Conrad's Blogs
At Conrad's we want you to be able to make educated decisions about when to purchase tires, when to have your car repaired, and what vehicle maintenance you need to consider.
These articles are written by our tire experts and experienced technicians. We hope you find valuable information here and remember to check back frequently for updates and great information about the changes taking place on today's vehicles.
Safety Driving Tips: What to do if your vehicle starts to slide and how tires play a role.
Over steering is when your rear tires lose traction before your front tires and you start to spin. The most common causes of over steering are worn rear tires, entering a turn too fast, or braking too hard mid-turn. If you are in an over steering situation, apply the brakes and stay on them until…
What do the numbers on the side of my tire represent?
No idea what all those numbers and letters mean on the side of your tire? They say a lot about what kind of tire you have and what it can do. Let’s use P21560R16 as an example: “P” stands for “passenger.” Most vehicles will have a “p” but some trucks will recommend an “LT” for…
Proper Tire Inflation – Learn About Tire Pressure
Maintaining proper tire pressure is a key part of ensuring performance, safety and efficiency of your tires. It’s a simple task, but one that’s overlooked many times by drivers. That task is tire inflation. No matter how little your tires may be over or under-inflated, it can have a ripple effect on the performance and…
Learn about how tires should be rotated and balanced
What is tire rotation? Tire rotation is the process of moving wheels and tires from one position to another. This ensures even wear on your tires over their lifespan. Tires need to be rotated at regular intervals, usually between 5,000 and 7,500 miles. At Conrad’s, our Oil Change service comes with a FREE tire rotation.…
Tips for driving on wet roadways.
Driving during a rainstorm or snowstorm can be very scary. Your vision is obstructed making it harder to drive. What you can feel is how hard it is to control your car during these storms. This is when your tires are VERY important. Having properly inflated tires with good tread depth can make all the…
We Ask Tire Questions: Why?
Why is it so hard to get tire prices? When you call most tire stores shopping for tires, expect them to ask you a few questions before they make tire recommendations, before you get the tire prices that you are steeling yourself to hear. “That much? Really? Ouch!” Tire prices have risen in the last…
Needing tire information? Find the answers to your important questions here.
Here are some important tips and tire information to keep in mind that, if followed, will help you get longer tire wear and better fuel economy, and will maximize your safety and ride comfort. Tire inflation information Proper tire inflation is in another article on this Web site but it too affects tire wear, handling, and…
Is a Tire Road Hazard Warranty a Good Idea?
Many tire dealers offer some kind of optional road hazard warranty when you purchase replacement tires for your passenger vehicle, CUV, SUV, or light truck. These extra warranties are typically not available for heavier truck tires and tires used in commercial or racing applications. They are also not included for tires that come with new…
Discount Tires: What Does That Really Mean?
Who doesn’t want the best quality and value for the lowest price? And whether we are shopping for something exotic such as a flawless 3-carat diamond for that special someone or for something as mundane as tires for the family car, we all want to be assured that we are spending our money wisely. No…
Tire Speed Ratings
In the last 20 years or so, most if not all vehicle manufacturers have started to equip their models with “speed-rated” tires. This was both a response to the government’s push for tire safety and to the improved handling requirements of newer vehicles that drove changes in steering and suspension systems. Today even family sedans…
TIRE COMPARISON: How Do Snow Tires Compare With All-Season Tires?
Before the late 1970s, drivers who lived in areas of the country that get significant snow in the winter had just two tire choices: struggling through winter with the regular tires that were supplied with the vehicle, or buying a pair of winter or “snow” tires. Most of those drivers chose to install two snow…
Replacement tires: if it’s time to buy two new tires, be sure to follow these installation and driving safety tips.
Ready to buy tires – but just two of them? If your replacement tires are the same size and construction as your current tires, then it’s very important that the new tires are installed on the rear axle. Here’s why. New tires have a deeper tread than used tires. When tires have a deeper tread,…
Power steering: how power steering helps you drive your vehicle
What does Power Steering do? Power Steering helps you to turn your vehicle while operating it at low speeds. The faster you are traveling in your vehicle the less amount of tire is in contact with the road. When you are operating at slower speeds the vehicle weight is pushing the tires to the ground…
Fluid Exchanges, Part 2
Exchange vehicle fluids on a schedule recommended by the manufacturer to keep your car in the best condition possible. Here are tips on changing your vehicle fluids. What You Need to Know about Automatic Transmission Fluid Automatic transmission fluid is made in many different formulations, not only for different vehicles, but also in many cases…
Fluid Exchanges, Part 1
AUTOMOTIVE FLUID EXCHANGE: AN IMPORTANT PART OF VEHICLE MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP Overview of your automotive fluid exchange The fluids inside your vehicle’s engine are much like the ones in your body. They serve to lubricate, clean, and cool the engine. They keep it alive or, at least running smoothly. After a while (and how long…
Power Flushes, Fluid Exchanges and Other Super Heroes, Part 2
Radiator fluid: protect your engine from freezing and overheating with the right mixture of automotive fluids. Radiator fluid (common name, “antifreeze”) is a mixture of chemicals that cool the engine and protect and lubricate internal components such as water pumps and radiators; when properly mixed with water, it is called “coolant.” Unlike water, a 50/50…
Power Flushes, Fluid Exchanges and Other Super Heroes, Part 1
Have you checked the level and condition of the various fluids under the hood of your vehicle? You haven’t? That’s OK, you’re average, and just part of the club of drivers and vehicle owners who neglect this task, primarily because out of sight means out of mind. There is no “squeaky wheel that gets the…
My Car Rides Fine, So Why Should I Replace the Shocks and Struts?
This is a question every technician has heard after recommending replacement of the MacPherson struts and/or shock absorbers on a vehicle. This recommendation is usually made based on a visual inspection of the truck, SUV or car suspension components (the struts and shocks in this instance). Mileage: most manufacturers of shocks and struts suggest a…
Not Tightening Lug Nuts? You Might Lose a Wheel
The consequences of improperly tightening or not tightening lug nuts enough are obvious – the wheel comes off at an unexpected moment. Not much imagination is needed to see what happens next, and none of what will happen is good. So people have a tendency to go the other way, to tighten lug nuts as…
Lug Nut Torque
Today’s family car is a marvel of engineering and technology. Would you believe that the modern family sedan with a six-cylinder engine has more horsepower than most early Corvettes? The Marvels of New Auto Technology Commonplace now are computer-controlled components such as ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) that makes stopping on slick roads safer than ever…
Why Does My Vehicle Need a Wheel Alignment?
What are wheel alignments? Is it really a necessary service? The term defines the service: It makes sure the wheels and tires are in a straight line, or “aligned” with each other. When all four wheels are properly aligned, the tires work together more effectively. This results in better handling, better steering wheel return, better…
How Long Do Brake Pads Last?
How many miles you get out of a set of brake pads (with disc brakes) or shoes (with drum brakes) largely depends on individual driving habits and the type of driving you do. Brakes can last from 25,000 miles to 50,000 miles, and here is why: Stop-and-go driving, as in city driving or on freeways…
How Often Should I Change My Oil?
It sounds like a simple question that begs a simple answer. But, the truth is, there is no one simple, right answer to oil & lube change frequency, unless the answer is “It depends.” In every case, the best answer starts with recommendations from the people who designed, built, and warranty the engine: the vehicle…
10 Tips To Get Your Vehicle Ready For Spring Driving
As a responsible car owner, you know how important it is to get your car ready for spring. You want your car to run well, look great, and have a long life. Follow these 10 tips to get your vehicle humming in time to hit the road for some spring driving. 1. Change the oil…
In The Market For New Tires Read These 7 Tips First
When it’s time to buy new tires, you need to know what to look for. And you have to know where to find the best deal. One that fits into your budget and is the best option for your vehicle. There are some important factors to take into consideration when you’re in the market for…