they have the right level of air in each of them.

The wheel is out of alignment
If you see wear on one edge of the tire, but not the other, you may have a misalignment issue. Take your vehicle to Schafer’s Auto Repair (SAR) to be realigned and save your tires from wearing down too fast.

The tires are never rotated
Most technicians advise that you rotate your tires every other Philadelphia oil change or so. If you neglect to do that, you will see an uneven wear on the outer edge of the tires. The best way to combat that is to keep up with the rotations.

Shocks, Suspensions, or struts are worn or damaged
The tire will have an indented surface that is called cupping. The damaged parts can cause vertical forces to be rather erratic on the tires, which shorten their lifespan significantly. Get those items checked out for the good of your entire vehicle, not just the tires.

Whether you know what is going on with your tire tread or not, it is a good idea to have your vehicle looked over. The tread can tell you a lot about what’s going on and the professionals at Schafer’s Auto Center can ensure that everything is up to par so your tires will last as long as possible. Give SAR a call for an appointment at 215-755-1270 or just ask us some questions over the phone.

Need Tire Services?

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Your tires aren’t something you think about, even though you use them every time you get in your vehicle. They are a huge part of propelling you down the highway and you need them to work well. Sure you notice them when one of them goes flat or blows completely, but do you pay much attention to them otherwise? You should! Here are some of the tire services you can get from Schafer’s Auto Center to keep your tires in peak condition so they will last as long as possible.

Alignment
You want your tires to last and you can maximize their lifespan by keeping your vehicle aligned well. This isn’t a service you have to get very often, but you will want to have it when you get new tires and if your alignment gets knocked out of whack for any reason. This can happen in an accident If you notice your vehicle pulling to one side or another, it might be misaligned.

Flat Tire Repair
If you have a lot of construction on your street, it’s possible to pick up a nail in your tire. You could have a puncture, a slow leak, or even a leaky valve stem. Rather than wait for the tire to blow and continuously stop at the gas stations to fill it up with air, it’s best to get it fixed before it wears itself out completely. You can often fix flat tires and use them for much longer.

Tire Rotations
Whenever you get an Philadelphia , PA oil change, SAC will do an 80-point inspection on your vehicle. Every vehicle has recommendations for tire rotations, but generally, you will want to get your tires rotated every other oil change. You’ll get better gas mileage and a smoother ride, and the tread on the tires will have a longer life as well.

Balancing
When you get your tired rotated, they’ll need to be balanced as well. You’ll drive more safely and see less wear and tear on the tires. This tire service protects your investment in your tires.

New Tires
When you’ve driven your tires for many, many miles, the time might come to buy new ones and you can get just what you need from SAC. We can also include some of the above services to get the tires rolling in the right manner under your vehicle.

Whether you need new tires, a flat fix, or something in between, Schafer’s Auto Center is here for you. We’re a family owned and operated business that has been in the Philadelphia area since 1954. We can fix anything, including tires. Give us a call for an appointment at 215-755-1270. We’re open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5:30pm. With local, hard working, honest people on your side, you’ll know we truly care about your car issues and not just about the bottom line on the bill. Our shop is located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148 and we’re happy to help with your tire services.

Timing Belt Replacement Advice

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Timing belts started to replace chains in vehicles back in the 70s and 80s as auto manufacturers looked into ways to produce vehicles that were less expensive and lighter all around. Lighter weight vehicles increased mileage, which is never a bad thing for consumers. But many drivers in Philadelphia still have a lot of questions about timing belts and timing belt replacement. Learning a bit about the timing belt, what they do, and when they should be replaced can help your vehicle run well, and allow you to avoid a breakdown that will end up costing you a lot of money. Remember that not all cars have timing belts, but if you have one, you’ll want to know about it.

The Timing Belt’s Job
The timing belt keeps the crank and camshaft turning at the right rate. The crankshaft moves pistons up and down for compression and exhaust cycles. Depending on the type of car you have, the belt can also run the oil and water pumps, as well as the injection pump. The camshaft controls the valves that have to open and close for intake and exhaust. These valves have to open at the right time to get fuel into the chamber. They then have to close to allow compression to occur. If that timing cycle is off even a little bit, fuel might not come in as needed or could escape too quickly. The power’s engine can be lost without the right cycling.

Timing Belt Replacement
The timing belt is important on vehicles that have one, and if your vehicle has it you might wonder when you need to replace it. The old rule of thumb was to replace the timing belt every 60,000 miles or so, depending on your vehicle’s style. But technology has improved over the years and some manufacturers say you can wait as far as 100,000 miles. You will want to check into the recommendations for your vehicle. Faulty timing belts can cause a loss of power and fuel economy, and you could feel a vibration. Noise can happen as well, but it’s not the most common indicator.

When The Belt Breaks
In the easiest situations, when the timing belt breaks, your engine stops. There’s no connection between vital parts. In harder situations, valves and rods can push through the engine, crash oil pans, and do other damage. In these cases, the engine is ruined. You never know what’s going to happen when the belt breaks, so it’s best to have timing belt replacement before that occurs.

The Professionals at Schafer’s Auto Center are here to help you with your Philadelphia timing belt replacement. We can also help you figure out whether or not you need the replacement at this time. Call SAC at 215-755-1270 to make an appointment. We’re here to answer your questions! Our shop is located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148. We want to ensure that you have a vehicle that works at its best level at all times.

What You Get from a Tune-Up Service

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It’s easy enough to tell when something is really wrong with your vehicle. It starts making weird noises, the dashboard lights are on, and things aren’t running smoothly. But you want to keep your vehicle in working order before those major problems hit. That’s where a tune-up service comes in handy. If you have a tune-up service in Philadelphia on a regular basis, you can avoid those major issues altogether. Technicians notice anything small going on and get it fixed before it becomes a larger problem. You save time; you save money; you save hassles. It’s a no brainer. When you bring your vehicle in to Schafer’s Auto Center, here are a few things you can expect from a tune-up service.

Oil Changes
One of the first things SAC will do for your vehicle is simply an oil change. By draining the oil, replacing the filter, and putting in new oil, your engine will feel much better and run like a dream. We will also check and top off other fluids as well as check your tire pressure and include an 80-point inspection free with any service, including the oil change.

Brake Checks
The tune-up service also includes a brake inspection. Brakes are highly important to the safety and security of any vehicle and at SAC, we have 57 years of experience inspecting and repairing brakes. We will take a look at the brakes and diagnose any problems that are coming your way.

Diagnostics
There are plenty of things that can go wrong with a vehicle and the tune-up service may turn out a problem that needs to be looked into further. If SAC sees something fishy, we’ll go into detail and use one of our three different information systems to help the technicians figure out what’s going on quickly and easily so we can fix it in no time.

Inspections
Schafer’s Auto Center can also include a yearly Pennsylvania state and emission inspection with a Philadelphia tune-up service so you can get it all done at once. It’s a simple, easy, one-stop process when you bring your vehicle to us.

Rotations and Alignments
Part of your tune-up service should also include tire elements including tire rotations so they will wear evenly. We can also align and adjust your tires to ensure everything is lined up properly within your vehicle.

Get a Tune-Up Service from SAC
Schafer’s Auto Center is here to help you with everything from tire rotations and oil changes to exhaust checks and brakes. We’ll take care of any tune-up service you need and warn you if anything is starting to look worn and will need a repair soon. You can avoid a lot with that type of information. Give us a call for your appointment today at 215-755-1270. Our shop is located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148, and we’re here to answer your questions and keep your car running smoothly for as long as possible.

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