Winter Driving Tips: Winterize Your Vehicle

Like unpacking your heavy winter clothes that got boxed up in the spring, winterizing your car is a quick and easy process that can make any trip or commute a lot less stressful. Here’s what you need to know.

• Check your battery. A good battery is one of the unsung heroes of your daily commute. When it fails, everything comes to a screeching halt. Check your battery condition and ensure it’s still holding a charge before you need it this winter.
• Winterize your ride. This guide from Consumer Reports shares all the tools you’ll need to get your vehicle ready for the cold months ahead.
• Be ready for any weather. Winter driving conditions are rarely ideal, so it makes sense to give yourself extra time whether you’re driving across town or across the state. Also, be sure to keep the tank full, or nearly full, just in case you get stuck in a winter storm that takes hours to maneuver.

The Basics of Road-Force Balancing

No wheel and tire assembly is ever perfect, and vibrations can happen. A road-force balance machine uses a load-roller to simulate road pressure as an efficient way to identify even the slightest inconsistencies. This, in turn, easily provides a technician with a diagnosis of those variations in the tire and wheel assembly, allowing them to make adjustments that mitigate any vibration issues.

Here’s how it all works.

Balance Sometimes Requires More Precision

Even when you buy four new wheels or four new tires, there will be small differences in their weight, stiffness, and balance. Low and high points in the wheel and tire construction are called lateral runout or radial runout. Stiff spots on the tire are referred to as force variation.

What does this mean to you? It means no two tires or wheels are exactly alike. When new tires are installed or standard balancing has not remedied an issue, a road-force balance machine can be used to counteract unresolved runouts or variations by identifying what a technician needs to properly balance your wheel and tire assembly.

How does this machine work? Once a hood closes on the road-force balancer, the wheel and tire assembly begins to spin. A second diagnostic wheel or load-roller pushes against the tire to test and record its balance as if it were on the road.

That test tells a technician where inconsistencies can be found and how to properly balance the wheel and tire assembly. Fixes can involve adding weights to the wheel, remounting the tire to find a better match, and bead massaging to push the new tire into the rim for a better fit.

Equalizing Your Custom Wheels

Today’s vehicles come with some impressive wheel sizes. Plus, you can add custom wheels for an enhanced design and look. But with bigger wheels come shorter tire sidewalls, which can be more sensitive to road vibration forces. A road-force balance can help alleviate those issues.

Find Balance at Les Schwab

Keep in mind, some vibrations cannot be resolved by any type of balancing. These include, but are not limited to, a bent rim, irregular tire wear, wheel and tire defects, and other mechanical issues with your vehicle.

However, if you’re experiencing a vibration, the pros at Les Schwab have the technology and knowhow to pinpoint the cause. Stop by or schedule a free, pre-trip safety check. Our pros will give your vehicle a quick inspection and show you all the options.

Schedule a Safety Check

Quick Tips to Start Your Overlanding Journey

Overlanding got its start in the Australian outback as a way to journey into the wilderness while always having everything a person needs to survive. Fast forward to today, and Overlanding has become something of a personal statement. When your vehicle is modified for an overland adventure, it stands out with an extra bold stance and added clearance to accommodate beefier tires.

Here are some quick tips to get your vehicle ready for an overland journey.

Start With the Vehicle

Overlanding is all about the journey. But it’s hard to enjoy that journey in the wrong vehicle. Popular options that can easily be raised a few inches include light trucks and SUVs like the Toyota 4-Runner and crossovers such as the Subaru Crosstrek.

Give Yourself Some Clearance

Even adding just two inches to your vehicle’s suspension can make a big difference. Of course, people will notice as you drive around town. But more importantly, you’ll be better prepared for off-roading and outfitting your vehicle with the remaining necessities, including gear, food, and a roof-top tent.

At Les Schwab, we have suspension lift kits in stock for most vehicles. When we install it, we’ll double-check the suspension, brakes, shocks, steering, and alignment. You know, the important stuff. We’ll even perform a retorque and check the alignment to ensure your lift is done right.

Do You Need Bigger Wheels and Tires?

Once you’ve lifted your vehicle a couple of inches, you can choose to keep the same height tires on the vehicle. However, you could be missing out on some added clearance and traction. Upgrading to a bigger wheel and tire package will allow you to choose beefier off-road tires for your vehicle, which are designed for taking you off the beaten path.

Off-road tires typically have larger voids between the tread blocks. Those voids allow the tires to dig into dirt, sand, and rocks, giving you more traction. Plus, the thicker tread blocks in off-road tires can better withstand cuts and punctures.

Les Schwab Tip: We can help you pick the right combination of off-road and highway capabilities to meet your needs.

Items You’ll Need

Once you’re ready for an overland adventure, you’ll want to outfit your vehicle with all the necessities. This includes a tire-patch kit and air compressor, a spare tire that is mounted to the top or back of your vehicle, a jack, plenty of food and prep tools, water, a roof rack, and possibly a roof tent.

Why a roof tent? These popular options allow for easy set up after a long day of driving off-road. Plus, they don’t take up precious cargo space on the inside of your vehicle, where you’ll be storing food, sleeping bags, and clothes. You could also bring along extra flashlights, a portable generator, and a first-aid kit.

Les Schwab Tip: As with any outdoor adventure, always pack out what you pack in...and more.

Get Your Overland Lift Done Right

The pros at Les Schwab have been lifting trucks, crossovers, and SUVs for years. Stop by today and we’ll show you all of your options, including the perfect wheel and tire packages for added style and off-road attitude.