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There’s a lot about tires you probably didn’t know…so get ready to take notes (for those playing at home, get out your score cards)! The first pneumatic tire was invented in 1845 by Scottish engineer Robert William Thomson; his “elastic belt for carriage wheels and other rolling bodies” was a leather casing around a rubberized-fabric inflatable tube. At the time, natural rubber was prohibitively expensive, making mass production of tires unprofitable. It wasn’t until the popularity of b...

Your tires are the only part of your vehicle that come into physical contact with the road, making proper tire maintenance a crucial element of driver safety. With the ability to stop, start, and transport us wherever we wish to go, having well maintained tires can mean the difference between a pleasant Sunday drive and a Sunday spent in the shop. There are three crucial components to consider when deciding if it is time to replace your tires: your normal driving conditions, tread wear, and the...

Most of us know tires are one of the most important safety features of any vehicle and want to keep our tires in the best condition possible. However, what you do not know about tire wear and tire pressure could be damaging them the most. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, nearly 200 driving casualties per year occur at the hands of unmaintained tires. Right now it is estimated that 1 in 4 cars on the road are driving with underinflated tires.   While summer is the se...

Tire rotation is an easy maintenance item that has long term benefits for any vehicle. When properly maintained, tire rotations can improve fuel economy, extend tire life and provide drivers better handling through improved stability. Frequently servicing vehicles with tire rotations is imperative to sustaining tire tread by ensuring all tires are used evenly without excessive wear to one section or another. Normal tread wear is unavoidable due to uneven vehicle weight dispersal, vehicle perfor...

It’s no secret that winter driving can be risky. Star City Tire & Battery in Roanoke, VA knows the truth is that winter driving conditions can become hazardous quickly, and sudden winter storms can hit well into March in most areas. Adding slick roads, snow, ice, and poor visibility into the mix, driving becomes a recipe for extreme ca ution. There is no trick and no simple solution, unless you can afford to drive a tank. However, we can help you understand safety precautions and know the bes...

When it comes to determining the age of a tire, it is easiest to identify when the tire was manufactured by reading its Tire Identification Number (often referred to as the tire’s serial number or DOT number). Unlike vehicle identification numbers (VINs) and the serial numbers used on many other consumer goods (which identify one specific item), Tire Identification Numbers are really batch codes that identify several components.   The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) National Highway Tr...

It’s peak pothole season out there and no one is immune to their sneaky destruction. We’ve all hit them at some point, and every time it happens, you see it only a second before it gets you, often too late to miss it. These little road hazards lay in wait, with their dips, bumps, and sharp toothy edges, just waiting to ruin your day. They can cause a sudden jolt all the way up to a blown tire.  And, I hate to report, they aren’t disappearing any time soon. Potholes are every tire’s sworn en...

Fall has arrived, and with it comes school bells, homework, carpools, and early mornings again. There are a lot of adjustments that come with a new school year, and that goes for your vehicle as well. There are some ways to make sure your back to school transition goes smoothly, and that starts with a reliable ride. Simple maintenance and precautions will ensure that you are safe and secure with your vehicle, less prone to breakdowns and missed classes.   1-     Turn off lights- Earlier morning...

Halloween brings out the kid in all of us; it is a magical time of tricks and treats- as long as you don’t find yourself on the receiving end of a particularly harmful trick. On a night where late night pranks may actually cause a potentially devastating morning on November first, it is a fact that many tried and true forms of Halloween pranks and vandalism might target unsuspecting vehicles. With a few simple steps to take precaution, you may be able to prevent pranksters from targeting your ...

If your car has reached the 75,000 mile mark or higher, it usually means at least two things: You’ve probably been taking care of it, so congratulations! Your vehicle now requires a little more tender loving care. High mileage vehicles are pretty common, but without proper maintenance, you may be setting your car up for failure. The car’s parts are getting older and have received a lot of wear and tear. To get the most out of your vehicle, take some of these simple steps to ensure that yo...