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December 2019

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Are Winter Tires A Good Fit?

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It’s never too early to start thinking about the winter months and how that’s going to impact your commute to and from work, among other places in town. There are certain things you’ll want to do to your vehicle to ensure you get the most efficiency and safety possible from it. It’s a good idea, for example, to visit an auto repair shop in Philadelphia, PA for a tune up to give yourself peace of mind that things are operating well, and you won’t get stranded out in the cold. While you’re there, you might also want to think about winter tires. What are the differences they can provide?

The biggest difference between winter tires and regular tires is the treat depth. Winter tires have a treat depth that starts around 9mm while regular tires are usually more along the 7 mm line. The wider, deeper grooves on winter tires gives a larger channel for the snow to travel through, which allows you to have a better grip on the road as you drive. Winter tires are also generally made with more rubber and silica compounds in the materials. That type doesn’t harden as much as pure synthetic rubber, which can also help improve the grip on the road.

Winter tires give you more road safety when weather conditions turn from wet rains to icy snow. The tires give you reduced stopping distances as well, which you might need when someone in front of you has trouble getting started on the snow.

If you are considering winter tires, you have more reason for them if you have a job that requires your attendance no matter what. If you work at a hospital, for example, and there are always emergencies, you have to be able to get in when you are on call. Perhaps you are a member of a media news team, who actually repots on the winter weather. You have to be there as well. Winter tires can help you get where you need to go safety, even when the weather is bad.

Winter tires also help extend the life of your other tires since you use the winter tires in the colder seasons. You can then put the other tires back on when spring hits and they will last longer since they got a break.

You want your vehicle to work well in any season of the year and it can do its best for you in the winter with winter tires. If you are thinking about auto repair in Philadelphia, PA, including possibly getting winter tires, contact the professionals at Schafer’s Auto Center. Call SAR at (215) 755-1270 and ask about winter tire benefits and options. Depending on where you live, where you need to go, and how often you need to drive, they could be a good fit for you. Visit us at 1924 S Columbus Blvd Philadelphia, PA 19148 to ask questions about maintenance, tires, or anything else vehicle-related and we’ll help in any way we can.

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Driving Safely Around Schools

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If there’s one place in your regular commute that you want to drive safely, it’s around the local school. It’s never great to get in an accident, but if that accident involves a child, things feel exponentially worse. The first thing you need to do is ensure that your vehicle is in good shape – and this might require Philadelphia, PA auto repair. Use the following tips to drive as safely as possible around schools, whether you’re dropping of a child of your own or you just have to drive by on the way to work.

Obey Speed Limits

It’s hard to slow down when you’re in a rush to get your kids to school or to get to the office yourself. But the speed limits around schools are posted for a reason. You never know when a kid’s going to dart out, late themselves, and if you are driving slowly enough, you can react and prevent disaster. Speed limits in that area may be different when school is in session versus other times of the day so watch the signs with care.

Keep Headlights On

Most modern cars have headlights that stay on at all times, but if yours doesn’t, put them on when you are around the school. There’s a better chance that you will be seen and that you will see others when headlights are involved.

Never Drive Distracted

It’s tempting to look at that text message, sing along to the radio, and think about everything you have going on that day, but around the school, let everything else slide away and simply concentrate on what you are doing. You need to keep distractions at bay so you are ready to react to whatever might happen around you.

Communicate With Others Well

You might not always use your turn signal, but around a school, make sure other drivers know what you are trying to do. If you are slowing to let a child hop out, put on your hazards so people know what’s going on. Don’t assume others know you are turning. Put that blinker on with plenty of notice.

Get Auto Repair When Needed

You certainly don’t want your car to overheat in the school drop-off line and you don’t want the brakes to fail when a kid runs out in front of you. Keep your car in good working order with checkups, maintenance, and repairs as needed. Be regular with your oil changes and get everything else checked out at the same time.

When you need auto repair in Philadelphia, PA, of if you want more safe driving tips for the school areas in your neighborhood, contact the professionals at Schafer’s Auto Center. We’re here to help you keep your vehicle as safe as possible. Contact us at (215) 755-1270 and we’ll answer questions by phone or set up a time for you to come in and get a maintenance checkup as soon as possible. You can find us at 1924 S Columbus Blvd Philadelphia, PA 19148. We’re here to help keep things working efficiently and effectively for anywhere you need to drive each and every day, even around the schools.

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The Little Auto Repairs That Matter

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You’ve probably heard people say that it’s the little things that matter. And when it comes to auto repair in Philadelphia, PA, that can really be true. Your vehicle will operate better if you take care of the little things. Those little things can help prevent bigger issues that can occur when you ignore the littler items. Here are a few little auto repairs that really matter in the long haul.

Wiper Blade Replacement

While old wiper blades aren’t going to have an impact on the engine or really any other important part of the vehicle, they are highly valuable to the driver. When you drive in Pennsylvania weather, you never know if you are going to see sun and then rain or snow and then sleet. The wiper blades are the only thing between you, the windshield, and your line of sight. The rubber on those blades can wear down and even dry out in the summer heat. Replace them at a regular interval, like before the bad weather seasons, so you can ensure you aren’t stuck driving in the rain with low visibility.

Oil Changes

Everyone knows that oil changes are essential to the inner workings of a vehicle, but not everyone knows why. The oil change takes old oil out of the engine and replaces it with new oil. If you leave old oil in too long, it can dry up or clog up the engine and those parts won’t operate correctly any longer. It can lead to an overheating engine, or worse. Something as small as an oil change every 5,000 miles or so can keep your car operating well.

Worn Belt Replacement

Belts aren’t things cars have to keep pants up, they are operating portions of the vehicle. Before they break completely, listen to your mechanic when they are getting worn. Replacing a belt with a new one can prevent you from being pulled over on the side of the road with a failed vehicle that now has a much larger issue. There are a number of belts in any vehicle and all of them can become worn, cracked, or loose over time.

Battery Replacement

Have you ever had to put new batteries into your remote control at home? How about your smoke detectors? Anything with a battery is going to wear out eventually and the same can be said about the battery in your vehicle. Unfortunately, it doesn’t last forever. But replacing the battery is a small issue compared to other accessories that cost much more.

These are a few of the smaller things that pay off when you pay attention to them and take care of them when you need to. If you aren’t sure when these auto repairs in Philadelphia, PA are necessary, the professionals at Schafer’s Auto Center can help. Call us at (215) 755-1270 and we can help you figure out what needs to be done and when. SAR is located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd Philadelphia, PA 19148.

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Tire Auto Repair Needs

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There are a lot of important aspects in any vehicle, but when you think about it, the tires are the only thing that connect the vehicle to the road. They are an integral part to a vehicle’s safety and efficiency. When you need auto repair in Philadelphia, PA, it could be due to the tires. Here are a few things you can do to ensure that the tires operate as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Get Tire Rotation

Tires have tread on them that helps you to operate the vehicle safely. Once that tread wears down, the vehicle is no longer safe to drive. The thing is, the tread doesn’t always wear evenly, which can cause you to replace the tires before you should have to. The front and rear portions of your car support different weights so they will wear differently. Instead of allowing that, have the tires rotated every or every other time you get an oil change. This will help them to wear evenly so they last longer.

Check Wheel Alignment

The wheels on a vehicle have to roll freely and correctly at specific angles. When they are aligned well, they will wear evenly, and things will go just right. If they aren’t, the suspension could have issues. The biggest reason a car is knocked out of alignment is through a sudden impact. That could be something as large as an accident or as small as a pothole. When you have to get new tires, have the alignment checked and redone to make sure the entire system is on par.

Have Tires Replaced As Necessary

Have you heard of the penny check? IT’s a simple way to take a look at the treat on your tires yourself. Take a penny and insert it between the treads. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, the tread is too worn. When you go in for regular oil changes, you can have the tires checked and the technicians will give you percentage as to the wear on your tires. That can help you plan ahead and know about when the tires are going to need replacement. You can plan ahead, budget for the expense, and be prepared when the time comes.

When you work with Schafer’s Auto Center, we’ll take the best possible care of your vehicle from top to bottom, including the tires. When you need auto repair in Philadelphia, PA, or even general maintenance, we’ll keep the tire’s health in mind and give you advice as to what you can do to make them last as long as possible. When you do need new tires, SAR is here to guide you through that process, too. Call us for an appointment at (215) 755-1270, whether you need tire rotation, an oil change, or something else. We’re located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd Philadelphia, PA 19148 and you can always stop by with questions. The tires on your vehicle are very important to helping you get where you need to go safely.

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