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It’s a sunny day and you’re driving down the road with your windows down and music turned up. All of a sudden, the car in front of you stops abruptly, causing you to slam on your brakes. Thank goodness your brakes worked perfectly, and you avoided a collision. Until this incident occurred you probably haven’t given your brake system much thought. Sure, you know your brakes should be inspected and serviced every once in a while… but how do they actually make your car stop with just a tap of ...

The Truth About Tires in Heat The blistering heat of the summer months can do crazy things to your car’s tires, especially if temperatures climb too high. This can ultimately cause you to experience a blowout. Let’s find out why – what does heat really do to your tires? Firstly, it is important to understand that heat will cause your tires to expand. The rubber expands because heat causes a tire’s air pressure to increase as the temperatures climbs. Let’s break this down a little bit fur...

Highland Tire: Serving the Pittsburgh Area for Over 50 Years Did you know that Highland Tire has three locations? As a tire and tire service provider in the Natrona Heights and Tarentum, PA area since 1961, Highland Tire delivers service, integrity, and price that you can trust and depend on. With each location offering a variety of services, a differing schedule, and options to accommodate your needs, it’s important to learn more about each individual location. Highland Tire’s three locatio...

Does using a new tire improve fuel efficiency?      Are you looking to improve the fuel economy on your vehicle? Though fuel costs have been lower than in previous months, many of us are still trying to save money where we can. When it comes to your vehicle, the tires you use can play a substantial role in saving you money at the pump. The question remains… does using a new tire improve fuel efficiency? To provide you with an answer, yes, new tires can save you money in terms of fuel costs. Ne...

What Wheel Alignment Means For Your Tires Have you noticed your car pulling to one way instead of driving straight like it should? If you have, it is possible that you are in need of a wheel alignment. Wheel alignments are important to not only help you steer straight, but to also ensure that you get the most life out of your tires. What is a wheel alignment? Wheel alignments are when a mechanic adjusts the angle of your wheel so that they are perfectly vertical and parallel. This provides you ...

The construction of the modern tire is a testament to how far engineering and technology have come over the centuries. No more are the days of an air-filled donut comprised of rubber. Years of research by the world’s top tire companies have resulted in the tires we have today, which are full of state-of-the-art materials and technology.   Tread   The outermost layer of your tire is called the tread. This is the patterned rubber layer you can see. The pattern of the tread will depend on the typ...

You’ve probably been told at some point in your driving career to not drive your car while the gas tank is on empty, but did you know why that is? This recommendation is more than just an old wives’ tale—you can damage your car by ignoring that gas light for too long.   First, you should understand what your fuel light indicator really means. When you hear the familiar “ding” that accompanies your fuel light, your fuel tank has reached “reserve” levels, or around 10-15% capacity. It is p...

Most of us have been taught to avoid potholes while driving. It was probably one of the very first things we learned behind the wheel! Although most us know driving over potholes is bad for our vehicles, very few know exactly why that is. These are the parts of your vehicle you should be worried about if you accidentally drive over a pothole:   Steering System   If you hit a pothole, you risk misaligning your steering system. If you have noticed your vehicle pulling to the left or right while y...

Unless you consider yourself a car enthusiast, you may find yourself feeling a bit lost when having conversations with your mechanic. At times, it can feel like you are speaking to someone using a different language with words like “grease monkey,” “kickdown,” and “oversquare” whizzing past your head like dodgeballs. Hopefully, this list of common auto repair terms will help your next conversation with your mechanic go a bit more seamlessly:   Aftermarket – This term applies to parts w...

Rear Wheel, All Wheel, and Front Wheel Drive in the Snow Winter isn’t quite here yet, but the winter weather has certainly arrived. It is important that you know what to expect from your vehicle and how it will handle the snowy conditions ahead. If you are like many of us, you are unsure of what the difference between rear wheel, all wheel, and front wheel drive is… let alone what this means for winter travel. Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) Rear wheel drive means that the wheels that drive the car a...