Top 5 Tips to Make Your Tires Last

Since 2010 we have noticed a steady rise in tire prices, and with the Holiday season right around the corner, as well as the ruthless winter seasons that hit the east coast (enjoy your sunshine west coasters, we are just jealous), extending the life of your tires is more important than ever to those who are looking to save money and stay safe.

Taking care of your tires does not have to be difficult. And with simplicity in mind, we bring you our top 5 tire-care tips to make them last longer and perform better:

1. Make sure your tires are properly inflated

Many experts will tell you that often times most instances of damaged or flat tire reports come from lack of air.

Make sure you get into the habit of looking at your tires, whether it’s once a week, every morning, or every time you go get gas at the pump. If you spot bulging sidewalls during a visual inspection, this could indicate low tire pressure. You should also check the tire pressure once a month with a quality digital or pencil type pressure gauge. Luckily for you, many vehicles today are equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), which uses a warning light on the dash to notify you when a tire is low.

One word of advice we can offer is to make sure to fill up your tires according to manufacturer-

recommended tire pressure settings, and to always monitor your tire pressure when driving in snow, rain and sleet, since correct pressure is essential to good handling and traction.

Lastly, by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure, you can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent, so also saves you money at the pump.

2. Rotate and balance tires every other oil change

Many experts today recommend that you rotate and balance your tires during every other oil change. Lucky for you, most tire shops offer this service free-of-charge if the tires were purchased from them. Normally the front tires tend wear faster than the rear, so rotating your tires will help increase their lifespan. Also, keeping the tires balanced reduces vibration, which increases tire and component wear.

3. Keep your tires clean and covered up

You would be surprised how damaging the environment can be for your tires. Purchasing a good tire protectant will help prevent your tires from suffering from ozone damage in the summer and will make sure your tires make it through the harsh weather conditions of the winter time, thus greatly improving your tires lifespan.

Whenever your vehicle is stored for long periods of time (classic car owners pay attention), make sure to cover your tires and remove the vehicle's weight or load to help prevent sidewall cracks from forming.

4. Avoid road hazards and potholes

Driving too fast, not keeping a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of you, and driving on rough or damaged roads can lead to tire damage from road hazards. Drive your car like road warrior. Crushing through anything in your path on your way from point A to point B? Well you might be surprised to find out that even hitting a pothole at 20 MPH can cause significant damage to the tire sidewall, which is non-repairable.

Now if you can’t avoid hitting a pothole, it is always safer to go through it than to swerve at the last minute, however if you are able to slow down before driving over a pothole, try to do so, as rolling over a pothole can cause less damage to your tires than driving over it at a higher speed.

Also keep in mind that properly inflated tires are less likely to sustain significant damage from potholes and other road hazards.

5. Routinely check your tires’ tread wear

A tire wearing on the outside edge only can be a sign that the wheels are not properly aligned, which can greatly reduce the life of your tires.

Be sure to routinely inspect your tires for uneven tread wear. Wheel alignment can be checked by simply looking at the wear pattern on tires or by a trained technician with the use of an alignment rack. Always make sure the tires have plenty of tread (4/32” of an inch minimum) so you don’t lose traction.

An easy way to check your tread depth is to do the old penny trick (which you can find here: http://lanceratjerrysmitsubishi.blogspot.com/2012/11/new-driver-top-5-things-to-know-about.html). As silly as it sounds, the penny trick is a very easy way to stay on top of your tires tread wear.

At Jerry’s we offer tires for life on all of our vehicles. This means that Tires that are originally purchased on your Jerry’s New or Manufacturer Certified Pre-Owned vehicle will be replaced once they are worn due to normal wear and tear. On top of that Jerry’s also offers nitrogen air fills for your tires free of cost!

Like what you read? Follow us on Twitter at @jerrysitsaboutu for blog updates.

For more information on all of our available vehicles, products and services visit us athttp://jerrysitsaboutyou.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is the best isn’t it?

Great food, the company of your family and friends and an increased waist line make this our most anticipated night of the year. However, aside from the great food and fun, Thanksgiving is also a time for reminiscing and giving thanks for the many different blessings we have in our lives.

At Jerry’s we’ve already had our feast and our fun, so that just leaves us with one thing to do: Sit back, reminisce and give thanks for a wonderful year. In honor of the thanks giving holiday, we bring your our top 3 moments to give thanks about.

3) Orioles make it to the playoffs!

Dear lord I never thought I would get to see the day again. But low and behold , just when I was ready to give up on my beloved Orioles, Baltimore decided to shut me up by bringing us  one of the most interesting, fun and exciting seasons we have seen in a long time!

The Baltimore Orioles would go on to lose in the New York Yankees in a very tight series at the playoffs. However the birds finally making it back to the playoffs brought the Baltimore community together and gave us something to cheer for. PLAY BALL!

2) Community support during Jerry’s Car Show and Festival 2012

If you follow us on Facebook or Twitter, chances are you were either part of the fun, or you absolutely hated us for being all over your news feed.

This summer Jerry’s raised the stakes during its annual Car Show and Festival by giving away a brand new car to a lucky member of the Maryland community. The car show benefited the Maryland affiliate for the Make-A-Wish foundation.

In order to win the car we held a contest where we would hide cardboard keys around different parts of the Baltimore area and then provide clues to their location via our social media sites and our webpages. All of the key finders were then invited to our Car Show and Festival, where they would get to trade their cardboard keys for a real one in the hopes of being able to win either a 2012 Scion iQ or a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The winner would be the one who found a key that would be able to start the car during the Car Show and Festival.

While we expected this part of the festival to be a success (who doesn't want a brand new car right?), the most rewarding part of the whole show was the fantastic show of support by the Baltimore community.

After it was all said done, we received donations totaling over 7,000 dollars. To top it off, Toyota national headquarters matched our donation, meaning that we were able to donate a combined 14,000 dollars to the Make A Wish foundation!

That day was filled with great music, entertainment, food and an incredible selection of cars. However the only reason it was a success was because of the incredible show of support by the Baltimore community.

1) Community response after Daniel Borowy shooting

We were all shocked to hear about it and we could not believe something like this would happen so close to home. When Daniel Borrowy was shot during an incident at Perry Hall Middle School, it single handedly brought the entire Baltimore community together in prayer for his life. Social media groups were created for him, vigils were held outside the hospital where he was held and many members of the Baltimore community came together to show support for the brave survivor.

Daniel survived and eventually went back home to begin his recovery process. However one thing is for certain, we will never forget the face of that young boy who fought for his life and inspired us all with his positive attitude and his love of life. It is times like these that made us proud to be a part of the Baltimore community.

Whether your favorite part of thanksgiving is the feasting, the football or the black Friday shopping that's sure to follow, make sure you do us one favor: enjoy it. 

Have a wonderful thanksgiving break everybody. We are thankful that you are a part of our lives. Never forget folks, It’s About YOU!

Like what you read? Follow us on Twitter at @jerrysitsaboutu for blog updates.

For more information on all of our available vehicles, products and services visit us athttp://jerrysitsaboutyou.com

Top 5 most expensive mistakes in car repair

It is no secret that Americans have been holding on to their cars longer, thanks in part to better built cars and an uncertain economy, factors which also lead to more and more drivers doing more of their own repairs. In fact, a survey conducted by AutoMD.com found that 3 out 4 of those who rely on a mechanic say that economic conditions are making them more likely to attempt their own repairs.

However, as we have all found, there are simple mistakes that everyone, from your average first timer to the most seasoned veteran, can make. Either way, whether you like to go under the hood or take your vehicle to the shop, here are the top 5 expensive repair and maintenance mistakes to avoid:

1) Neglecting oil changes and other simple maintenance

This one is simple folks; saving a few bucks by ignoring simple preventative maintenance, such as oil changes or failing to make minor repairs today, could mean having to spend thousands of dollars in auto repair bills tomorrow.

For example, neglecting to change the oil and filter periodically will increase contaminants and shorten the engine life, which in the worst case scenario could lead to a complete engine replacement. Keeping that in mind, the cost for an oil and filter change ranges from $25 to $65, depending on whether you do it yourself or at the shop. Meanwhile, an engine replacement on your car can cost more than $4,000!  

2) Self diagnosing your car

Without offending our repair veterans out there, assuming you know what’s wrong with your vehicle could actually lead to needless repair and more money out of your pocket.

For example, you might think that your car needs new spark plugs or an engine tuneup, when in reality you really need the mass air flow sensor cleaned. However if you tell your mechanic to replace the spark plugs without letting him diagnose the problem, he will do it and charge you for it, leaving you with the same unresolved issue. Always let your mechanic diagnose the problem to prevent unnecessary repairs.

3) Driving on bald or under inflated tires

Somewhere out there you will find many car owners that are driving on tires that have not been properly maintained. In reality, this happens because people simply forget to check their tires or because they don’t have either the time or money to get them checked.

Being aware of your tires can be a big money saver for you. For one thing, proper maintenance maximizes your tires life cycle, which means fewer tire replacements. Also, keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent. On the other hand, driving on bald tires can lead to blowouts, expensive damage to other components of your car or even lead to an accident.

Jerry’s offers free tires for life every time you purchase a new or used vehicle from any of our Toyota, Chevrolet, Mitsubishi and Scion dealers. Combine that with free air refills when you bring your vehicle for service, and you have no reason why your tires shouldn’t be in tip top condition!

4) Taking your car into the shop for simple repairs you can do yourself

Even though it can be a terrifying task, everyone , from those who have never attempted to the most experience handy man, can perform certain basic repairs with very little guidance.

Some basic repairs you can easily do yourself to save some money include replacing your wiper blades, replacing light bulbs, or even replacing a fuse or an air filter. Educate yourself on how to perform these repairs and give them a go. There are plenty of online resources and how-to guides that can guide you on exactly what to do.

Sometimes, when you purchase a part, a staff member might be able to walk you through the job in the parking lot, if it’s easy enough. One benefit to performing these easy jobs, is that it just may provide you with the courage you need to attempt even more of your own car repairs, which can lead to more savings. 

5) Ignoring the Symptoms

The biggest mistake we see from drivers, especially during times of financial need, is ignoring potential problems with their car.

Never ignore a persistent symptom with your car. Paying attention to your car’s symptoms will not only help you identify a major problem early, it will also help you avoid potentially serious safety issues, and help save you a lot of money.

Sometimes, the cause of a symptom is a simple problem with an fix. If this problem is ignored, it could result in a bigger, more expensive, issue developing. For example, if your vehicle pulls to one side while driving, the tire pressure may be low in one of the front tires. The simple fix for this problem could be removing a nail and patching the tire, however by ignoring this symptom you could risk your vehicle getting a flat tire, which could even cause an accident.

Also, never ignore your check engine light because you think your car is running fine, as you never know what is causing the check engine light to come on. For example, your fuel efficiency could be reduced by as much as 40 percent because of a faulty oxygen sensor.

Like what you read? Follow us on Twitter at @jerrysitsaboutu for blog updates.

For more information on all of our available vehicles, products and services visit us at http://jerrysitsaboutyou.com