No Spare Tire?

September 29th, 2016
Believe it or not, many new vehicles come without a spare tire. Manufacturers have a few different reasons for that, including weight savings, space efficiency, and cost. When you're stuck by the side of the road, though, none of that really matters much, does it? 
 
Instead, these vehicles come equipped with an inflation kit and/or a can of sealant. 
 
Sealant is a gooey substance in an aerosol can that's designed to coat the inside of the tire due to centrifugal force once you get rolling again, hopefully sealing the puncture. These products, such as Fix-A-Flat, have been on the market for decades and tend to work pretty well on a minor puncture. They're not a permanent fix, however. Your speed should be limited after using Fix-A-Flat type products, and you should see about getting the tire repaired or replaced as soon as possible. In addition, most of these products freeze at temperat ...[more]
  Tags: tires, tire, tire repair, flat tires, flat tires
  Posted in: Tires 101

Get The Most Out Of That Set Of Tires

January 28th, 2016
Your tires are a pretty big investment. Even with the cheapest set of tires, you’re going to be spending upwards of $400 on the tires, mounting, balancing, disposal fees and taxes. Since you laid down that kind of money, doesn’t it just make sense to make sure you get the most miles possible out of them? 
Here’s some advice on long tire life:
 
• Regularly check your tire pressure. This one is really, really important. Underinflated tires will wear 
unevenly and reduce your fuel economy due to increased rolling resistance. That increased rolling resistance also means more heat, which will break down the tires’ internal structure and shorten their lives. All it takes to shorten a tire’s service life by 25 percent is for it to ...[more]
  Tags: tires, tire repair, tire inflation, wheel alignments, tire rotation, tread depth, tire pressure, tires repair, tread wear, tires pressure
  Posted in: Tires 101

Don’t Forget Your Spare

October 29th, 2015
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 shelf life, and time will take its toll on any tire, including ones that are never on the ground. Even brand-new tires have a sell-by date; the industry agrees that tires that are older than six to eight years old are probably unsafe due to degradation of the rubber. Your spare can sit in the trunk or under the vehicle and dry-rot over time, and eve ...[more]
  Tags: tires, tire repair, flat tires, winter tires, replacing tires
  Posted in: Tires 101

Tire Tips to Prepare for Fall

October 7th, 2014

tires spring txAs the first leaves of fall drop in Spring, TX, Milstead Automotive is eager to assist customers in preparing their tires for seasonal travel. Through comprehensive tire repair and installation, Milstead Automotive is prepared with the highest quality products and machinery to quickly service tires for fall. Shop Milstead Automotive’s complete selection of brand name tires including: BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Firestone, Goodyear and Michelin Tires. Trust Milstead Automotive tire specialist for all tire services this season for improved vehicle safety and motility.

As leaves accumulate on roadways they can provide dangerous or slippery conditions for drivers as tires can easily lose traction. Driving on wet leaves is similar to driving on ice as surface structure is not stable and can quickly cause an accident. ...[more]

  Tags: tires, auto repair, tire repair, flat tires, wheel alignments, tires repair
  Posted in: Tires 101

Are New Tires on Your Back to School List? - Milstead Automotive

March 6th, 2014

by: Amy Milstead

Fall is in the air, and that can mean only one thing: it’s back to school time! As you run through your back to school checklist- pencils, notebooks, binders, books, and tires- yes, you read that correctly: TIRES. Why add new tires to your back to school checklist? Because now is the BEST time to get new tires for you or your student’s vehicle. Whether you are carpooling your students around, want something dependable for your extra-curricular high school smarty, or need that reliable vehicle for your independent college bound kid- making sure you get the best start to a new school year means starting with replacing your old tires.

Sa ...[more]

  Tags: tires, tire repair, flat tires
  Posted in: Tires 101
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