News

The beginning of January means that there’s a solid couple of months of winter left…so consider some New Year’s resolutions for your car.

The good news is that highway miles are the best kind of miles you can put on a vehicle. Running for hours at a constant speed and steady state is much less stressful on a vehicle than stop-and-start driving around town. With the right maintenance and care, your vehicle should be ready to go for many comfortable, dependable highway miles this holiday season!

In a lot of parts of the country, the winters are tough enough that all-season tires just won’t get the job done. All-season tires are a compromise; they offer good year-round traction with a quiet ride, good handling and road manners. They tend to perform well in wet weather and light wintry conditions, but when the snow is more than a couple of inches deep, all-season tires are out of their league. That’s when it’s time to consider winter tires.    Today’s winter tires are a long way...

If you’re past “a certain age,” you might remember when gas was $1.50 per gallon, or $1.00 per gallon, or 59 cents, or what-have-you…but the truth is that everything has gotten more expensive. After all, when gas was $1.00 per gallon, a nicely tricked-out Chevrolet Caprice Classic was selling for about $6,000 brand new.    Now that we’re well into the 21st century, gas prices are likely to fluctuate, but one thing’s for sure: gas is likely to never be “cheap” again. We know that ev...

Winter tires versus all-season tires…which is the right choice for you?   The two designs are quite different and deliver different levels of performance and winter-weather traction, so let’s discuss.  • All-season tires are designed as an all-around compromise. They feature a tread pattern that evacuates water from the tire’s contact patch to prevent hydroplaning, with plenty of small, textured slits (sipes) to add extra biting edges for traction in wet or slushy conditions.  ...

Where did this year go? Before you know it, it’s going to be time for the holidays, and that can mean travel in some pretty trying conditions (and we don’t just mean restless kids in the back seat). Is your vehicle ready for some interstate miles?   • Tires: It’s a good idea to have your tires rotated every 5,000-7,000 miles to ensure even wear. With that in mind, it’s easy to just schedule a tire rotation with every oil change, since the vehicle will be up in the air on a ...

Oh, the lowly spare tire. It doesn’t get much respect.    Today, a lot of vehicles don’t even come with a spare tire anymore, not even the little “donut” space-saver spare. Instead, to cut weight and free up space, they come with a compressor and a can of a Fix-a-Flat-style product in hopes that you can get back on your way again. Great idea, unless your tire has a sidewall puncture or is shredded… Anyway, if your car is equipped with a spare, you shouldn’t just ignore it. Tires have a...

The days are getting shorter, there’s a snap in the air, and before you know it, the winter months are going to be upon us. Is your vehicle ready?    • Wipers: Even the best windshield wipers are only good for about a year; normal wear, the sun’s UV rays and the elements take their toll on them. Get a good look and check them for chunks, strips or chips missing, and replace if necessary for a streak-free field of vision in wet weather. Hint: a fresh application of  Rain-X on your windshi...

That red brake system warning light is not something you want to see. While it’s normal for it to come on briefly when you start your car as part of the bulb check that lights up other dashboard warning lights, a brake warning light that stays lit, blinks or lights up intermittently is a sign of a real problem. But what problem does it indicate?   In most cases, an illuminated brake warning light means that there’s a problem with the brake hydraulic system. In cases where the light is intermi...

Summer’s here, and that means it’s time for weekend road trips and longer vacation drives. Is your car ready? Don Owen Tire is offering some discounts this summer to help you get on the road and save a few bucks at the same time: Oil Change – Every car likes to run on a crankcase full of clean, fresh motor oil. Prevent buildup of gunk and sediment in your engine this summer with an oil change…and Don Owen Tire will sweeten the deal a little with a $5-off coupon (offer good through 8/31)....