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.
4 Back To School Car Care Tips For Students
Back-to-School time is busy for both parents and students. Sports practices, clubs, classes, and endless activities. But your student can’t get where she needs to go if her vehicle isn’t working up to par. Here are some questions you need to answer before your student gets into the thick of the busy season. 1. How…
Use This Pre-Trip Car Checklist for Your Final Summer Travels
Time flies when you’re having fun. But it’s not too late to enjoy a road trip before the sun sets on summer. Before you take off on a final fling, don’t forget to make sure your vehicle’s up for the drive. Here’s a pre-trip car checklist to get you started. Filters There are several filters…
Summers’s Hard on Your Car: Here’s How to Care for It
Summer’s big selling point is the warmth. While it’s a nice respite from the chillier (and downright COLD) weather, it can take a toll on your vehicle. The day-to-day of errands, driving back and forth to work, and being a kid-taxi is bad enough. Add in a vacation or two, and you’re giving your car…
Car Care Guide: Vehicle Components/Service
Buying a vehicle is a big investment. You wouldn’t take $25,000 and toss it in the trash can, right? But that’s exactly what you’re doing when you fail to take care of your car. No doubt, it’s a big job. It’s a lot more manageable when you know what needs to be done –…
Car Care Guide: Engine Performance
It’s Car Care 101. Your vehicle won’t perform the way you want it to if your engine isn’t well-maintained. The best way to do this is to have your car tuned up on a regular basis. There are three big benefits: The engine will remain working at its fullest power. You’ll get the best fuel…
Time For Service Follow This Vehicle Maintenance Timeline
Owning a vehicle is a big responsibility. Maintaining it well is important for extending the life of your car, as well as for keeping you safe. Since there’s so much to do, sometimes it can be difficult to remember what you need to take care of and when. Though you should always defer to your…
The Cost of an Accident vs. Regular Vehicle Maintenance
Life is expensive. There are bills to pay and groceries to buy. No matter how big or small your family is, your expenses are always higher than you’d like. This can lead you to put vehicle maintenance on the backburner. But there’s a very serious question you need to answer: Is saving a few bucks…
Stuff Happens Heres What To Do If Your Vehicle Breaks Down
You take good care of your vehicle. You’re careful to follow the maintenance guidelines recommended by your owner’s manual and you have a standing weekly date at the local car wash. It seems like nothing can go wrong. Not so fast. Unfortunately, even though you’re doing everything right, STUFF happens. Here’s what you’ll need to…
5 Summer Car Care Tips You Need To Show Your Vehicle The Love
The season of sunshine and road trips is here. Sweet summertime. Maybe you’ve been adding to your bucket list of destinations all-year-long and now it’s finally time to take off. Not so fast. There’s some important information you need before you hit the road. Follow these summer car-care tips to make sure your travels are…
Top 3 Most Oil Change QuestionsTop 3 Most Oil-Change Questions
If you have a car, you know that it needs periodic oil changes. That may be as far as your knowledge goes – and that’s okay. The truth is, to keep your car running optimally, you need to understand a few things about oil changes. Here are 3 things you need to know. 1. When…
Top 3 Day Trips to Take in Ohio
The weather’s warm and the kids are out of school. It’s the perfect time to take off for a day of adventure. But where to go? There are a ton of great day trips you can take in the great state of Ohio, but we’ve done the hard work for you and narrowed it down…
8 Secrets of Environmentally-Friendly Car Maintenance
There are a lot of ways you can go green. Recycling newspapers, plastic, and glass are all fairly simple ways. But short of only driving hybrids, how can you maintain your vehicle in an earth-friendly way? It’s totally possible – even without trading in your SUV for a Prius. The more efficiently your car runs,…
5 Summer Car-Care Tips to Keep the Heat From Putting a Damper on Your Road Trip
It’s hot out. Whether you love summer or long for cooler days, the heat is here to stay for a while. And you’re not the only one affected by warm temps. Your vehicle can be pushed past its limits. Here’s what you need to know to keep from being stranded this summer. 1. Your battery…
Master Car Maintenance Without Breaking a Sweat
Maintaining your car seems like a no-brainer. But you’d be surprised how many people neglect the important tasks that keep cars running smoothly. Get the most out of your vehicle and avoid unnecessary and costly repairs by paying attention to these systems and following some simple tips. The engine Here are the services that should…
How to Keep Your New Car NEW
Ahh, a brand-spankin’ new vehicle. There’s not much better than new-car-smell. But one of the best things about today’s latest cars is the infrequency of service they require. For example, spark plugs can go for up to 100,000 miles and some transmissions won’t need to be lubed for the life of the vehicle. Let’s take…
8 Must-Do Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Car Humming
When you buy a new car, you fully expect to get many years – and miles – out of it. Any you will – if you follow some important preventive maintenance tips. Many people don’t do what they should to care for their vehicle and end up with extra repairs and issues they could have…
5 Ways to Get Your Ride Springtime-Ready
Winter in NE Ohio is no joke. The snowstorms, frigid temperatures, and the huge potholes can do a number on your vehicle. But, spring is in the air and it’s time to say “See ya later” to the grime left behind by winter. Here’s what you need to know about giving your ride a spring-time…
Road Trip Musts: Get Your Car Ready for Travel
The bags are packed. The snacks are ready to go. Time to take off on a springtime road trip. You and the family are ready to go. But what about your car? Make sure your vehicle is as ready to roll as you are by checking each of these components. 1. Oil After the harshness…
6 Checks Your Vehicle Needs To Ring In Spring
You may be ready for spring, but is your vehicle? Just because you got a tune-up or took care of some general maintenance before winter hit, that doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. Winter weather takes a heavy toll on your car. The damage may be hidden and you don’t want any nasty surprises down…
5 Vehicle Maintenance Tips: Is Your Car Ready for Spring?
Ahh, spring!! The sun comes out, the breezes get a whole lot warmer, and you start itching to get out. Before you take to the open road, follow these steps to make sure your vehicle is as ready for the new season as you are. 1. Wax on, wax off (but wash first!) Grit, grime…
5 Signs Your Car Needs Help – ASAP
Car repairs. Ugh. You probably put them off as long as you can. There are always more pressing matters to deal with, right? The truth is, there are certain issues that you can’t afford to procrastinate on. Here are the symptoms you should never ignore. 1. Leaking coolant If you notice that your vehicle is…
The Ultimate Guide to Tire Repair
Ugh! A flat. Being a vehicle owner means you have a whole lot to think about in terms of maintenance and repair. Tires are one of the most important components of your vehicle to keep up with. No matter how attentive you are, you may still end up with a flat tire at some point.…
The Best Advice You Could Ever Get About Steering and Suspension
Steering and suspension. They’re separate systems that are usually spoken of together because they work in tandem to keep your vehicle under your control. Here’s what you need to know about these important structures. The purpose of your steering and suspension systems When you think about the word “suspension,” it’s not too hard to figure…
The 2 Most Common Issues With Vehicle Air Conditioners – and What You Can Do About It
Warm weather will be here before you know it. Imagine loading everyone into the car for a road trip and you turn on the AC only to have hot air blowing in your face. No bueno. The good news is that you can prevent being in this scenario by having your vehicle’s air conditioning system…
5 Tips for Keeping Your Windshield Wipers in Tip-Top Shape
Your windshield wipers play a huge role in keeping you safe on the road. Not only is driving with a dirty, wet windshield annoying, but the lack of visibility is dangerous for you and the other drivers you encounter. To get the most out of your wipers, follow these tips. 1. Don’t use your wipers…