The Advantages of Seasonal Tires

Now that we are all finally enjoying the summer weather the last thing we want to think about is what is happening in December. But this is actually a great time to explain the benefits of running seasonal tires on your car. And it is always a great idea to think ahead so you can be prepared when the snow comes back around.

It may come as a surprise to you to know that owning two sets of tires for your vehicle can actually save you money, and there are a few different reasons for this. This article will briefly explain the benefits of changing out winter tires to all season/summer tires as opposed to keeping one set of tires until a new set is needed.

Let’s first establish that the average life of a set of all-season tires is about 2-3 years. Of course this depends on how much an individual drives and the conditions the tires endure. But that does not mean that you can go worry free during this time. We all know that all-seasons are not designed for optimum performance in the winter. They do the job, however they are not your best option. Many Anywhere Tire Care customers buy new all-season tires right before winter because they want to have the best treads going into the snowy season. And often times they are replacing tires that could have lasted another six months in summer conditions. This decreases the life span of there tires significantly.

Now let’s factor in proper maintenance of your all-seasons. It is recommended that they should be rotated several times a year. This can end up costing you a few hundred dollars. But what if you do not bother to have them rotated? Your tires are probably going to wear unevenly, thus leading you to have to buy new tires prematurely. This is also going to cost you. See where I am going with this?

The solution is quite simple. Keep the all season tires you are running and invest in a set of snow tires before December. Now you can almost double the life of your all season tires. You may only have to purchase new tires every 5-6 years. And as an added bonus, much better traction in the winter!

If you are not yet convinced to purchase yet another set of tires it does get better. Anywhere Tire Care has a large seasonal customer base. They know how easy it is to have us come and swap out their tires twice a year. Think of this as a form of preventative maintenance. Two times a year a tire professional is balancing, rotating and inspecting your tires at your house. Each year the tires are marked for proper placement on the vehicle for next season. And that is all included in the cost. You definitely do not get that service running all-seasons. Consider the added safety and the possible money savings that seasonal tires can give you!

This article was written by the staff of Anywhere Tire Care, the Capital District’s ONLY “tire shop on wheels.” Anywhere Tire Care specializes in new and used tire installation and balancing wherever it is most convenient for our customers including their home, office or even the local coffee shop! Our number one concern is customer convenience and satisfaction, saving you time and money. Call us at 518-810-5244 or visit us on the web at www.anywheretirecare.com.

Travel Tips for Memorial Day Weekend

Travel tips for Memorial Day Weekend

It is finally starting to feel like summer is around the corner! We could all do without the rain, but at least it isn’t snowing. Plus, with Memorial Day Weekend coming up quickly, many families are looking forward to a mini-vacation. If you are going to be putting on some miles this weekend, take a quick look at the following tips to ensure you are maximizing the life of your tires because we all know tires aren’t cheap!

Before discussing how to properly take care of your tires and ensure your safety, we should probably address if you need new tires altogether. According to New York State Law, your tires must have a tread depth of 2/32nds of an inch. Running bald tires can not only lead a ticket but more importantly hydroplaning and decreasing your ability to stop abruptly. If you think it’s time to retire your treads and trade them in for something new, give us a call!

Assuming your tires have plenty of life left in them, pay attention to what you can do before taking that trip this holiday weekend. Proper tire pressure is the MOST important factor in maintaining your tires for many reasons. First, it can save you money at the gas pump! An underinflated tire forces your car to work harder, you can lose up to a one mile per gallon off your fuel economy.

As I’ve discussed in previous articles, under inflation not only puts resistance on travel but also can lead to many problems including tire blowouts. These blowouts are most likely caused by excessive heat from an overworked tire. A blowout is then followed by a messy situation that may even leave you stranded on the side of the road. Do yourself a favor, make sure your tires are properly inflated before departing from your house. The correct tire pressure for your vehicle can be found in several places: the owner’s manual, the driver’s side door and even the inside of the gas tank door. Another quick tip; do not overinflate in hopes of getting even better gas mileage!

On top of the personal dangers to passengers, improper tire inflation (not enough or too much) can also lead to uneven wear, meaning you will need to buy tires sooner than you had planned. If you detect uneven wear of your tires, also consider an alignment issue. This is easy to test for. While driving, try to determine if your vehicle is pulling to the left or right. If so, you should take your car in for an alignment. It is a very simple, inexpensive fix to what could become a larger issue if not addressed.

Finally, We have probably all heard that it is important to have your tires rotated every now and then. Again, this is to ensure uniform tire wear. And to be more specific, it is recommended to have your tires rotated every 6,000-8,000 miles. As an added piece of information, Anywhere Tire Care includes free rotation to our seasonal customers that switch between winter and summer tires each year.

So to recap, check your tires from uneven wear and proper tire inflation. It only takes a few minutes and can save you lots of time and money in the long run. And enjoy your holiday weekend!!

This article was written by the staff of Anywhere Tire Care, the Capital District’s ONLY “tire shop on wheels.” Anywhere Tire Care specializes in new and used tire installation and balancing wherever it is most convenient for our customers including their home, office or even the local coffee shop! Our number one concern is customer convenience and satisfaction, saving you time and money. Call us at 518-810-5244 or visit us on the web at www.anywheretirecare.com.

Happy Mother's Day!

In light of the upcoming holiday, Mother’s Day, I decided I would break away from the norm and write an article focused around Mom. As you may already know, retailers are always trying to discover what makes a mom loyal to a specific brand whether it be tires, cars or even groceries. Because most mothers make the majority of the purchases for a household it is important to target her as a consumer.

Recently the website, Totsy.com, conducted an online survey of nearly 2000 moms across the United States to gain insight into their shopping habits. Being in the midst of a recession, the survey attempted to determine how the economy has impacted a family’s shopping tendencies. Though moms will continue to splurge for special occasions (like Christmas and birthdays), the economic downturn has led to an emergence in the importance of coupons and sale prices in determining which products she will purchase.

Interestingly there are generational differences in how mothers save money. Older moms resort to buying generic products and purchasing in bulk. However younger moms are looking for deals online through search engines and social media. For the tire industry this means shoppers are looking for tires that offer rebates or they may be searching the internet for the best deal. Traditionally a consumer would trust their local garage with what tire they should buy, but the economy has forced us to do our own research before committing to a purchase.

Now we have all heard the saying; you get what you pay for. In most cases the cheapest item probably is not going to be the most quality item. But this survey revealed that moms are more concerned with price over quality. Older moms understand the value of a product while younger moms tend to value a lower price. If I can give advice, when it comes to the safety of your family, please value the quality over the price tag.

I can happily say that Anywhere Tire Care caters to both experienced and new moms. We offer traditional coupons and we are also very familiar with the online buying community. You can buy with us or do your own research. Let us install your tires while you are at the grocery store shopping for those deals! Having said that, I wish all moms a very happy Mother’s Day and I hope you all enjoy your day with loved ones! Take care and God bless.

This article was written by the staff of Anywhere Tire Care, the Capital District’s ONLY “tire shop on wheels.” Anywhere Tire Care specializes in new and used tire installation and balancing wherever it is most convenient for our customers including their home, office or even the local coffee shop! Our number one concern is customer convenience and satisfaction, saving you time and money. Call us at 518-810-5244 or visit us on the web at www.anywheretirecare.com.

Uses for Recycled Tire

WHAT HAPPENS TO RECYCLED TIRES?

A few days ago I had a customer ask me what happens to tires once they are recycled. Truthfully I had no idea of the answer to that question, but I was curious. Just yesterday we had a company haul away a very large pile of used tires from our garage in Clifton Park. As he drove away, I began to wonder again where these tires were going. So, I’ve decided to do some investigating and share my findings with you.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, almost 300 million car tires are disposed of in America every year. Traditionally, tires were thrown into landfills becoming a major pollutant. They have been the source of several nasty fires in the past. Over time we have increased our recycling efforts and can say that roughly 80% of used tires are being recycled for everyday uses. Below I will briefly list current uses for used tires:

*On playgrounds- Shredded tires are spread like mulch or sand, creating a soft surface to prevent injuries. Sometimes the shredded tires are combined with another substance to create a solid safety mat.

*Basketball courts- This is pretty self-explanatory

*Traction surfaces- The stick-down strips you see on stairs, ramps, etc.

*Truck bed liners- Tires are woven into mats. They are easily removable and absorb shock and are waterproof.

*Fuel- Used tires fuel power plants such as steel mills instead of using coal. They are also used in concrete plants to power the kilns that dry the concrete before shipment.

*Auto- Some tires are recycled to make exhaust pipes, brake pads, insulation and even new tires

*Clothing- Manufacturers are discovering that recycled tires can be used for the rubber soles of sneakers and work boots.

Landfills- Shredded tires are being used to cover landfills daily. This traps in gases and is a cost-effective method since they can be shredded on-site.

*Construction- Tires can be found in Asphalt

Another interesting fact I found is that tires contain oil and carbon black. Apparently scientists believe we may be able to find a way to retrieve oil to fuel more than just power plants. Wouldn’t that be a nice alternative to high gas prices? As I always say, “you learn something new everyday.” Though this information is not life-changing, I hope you found it to be interesting. Thanks for reading!

This article was written by the staff of Anywhere Tire Care, the Capital District’s ONLY “tire shop on wheels.” Anywhere Tire Care specializes in new and used tire installation and balancing wherever it is most convenient for our customers including their home, office or even the local coffee shop! Our number one concern is customer convenience and satisfaction, saving you time and money. Call us at 518-810-5244 or visit us on the web at www.anywheretirecare.com.

Run Flat Tires

I think we can all agree when I say that a flat tire is a bad day for anyone who has to deal with the aftermath. Sometimes we forget how efficient and handy our vehicles are until we are faced with a situation like this. Luckily, tire researchers have recently developed a tire that can temporarily withstand instances where standard tires could not. These tires are called run flat tires.

As I’ve mentioned in a previous article, most flat tires are results of slow leaks that go unnoticed. Over time your tire will eventually deflate. New cars are enabled with TPMS, or tire pressure monitoring systems, that will warn the driver of a situation like this. And if these newer cars had tires that could temporarily allow you to drive your vehicle to a safer, more convenient location if your tire is punctured, you’d feel pretty safe knowing that. Well now there are three ways to do this. Your options include: self-sealing tires, self-supporting tires or tires supported by an auxiliary system. What does that mean? Good question, I will explain below.

Self-Sealing tires are exactly like most normal tires aside from an extra lining on the inside of the tire. This lining is coated with a substance that has the ability to permanently seal a small puncture from objects like nails and screws. The liner seals around the object while it is in the tire and immediately fills in the hole once the object is removed. Remember, this self-sealing tire is only designed to withhold small punctures; there is still a risk of a flat tire if a large puncture occurs. But in many cases people are probably not even aware that anything ever entered their tire since no air is lost.

Self-Supporting tires speak for themselves. They have a stiffer internal structure that can carry your vehicle even after your tire has lost all of its air pressure. Physically this is done by layering pieces of rubber between the corded materials in tires, preventing the cord from breaking in the event of rapid air loss. Because of their capability, self-supporting tires should only be partnered with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). The TPMS is necessary because the driver may not even realize they have lost air pressure and could cause further damage to the vehicle. Remember, these tires are only a temporary life-saver; you must repair or replace them after an emergency. As a guide, according to tirerack.com, these self-supporting tires can maintain mobility for about 50 miles up to speeds of 55 MPH. That sure beats sitting on the side of the road with a flat tire!

Our last category, an Auxiliary Supported Run Flat System utilizes a unique set of tires and wheels. In the case, a supportive ring is attached to the wheel. In the event that your tire does lose air pressure, the flat tire will rest and rely on this support ring. The advantage to this is the reliance on the wheel, which is typically sturdier and has a longer life than a normal tire. The disadvantage is that this system in a little more expensive. But for those who are prone to flat tires, this might save you money in the end.

This article was written by the staff of Anywhere Tire Care, the Capital District’s ONLY “tire shop on wheels.” Anywhere Tire Care specializes in new and used tire installation and balancing wherever it is most convenient for our customers including their home, office or even the local coffee shop! Our number one concern is customer convenience and satisfaction, saving you time and money. Call us at 518-810-5244 or visit us on the web at www.anywheretirecare.com.

Anywhere Tire Care Press Release

OPTIMIZE YOUR LEISURE TIME

One-of-a-Kind Mobile Tire Company Brings The Services Of A Tire Shop To The Doorsteps Of Capital Area Residents

The world we live in today has forced us all into a fast-paced lifestyle where multi-tasking and working overtime are a daily occurrence. The small amount of leisure time that we do still have is often occupied by house cleaning and running errands on our precious days off from work. This trend motivated an aspiring entrepreneur to start up a one-of-kind business: Anywhere Tire Care. Anywhere Tire Care runs itself much like a traditional tire shop. The only difference being, the business operates out of a single mobile unit: a box van that houses a wheel balancer, tire machine and air compressor, among many smaller necessary tools, wheel weights and valve stems. The operation is 100% mobile with the catch phrase, “The Capital District’s ONLY Tire Shop on Wheels.” Or more simply said, they come to your home or office and install your tires on the spot.

Since November 2005 Michael Dillenbeck, sole proprietor of Anywhere Tire Care, has been running this unique business by himself. He has built up an ever-growing customer base that trusts his knowledge of the industry. On the popular online tire store, www.tirerack.com, one customer’s feedback writes, “Mike was on time, courteous and did a great job. His pricing is more than reasonable and he gave me an appointment for the very next day after I called…He is the owner and the one who does the job; his personal investment to his business and customers shows.”

January 2011 marked Anywhere Tire Care’s fifth year in business. With the New Year ahead, Mike could see that he needed to expand in order to continue providing the service that his customers have come to expect. Mike states, “I’m happy to say that it gets busier every year, thanks to word-of-mouth from my customers. It’s becoming impossible to answer phones AND change tires. There just aren’t enough hours in the day!”

Mike welcomed Kelcy Newman, Ithaca College Graduate, into the business in February of this year. Kelcy is primarily responsible for handling all office work as well as promoting and marketing Anywhere Tire Care to the Capital District. Kelcy states, “I have always loved talking to people and helping meet their needs, this is a perfect position for me…and for the record, I’m the boss, not Mike!”

The couple has recently given Anywhere Tire Care a “technology facelift.” The website now features an online tire store that enables customers to purchase their new tires online, as opposed to the old method which was done over the phone. Also, the mobile unit has been equipped with the ability to accept credit card payments with a mobile card reader and internet access via cell phone.

As for the future of Anywhere Tire Care, Mike plans to introduce a new mobile unit to be up and running by the fall of 2011.

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If you’d like more information about Anywhere Tire Care, or to schedule an interview with Kelcy Newman or Mike Dillenbeck, please contact them at 518-810-5244 or info@anywheretirecare.com

Selecting Your New Tires

I think it is fairly obvious when I say that selecting the right tires for your vehicle is a very important decision that involves your personal safety as well as the safety of everybody else on the road. Because every vehicle and situation is different, below you’ll find some ideas and suggestions that I can give to those who are not really sure what they should be looking for.

As a quick rule to remember, all four of your tires should be as similar as possible if not the exact same. This is simply because differences in tires can change how easily your car handles. So in those instances when you may only need to purchase one tire, try to replace it with an exact match to the other three. Stay away from a different replacement simply because it is less expensive.

There are many instances in which you may only need to purchase a pair of tires because the remaining pair has a decent amount of tread remaining. Again, it is ideal to buy the exact tire that is already on your vehicle, but other sizes and tread patterns will work as long as you remain within a similar category (all seasons, snow tires, etc.). It is a good idea to investigate why one pair of tires wore much faster than the other pair. Our Anywhere Tire Care employees can determine the problem for you and address it so your new tires will not follow in the same pattern. The goal is to have all four tires wear evenly so they can all be replaced simultaneously.

So for those who haven’t had any of the above issues and are ready for a complete set of new tires, you have so many choices! It is hard to know where to start. The easiest decision would be to reorder your original tire, which is of course if you were happy with them. This is not always the case. Selecting the right size for your vehicle is important. If you want to CHANGE the original size of your tire, call Anywhere Tire Care at 518-810-5244 and have us give you some advice if you would prefer. I say this because the first requirement is to make sure your new tires are designed to hold the weight of your vehicle. This is essential in responding to emergency situations and quick stops, turns, etc. The second thing to remember is the overall diameter of the tire. If this is changed your car will not be able to accurately calculate your driving speed since tire diameter is an important part of the equation. This is not life-threatening, but it could result in a speeding ticket if your gauge is inaccurate!

On a side note, we would like to recommend that most drivers in the Capital District consider having two sets of tires; one for summer and one for winter. We all know how it snows here! There are a few benefits to doing this: one being that you will do much better on those snowy mornings on your commute to work. And second, your tires will have a much longer life because they are being driven seasonally as apposed to all year round. In most cases this can actually save you money because you will be buying tires less frequently.

So when is it time to buy new tires?

I just learned not too long ago that there are state laws regulating tires, somehow I never knew this! Tires are legally worn out when they are down to 2/32” of tread depth. To help specify when tires reach this limit, there are indicators on your tires called “wear bars” across the width of the tire. Of course, it is not necessarily wise to wait until this occurs to purchase new tires, this is an absolute minimum. 2/32” of tread will not protect you from hydroplaning and slushy/snowy roads! So if you can see these wear bars, it is definitely time to give us a call! Hope this helps, thanks for reading J

This article was written by the staff of Anywhere Tire Care, the Capital District’s ONLY “tire shop on wheels.” Anywhere Tire Care specializes in new and used tire installation and balancing wherever it is most convenient for our customers including their home, office or even the local coffee shop! Our number one concern is customer convenience and satisfaction, saving you time and money. Call us at 518-810-5244 or visit us on the web at www.anywheretirecare.com.