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Road Hazard Tire Protection: Why It Matters

Tire mechanic at work

If you have ever bought a new set of tires, you likely know the timid feeling of driving away from the tire shop. Many drivers start to fear every road crack, dip, and pothole, often afraid of compromising their new tire investment. However, even the most careful drivers are susceptible to hazards on the road. Chapel Hill Tire invented Road Hazard Tire Protection so that drivers can enjoy their new tires without the fear of damage.  So what is Road Hazard Tire Protection? The experts at Chapel Hill Tire are here with insights. 

A Guide to Road Hazard Tire Protection

While many tires offer limited warranties to make sure that you do not get a “lemon” tire, this coverage often expires quickly and does not extend to most tire situations. Our professionals saw drivers carrying the burden of costly tire damage, so we invented Road Hazard Tire Protection. 

Road Hazard Tire Protection is the in-house coverage plan from Chapel Hill Tire. Our coverage is available for all new tires purchased from any of our local tire shops. Road Hazard Tire Protection is unlike any built-in tire warranty. This plan extends comprehensive potential savings by offering both tire replacement and free tire services. Road Hazard Tire Protection features:

  • Up to $399.99 in tire replacement—included for 3 years or 2/32″ tread depth remaining.
  • Free balancing for the life of your tires.
  • Free flat repairs for the life of your tires
  • Tire inflation complimentary for the life of your tires. 

Here is a closer look at each of these benefits and how much they can save you money long-term.

Free Repair or Replacement

Whether your tire is damaged or defective, a Road Hazard Tire Protection Plan will have you covered for 3-years or 2/32″ tread depth remaining—whichever comes first. This protection includes replacements up to $399.99. Instead of fearing for your tires over every pothole, you can enjoy the peace of mind that your tires (and your wallet) are protected.

Complimentary Flat Repairs

Do you have a nail in your tire? Flat tire repair services can often run you $25+. Nails getting stuck inside tires are just as common as they are frustrating. Thankfully, eligible flat repair and tire patches are free under the Road Hazard Tire Protection. Like most benefits, complimentary flat repair extends beyond the first 3-years/2/32″ tread depth. In fact, you can enjoy this service for the lifespan of your tires. 

Free Tire Balancing

Tire imbalance can create an uncomfortable drive as you face wheel shaking at higher speeds. Not only is this inconvenient, but it can also put your tires and your vehicle at risk. When your tires fall out of balance, road-force balancing services are necessary for resolving these troubles. Under Road Hazard Tire Protection, your tire balancing services are covered for the lifespan of your tires. 

Free Tire Inflation Services

Properly inflated tires save you money every time you drive your vehicle. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, under-inflated tires can reduce your fuel economy by up to 3%. This is why drivers need to frequently check each tire’s pressure and refill to the correct PSI. 

Unless you have an air compressor of your own, a public tire inflation station will also cost you a few dollars every couple of months. While each refill is not too expensive, this can add up over the course of several years. Thankfully, Road Hazard Tire Protection saves you the time, money, and trouble of tire refills. Our experts will make sure that you are covered with free tire inflation services for the lifespan of your tires.  

How Much Does Tire Protection Cost?

Your Road Hazard Tire Protection Plan pricing is based on the cost of the tires you choose to buy. More expensive tires are more costly to service, making the price of the protection slightly higher. However, Road Hazard Tire Protection is available for as little as $15 per tire. 

You can view your Road Hazard Tire Protection costs by using the online Tire Finder. This no-obligation tool gives you the out-the-door price on your tires (including or excluding the costs of available protection) without requiring you to enter in any of your information. Read our full guide to the Tire Finder tool here. 

Chapel Hill Tire Protection

You can find your next set of tires—and tire protection—at any of our 9 Chapel Hill Tire locations. We are conveniently located in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Apex, and Carrboro. You can contact our tire professionals with any questions you may have, or make an appointment to see our experts today!

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Our Community: Refugee Support Center

Aerial photo showing green trees and buildings

Top vote-getter in our 12 Days Of Kindness Campaign serves people who come to our community from around the globe

When we launched our 12 Days Of Kindness campaign, the team at our Cole Park shop chose The Refugee Support Center, a partner agency of Chapel Hill Tire. Founded in 2012, this volunteer organization aids refugees in their transition to a new life in our community. Offering a range of services, better access to resources, and skills training to promote self-sufficiency, the Center is an excellent example of what it means to spread kindness and positivity. 

People unload boxes of supplies from a van to share with a family

Located in Carrboro, North Carolina, the Center serves roughly 900 people each year, most of whom come from Syria, Burma, and Democratic Republic of Congo. Fleeing persecution, violence, and war, they are placed with resettlement agencies that have cooperative agreements with the Department of State, as soon as they arrive in the United States. These agencies work to provide reception and placement services; however, they are phased out after three months.

That’s when the Refugee Support Center steps in, offering assistance on an as-needed basis. Beyond facilitating refugees’ transitions to new lives, the Center advocates for their needs and interests while helping them maintain their cultural and ethnic identities. Plus, the Center acts as an educational resource for the community to help foster understanding of our new neighbors.

For their act of kindness, the Cole Park team went grocery shopping for the folks at the Center. But that was just the start. Through the efforts of Center volunteers and our Cole Park team, the Center received almost 5,000 votes in our 12 Days Of Kindness challenge, earning a $3,000 donation from Chapel Hill Tire.

“We are over the moon to have won first place in the Chapel Hill Tire 12 Days Of Kindness,” said the Center’s director, Flicka Bateman. “Every cent of the prize money will be used to help refugees in our community. Thank you to our supporters for voting for us, to our refugee friends for inspiring us every day, and to Chapel Hill Tire for holding the contest and encouraging us all to perform acts of kindness.”

We are proud to support the Refugee Support Center and share their mission of helping local refugees transition to a new life. Please visit the Center’s website to learn more or to volunteer. 

We’d like to offer a big thank you to all participants in the 12 Days of Christmas. Whether you performed an act of kindness, voted on which charity moved you the most, or spread extra cheer this holiday season, we are truly grateful. We move into 2021 with a great sense of community and appreciation!

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Our People: Aaron Sinderman

photo of a set of wrenches beside a bumper sticker with a yellow smiley face that reads "Drive Happy" and a blue ball cap with a yellow smiley face

Dedicated to making himself – and his whole team – better

Hard-working. Positive. Persistent. When you ask Aaron Sinderman’s co-workers at our Cole Park shop to describe him, those are the words you’re likely to hear.

When Aaron first thought of entering the automotive business back around 2016, he reached out to a friend who worked for Chapel Hill Tire. After learning a little more about the industry, he was referred for a job.

Aaron Sinderman smiles. He's wearing dark blue coveralls with the Chapel Hill Tire logo.

“I’ve stayed here because I’ve been able to progress. I started at Chapel Hill Tire not knowing anything. After years of learning and growing, I am now working on being a technician,” said Sinderman, who feels grateful for the company’s guidance and support. “Chapel Hill Tire has not only helped me grow as a mechanic, but also as a person,” he said.

For Aaron, becoming an automotive technician is a good bit more challenging than it is for the average person. He lives with Cerebral Palsy, which affects his muscle tone and movement. But Aaron doesn’t allow it to hold him back. He comes in every day ready to work hard and get the job done.

“He’s a no-excuses kind of guy,” said his coworker and Cole Park store manager Peter Rozzell. “He has a stellar work ethic. He never complains. He takes any job he’s given, he gets it done, and does it well.”

As Aaron looks to the future, he sees more opportunities for continued growth. Not only does the company provide a clear career path for all employees who want to advance, his co-workers’ strong sense of teamwork are a daily source of support. “If there’s ever something I don’t know, my coworkers are always willing to help,” he said. “It’s like a family at Chapel Hill Tire, so teamwork is a big thing.”

Other than being a trusted and hardworking mechanic, Aaron keeps things positive at the Cole Park shop with his energetic and fun personality. “He’s always in a good mood. He’s incredibly fun and entertaining and really brightens the team,” continued Rozzell.

“I hope I bring sincerity to customers. I’m here to make sure you get great care from a person who cares,” he said.

“Strive for excellence” and “we win as a team” are two of our core values at Chapel Hill Tire. We are all proud and happy to hear people tell us that Aaron embodies those values. Thank you, Aaron for all the ways you make this company better. We look forward to working with you for many years to come. 

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Our Values: 12 Days Of Kindness

repeating pattern of "Be Kind" in bold letters with a heart social media icon

Triangle residents join together in a spirit of generosity

After all the chaos and craziness of 2020, we felt like the old year really needed to go out on a wave of kindness and positivity.  So, our 12 Days of Kindness campaign encouraged companies and individuals throughout the Triangle to perform random acts of kindness, post them to social media with the hashtag #cht12days, and ask their friends on social media to vote for their favorites.

graphic shows the Chapel Hill Tire logo along with icons of red holiday berries and a social media heart icon. Text reads 12 Days of Kindness: A giving challenge form Chapel Hill Tire

Now, we’d like to offer a big “thank you” to everyone who participated. We have always  known our communities to be warm, welcoming, and inclusive, but the generosity and kindness you displayed made us feel exceptionally blessed.

From November 15 through December 24, more than 25 acts of kindness were submitted by individuals and companies throughout our community. With each entry submitted, we were overwhelmed with gratitude and holiday cheer. While all submissions warmed our hearts, a few in particular stood out. 

Steve F. volunteered for the Compass Center at Women and Families Safe Homes Safe Lives Program, which provides apartments for survivors and families experiencing domestic violence. The organization has had a greater need for support during the COVID-19 pandemic, and is certainly making a positive, meaningful impact in our community.

One of our University Place customers, who we know as Gonzo, helps to look after residents at the Chapel Hill Homeless Shelter. After speaking with Gonzo, Chapel Hill Tire’s University Place team decided to gather supplies, such as thermal underwear and much-needed food items, to donate to the shelter. Their donation helped more than 50 people.

Not to be outdone, our Woodcroft Shopping Center team sent some holiday warmth to the Durham Rescue Mission. They donated more than 100 coats collected from Chapel Hill Tire employees, friends and neighbors, to help meet the Mission’s biggest wintertime need.

And over in Wake County, our Atlantic Avenue shop filled a pickup truck up with dog food to feed some furry friends at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals shelter. 

Multiple people participated in the Lee Initiative, a program that provides food for out of work or underemployed restaurant workers during this difficult time. With the winter months bringing more restaurant closures or limited restaurant seating, this generosity was felt by many in need.

In the 12 days from December 13-24, our participants invited their friends on social media to vote for their act of kindness, so that they could earn a donation from us to their favorite charity. In all, more than 17,400 votes were received. Refugee Support Center finished first, earning a $3,000 donation for their 4,900 votes. In second place with 4,300 votes, Christmas House received a $2,000 donation. And coming in third with 1,700 votes, Compass Center for Women and Families Safe Homes Save Lives received a $1,000 donation. 

We expected this to be a lot of fun, and to show everyone that this is just a great place to live, filled with wonderful people. We are truly grateful for the kindness and generosity of our community this holiday season, and we feel incredibly inspired to continue to give back and help those in need. 

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What’s Up With That? How Antifreeze Works.

antifreeze being poured into a reservoir

It’s like salt on an icy road but inside your engine

When you start your car up in the dead of winter, a cascade of mechanical functions spring to life. The combined forces of those functions produce a tremendous amount of heat – up to 2800 degrees Fahrenheit (F) inside the pistons. So wait, with all of that heat, why would you need a thing called “antifreeze”?

Well, that stuff we call antifreeze actually works to protect the fluid that keeps your engine cool enough to not self-destruct (you’ll also hear it called “coolant”). Constantly circulating around your engine chamber, it carries enough of the heat generated by all of that firing and turning to the radiator, where it is cooled by outside air. Some of that heat is also used to heat the air that makes the interior of your vehicle cozy and comfortable. 

The earliest car engines just used water to cool their chambers, but plain old H20 turned out to be not very efficient and also the cause of many headaches come wintertime. Just like an unprotected pipe on a cold winter night, if your radiator is filled with just water, it will freeze and might burst. Then, when you start your engine you won’t get any cooling effect until the water thaws, and you certainly won’t get any after it sprays out of the newly formed split in your radiator.  

The answer? Antifreeze. Despite its one-sided name, this essential fluid does more than just protect your car from winter’s icy grasp. It also prevents your radiator from boiling over in the dog days of summer, thanks to its ability to both lower the freezing temperature of water and raise its boiling point.

Icy Roads and Vehicle Engines: More Similar Than You Might Think

In its natural state, water freezes at 32 F and boils at 212 F. When we salt a road before a snow or ice storm, the salt and water bond, creating a new liquid (salt water) with a freezing point about 20 F lower than pure water (in the original Fahrenheit scale, 0 was the freezing point of sea water, 32 the freezing point of fresh water, but that was changed for some reason we don’t have time to get into here). So, when the winter storm comes in, and the snow or freezing rain hits the road, the water and salt bond, and the liquid salt water runs safely off. Unlike roads, though, your engine can’t survive regular doses of salt water. It would quickly rust away like exposed metal by the seaside. 

Enter ethylene glycol. Like salt, it bonds with water to form new liquid. Better than salt, this new liquid won’t freeze until the temperature drops to 30 F below zero (62 F lower than water), and won’t boil before it gets to 275 F.  Plus, it won’t damage your engine. Plus, plus, it acts as a lubricant to extend the life of your vehicle’s water pump. 

Keeping Your Engine in the “Goldilocks Zone”

In warmer weather or on extended drives, your engine can get hot enough to evaporate small portions of your antifreeze. Over time, these small evaporations can add up to too little coolant bathing your engine, followed by overheating, followed by a twisted, steaming mass of metal under your hood where your engine used to be.

To keep your engine just right – not-too-hot and not-too-cold – we check your antifreeze every time you come in for an oil change – or any other service. If it needs a little boost, we’ll be happy to top it off. And since, like anything that heats and cools and heats and cools, day after day, antifreeze wears out, we recommend a full coolant flush about every 3-5 years.

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How to Drive in Wintery Weather

A car driving on a snow-covered road in the winter

When it comes to driving in wintry weather, the first and best option for you is to stay home. However, this is not always possible for some individuals. When you have no choice but to travel during the cold, it is essential you take every measure possible to stay safe. Here are some tips from our local mechanics on driving in inclement weather. 

Lower Air Pressure by ⅞ of Pressure

The air in your tires often compresses in the winter, leaving drivers with low tire pressure. Many drivers then go to extra lengths to make sure their tires are filled completely. Properly inflated tires are essential for fuel efficiency and vehicle handling. However, when you are driving in the snow, slightly lowering your tire pressure can help increase your traction. Our mechanics recommend lowering the air pressure to ⅞ of your air capacity. You should ensure that your tires are not left underinflated, and you should reinflate them to your full recommended PSI once the threat of wintery roads has passed. 

Have a Windshield Scraper

Wintery weather often means that you can come outside to find your windshield covered in ice. This can leave you waiting for your defrost to kick in, or using a makeshift ice scraper—such as an old credit card. To ensure that you have quick and effective visibility during hazardous conditions, make sure that you are prepared by keeping an ice scraper in your car. These can be found at most major retailers, and they are usually a very affordable, trouble-saving investment.

Don’t Slam on Your Breaks

When driving in wintery weather, it is best to avoid slamming on your breaks. Aggressive braking can cause your car to skid, leaving you with less control over your vehicle. Instead, gradually let off of your accelerator and leave yourself with as much time as possible to stop. You will also want to ensure that your brake pads have more than 1/4th of an inch of material on them for safe, effective braking. 

Check Your Tire Tread

Tire tread is important for vehicle safety and handling year-round, but it is perhaps most essential during wintery weather conditions. The tread on your tires collects snow, helping your tires reach the road. It also gives you the most control possible when you hit a spot of bad weather. If your tires have less than 2/32 of an inch of tread left, you are due for a replacement. Here is how you can check your tire tread depth using your wear indicator bars and other tests. 

Make Sure Your Battery is Ready

Why does it seem like dead batteries always hit at the worst possible times, such as in wintery weather conditions? There is actually a clear correlation between cold temperatures and dead batteries. Extreme winter weather conditions can deplete the charge of your battery. Additionally, cold weather requires more power for your vehicle to start. This is why wintery weather is the catalyst for many battery replacements, as batteries near the end of their lifespan cannot manage this stress. You can take a few key steps to prepare for winter battery troubles:

  • When possible, park your vehicle in your garage.
  • Keep a set of jumper cables in your car, or—better yet—a jump-starting battery pack.
  • If you have a jump-starting battery pack, make sure that it is fully charged at all times. The cold weather can deplete this power level as well. During extreme temperatures, you may consider bringing your portable battery starter inside at night to keep it charged. Just don’t forget to bring it back out with you again in the morning. 
  • If you find that your vehicle is struggling to start, have your battery and starting system checked by a mechanic. This can help you avoid battery troubles before they leave you stranded. 
  • Make sure your battery terminal ends are clean and free of corrosion. 

These steps can help you avoid the stress and trouble of a dead car battery. If you find that you need help on the road, here is our guide to jump-starting your battery. 

Chapel Hill Tire: Professional Winter Car Care

When you find that your car is not ready for wintery weather, it is best to get it serviced before snowfall becomes a threat. The professionals at Chapel Hill Tire are here for you and all of your winter car needs. You can find the lowest prices on new tires and coupons for battery replacements & other vehicle services. Make your appointment here online, or visit one of our 9 Triangle-area locations to get started today!

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Where Can You Find The Most Affordable Tires?

Hunter Tire Machine at Chapel Hill Tire

Many drivers mistakenly associate smaller tire businesses with higher pricing. Little do they know, community tire shops are often home to the most affordable tires, as small businesses care about their customers more than their bottom line. Here is a closer look at how you can get the lowest prices on your new tires by shopping at Chapel Hill Tire.

A Wide Selection of Tire Brands

Dealerships, as well as many larger tire distributors, are often affiliated with one or more tire manufacturing brands. These companies will leave you to choose between a limited range of options, which may cause you to miss out on more affordable tires. By remaining unbiased in our approach, small tire businesses can give you the full details you need to make the right decision for you. 

Transparent Everyday Low Prices

The easiest way to get low prices on new tires is by comparing all of the tires available for your vehicle, their features, and their prices; however, this requires transparent tire pricing, out-the-door pricing, and no-obligation tire information:

Transparent Tire Pricing

Keep a close eye on pricing transparency when shopping for new tires. If a company is secretive about its tire prices, you have to take a moment to wonder what they are hiding. If their prices are affordable, they would want to share this information with customers, right? 

Transparent Out-The-Door Pricing

It is also essential to focus on the out-the-door price rather than just the price of the tire. The price you see online likely does not include the cost of professional tire installation. New tires require careful mounting and balancing, without which they will face uneven wear and deterioration on the road. Some dealerships or tire distributors offset “low” tire prices with high overhead costs. If they give you the tire price but hide their installation fees, taxes, and out-the-door price, you could still be left feeling duped when you receive the bill. 

No-Obligation Pricing

Another way that tire shops and dealerships hide their prices is by requiring an email address or phone number to view pricing information. They exhaust customers by requiring them to answer extensive questions about their vehicle, location, tire size, and tire preferences. After their selection of tire prices are available, they require customers to provide their phone number or email address before viewing the results. Customers often give in to these higher prices to avoid having to continue this complicated tire search. But your tire search does not have to be exhausting or complicated. Businesses like Chapel Hill Tire will provide you with tire pricing without requiring any information from you. 

Here at Chapel Hill Tire, our online Tire Finder tool gives you information about every tire available to your vehicle. This includes various brands, tire costs, features, and out-the-door prices. Unlike other businesses, we do not hide our tire costs or require your information to shop around.

Long-Term Tire Savings

When using the Tire Finder tool, you can view the warranties included with each tire. Many (but not all) manufacturers offer free warranties that will help ensure that you do not get a “lemon” tire. By shopping with this in mind, you can help find tires that offer long-term savings. 

The Tire Finder also gives you the pricing and coverage information about optional protection available for your new tires. This can provide long-term savings if you run into any tire issues, including free flat repair, tire balancing, and tire pressure refills. 

Price Beat Guarantee: The Secret to Affordable Tires

In addition to our transparent everyday low prices, Chapel Hill Tire has taken affordability to the next level with our Price Beat Guarantee. Under this deal, we will beat any lower competitor quote by 10%. This will leave you feeling confident that you got the lowest possible price on your new tires.

Chapel Hill Tire | New Tires Near Me

When you are looking for affordable new tires, the experts at Chapel Hill Tire are here for you. You can conveniently shop for your new tires right here online. When you are ready, have your new tires installed at your nearest Chapel Hill Tire location in Raleigh, Durham, Apex, Carrboro, or Chapel Hill. Make your appointment today or give us a call to get started!

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How to Prepare Your Car for a Holiday Road Trip

two cars on a snow-covered road

The holiday season may look a little different this year as we all follow the CDC Holiday Safety Guidelines. However, some drivers have substituted their traditional plans for a holiday joy ride to enjoy socially-distant travels from the safety of their car. Every road trip you take can put extra strain on your vehicle. Here is a closer look at how to prep your vehicle for a long drive. 

Tire Pressure Check and Refill

The cold winter weather can compress the air inside of your tires, which creates low tire pressure. At its best, low tire pressure will mean lower fuel efficiency and spending more money at the pump. At its worst, low tire pressure can prematurely wear/damage your tires, lead to bent rims, affect your vehicle handling, or cause a flat tire. Read our full guide on checking and refilling your tire pressure here. For expert help, you can get FREE tire pressure checks and refills when you get your oil changed at Chapel Hill Tire. 

Battery Check: Jumper Cables, or Portable Jump Starter

Have you ever wondered why drivers tend to have more frequent battery troubles during this time of year? Freezing temperatures can drain the life out of your battery. On top of that stress, the cold weather requires your engine to work twice as hard to start up. 

Consider having your battery inspected or serviced before your trip to ensure that it is not corroding or nearing the end of its lifespan. Even if your battery is good to go, it is best to have backup tools ready in case of an emergency. Before your trip, grab a pair of jumper cables—or, better yet, invest in a portable jump starter that will start your vehicle without needing help from another car. You can find these at most major hardware stores, some big-box stores, or through an online retailer.

If you need help jumping your battery, here is a quick guide with 8 steps to jump-starting your car.

Spare Tire and Tire Changing Tools

If something happens to your tire on the road, you will want to make sure that you have a viable spare tire on hand. Before your trip:

  • First, check to make sure that your spare is in your vehicle—it will likely be located in a spare tire well within your trunk. You may need to peel back the flooring of your trunk to find it. Other vehicles may have a spare mounted to the back of their SUV, underneath the rear of the car, or somewhere else—some older Subaru vehicles even have it stashed in the engine. A quick internet search or glance at your owner’s manual should help you find your spare. 
  • Next, you will want to make sure that your tire is in good condition. It should be less than 6 years old and show no visible signs of damage.
  • Also, check to ensure that all of the tools you need are included—primarily a jack and a tire iron. These tools are included with almost every vehicle, but it is helpful to check and make sure they are in place. This is especially important if you have changed your tire before and may have lost pieces or loaned your tire changing gear to a friend.
  • Finally, check to make sure that your tools are in good shape. Factory jacks and tire irons are not always high-quality. If you think you have any ineffective tools, you can pick up a replacement before your trip. High-quality car jacks and tire irons will last you a lifetime of spare replacements, and they are available at most major hardware stores. 

In addition to safeguarding your trip, this check also gives you the chance to familiarize yourself with your spare tire location and components. This overview will be helpful in the case that you need to change a tire during your trip. If you need help, here is a quick guide to changing your car tire. 

Pre-Road Trip Tire Check

Relatedly, a good road trip must be safeguarded by a sturdy set of tires. Are your tires ready for a long drive? Here are some tire check questions you can ask yourself:

  • Is the tread on my tires above 2/32 of an inch? Or above my tire wear indicator bars? Keep in mind that these are the bare minimum in tread standards. If you think you might be facing winter weather along your travels, make sure your tires have a little extra tread depth. 
  • How old are my tires? – Research suggests that aged 5+ years are vulnerable to rubber thermo-oxidative degradation, which may lead to hazards on the road.
  • Do I have any visible signs of damage, such as rubber cracking or sidewall bubbling? Unfortunately, these are signs that you are due for new tires. However, contactless tire changing can make this process safe, quick, and easy. You can also save money with coupons and buy your new tires online to make this process as simple and affordable as possible.
  • Can I see any nails protruding from my tires? Nails can be easily removed and patched. It is best to have this service done before you hit the road.

If you are unsure about any of these, stop by a tire expert before hitting the road for insight. It just might save your trip. 

Brake and Rotor Check

Your brake pads are thick blocks of friction material, which press against your metal rotors each time you need to slow and stop your vehicle. Over time, this friction material wears away, which lessens the effectiveness of your brakes. Naturally, poor and ineffective braking can lead to some serious safety hazards on the road. 

Additionally, the heat of braking friction can make the metal of your rotors malleable, which can leave them warped by the pressure of your brake pad over time. Before your road trip, check to make sure that your brake pads have more than 1/4th of an inch of friction material, and ensure your rotors are not warped or rusted. 

Light Check: Headlights, Brake Lights, Turn Signal Lights

The winter season brings shorter days, which means more reliance on your lights. Before heading on your road trip, take a moment to park in a safe space, and complete these 3 vehicle light checks:

Headlights Check

Turn on your headlights and then exit your vehicle. Check to make sure that both headlights are illuminated when turned on. You should also check for lens oxidation. This is when your headlights become foggy, yellowed, or otherwise distorted by the sun’s UV rays. Headlight restoration services can clear up your lenses, while a bulb replacement can often fix a broken headlight. 

Brake Light Check 

These are the hardest lights to check, so it is best to have a friend’s help. Sit in your parked, yet running, vehicle and press down on your brakes. Have your friend stand behind your vehicle and make sure that all of your rear brake lights are turned on and bright. Brake light issues are also often easily solved by a bulb replacement. 

Turn Signal Light Check

This is another check you can complete on your own. Turn on your right turn signal, and then exit your vehicle to make sure that both the front and rear turn lights are working on your vehicle’s right side. Complete this check again with the left turn signal. A broken turn signal can often be repaired with a turn signal bulb replacement. 

Tire Rotations and Other Services

Your tires face uneven wear on the road, with your front tires enduring more friction than your back tires when turning. Frequent rotations can help keep your tires protected. Tire rotations should be completed every 5,000-8,000 miles. If you are past this window, it is best to get a rotation before going on a long trip—especially if you are driving through the mountains or any other rough, winding terrain. You may also consider getting a tire alignment or balancing service—though these are as-needed services rather than routine tune-ups. 

Oil Change, Filter Change, and Fluid Level Checks

Your vehicle relies on a careful balance of various liquid solutions—each serving a distinct purpose within your engine system. Over time, your engine depletes or contaminates these fluids, which can impact your vehicle’s protection and performance. 

Oil changes are the most commonly-needed engine fluid service. As your oil passes through your engine to offer vital lubrication and cooling, it picks up dirt, metal fragments, soot, and other harmful materials. Your engine filter works to keep these contaminants away from your engine, but it eventually becomes clogged, and your oil becomes depleted. What happens when you don’t get your necessary oil changes? You run the risk of engine damage and poor vehicle performance. 

These same principles apply to your other engine fluids, though they require less frequent maintenance flushes than your oil. When was the last time that you had a transmission fluid flush? Or a coolant flush? Have an expert check your fluid levels before heading out on your trip. It may help keep your engine protected during the long drive.

Trip Check | Chapel Hill Tire

For everything you need to have inspected before your next road trip, visit the experts at Chapel Hill Tire for a trip check. We will help you make sure that your vehicle is ready to go. Make an appointment with any of our 9 Triangle-area locations—including those in Apex, Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, or Carrboro, to get started today!

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8 Easy Ways to Become a More Eco-Friendly Driver

A sustainable road harvesting wind energy

As 2020 comes to a close, we are also reaching the end of the UN Decade on Biodiversity. Sustainability within the automotive industry is essential to protecting our planet, and we can all do our part to advance global environmental efforts. Sustainable driving practices can also help save you money on gas and stay safe on the road. Here is a closer look at eight easy ways to become a more sustainable driver.

Avoid Aggressive Driving

Aggressive driving patterns can significantly drop your fuel economy. This includes rapid acceleration, excessive speeding, and abrupt braking. While many drivers think that speeding improves fuel economy, most cars will begin to experience a decline in efficiency when driving above 50-60 miles per hour. According to the US Department of Energy, aggressive driving can decrease your fuel economy by up to 40%. Adopting more steady driving habits can help you stay safer on the road while benefiting your wallet and the environment.  

Watch Out For Low Tire Pressure

Tire pressure is essential to monitor year-round, but this task becomes especially important during the colder months. Cold weather compresses the air within your tires, which can quickly lead to low tire pressure. Have you ever ridden a bike with deflated tires? It consumes much more energy than when you are working with properly inflated tires. This same logic applies to your tires—your vehicle will use more fuel without sufficient tire pressure. Deflated tires also impact your tire protection and vehicle handling. Tire pressure is easy to check and maintain on your own. You can also score free tire pressure checks and refills when you get your oil changed at Chapel Hill Tire.

Maintenance Services

Your vehicle requires a variety of care routines to stay efficient and protected. Keeping up with these services will help you avoid poor fuel economy. Popular efficiency-boosting vehicle services include regular oil changes, maintenance fluid flushes, and air filter changes. 

Strategic Driving

Stop-and-go traffic is not only frustrating, but it also takes a hit on your fuel economy. Strategically planning your commute can save you time, money, and trouble while helping you become a more eco-friendly driver. Here are some examples of strategic commuting:

  • Use responsive GPS apps that will route you around any accidents or traffic jams.
  • If possible, ask your work if you can arrive and leave early to beat the rush hour.
  • When available, run your errands during low-traffic windows.

Fuel Efficient Tire Tread

Your tire tread is responsible for gripping the road, giving you the traction you need to accelerate, steer, and stop your vehicle. More traction also means more road resistance, which can significantly increase your fuel consumption. Fuel-efficient tires are made with tread patterns designed for low rolling resistance. The next time you need new tires, you can explore the efficiency features on all of the tires available for your vehicle to find the ones that best meet your needs.

Lighten the Load

If you tend to leave heavy cargo in your car, it can be easy to forget about the impact that the extra weight can have on your fuel economy. The weight of your cargo can increase inertia (road resistance), which will force your vehicle to work harder during your commute. Data by AutoSmart suggests that removing just 22 pounds of cargo from your car can save you an estimated $104 in gas costs each year. Anything you can do to lighten the load on your vehicle will help you reduce your emissions. Consider unloading any sporting gear, work equipment, or other cargo when it is not in use. You can also lighten this load by removing your bike or utility rack from your trailer hitch during the colder months. 

Carpooling During Commutes

While it may be the oldest solution in the book, it is also one of the most effective: carpooling. If you have the opportunity to carpool to school or work, you can cut down on the road traffic and lessen your overall emissions. To promote this sustainable transportation, many states are beginning to introduce carpool lanes that are restricted from solo drivers. As such, you may get a quicker commute when you engage in this eco-friendly practice. 

Visit an Environmentally-Friendly Mechanic

Being sustainable within the automotive industry can be challenging; however, partnering with the right experts can make it easier. Look for a car care professional who specializes in sustainability. For example, you can visit an expert who offers non-lead wheel weights, hybrid loaner cars, and E.F.O. (Environmentally Friendly Oil) changes. These types of mechanics also often specialize in servicing eco-friendly vehicles. 

Eco-Friendly Car Care | Chapel Hill Tire

Chapel Hill Tire was the first-ever mechanic in the Triangle to offer Environmentally Friendly Oil Changes and non-lead wheel weights. We continually adapt to meet the highest standards in automotive sustainability. For all of the services you need to remain an eco-friendly driver, the experts at Chapel Hill Tire are here for you. We proudly serve drivers throughout the greater Triangle area through our nine mechanic locations—including those in Raleigh, Durham, Apex, Carrboro, and Chapel Hill. Make your appointment here online today!

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Everything You Need to Know About Tire Age

Tire Identification Number and what each part stands for, including the tire age

In a year full of news, you may have missed a groundbreaking tire announcement from across the pond this summer: driving with aged tires is now a criminal offense in the UK. They introduced this legislation in July, banning all tires aged 10+ years. This change came after years of campaigning led by Frances Molloy, a mother who lost her son in an accident caused by an aged tire.

Efforts to establish US tire age laws and regulations are ongoing, but there is no telling when (or if) these laws will be instituted. Instead, local tire safety regulations are based primarily on tire tread. However, old tires can cause severe safety risks, even when they have thick tread. Here is a closer look at tire age and how you can stay safe on the road.  

How Old Are My Tires? A Guide to Finding your Tire Age

Tires are marked with a Tire Identification Number (TIN), which tracks the manufacturing information—including the exact week of the year it was made. This information is printed directly on the side of each tire. To find it, carefully examine your tire sidewall. You may need to use a flashlight, as these numbers can blend in with the rubber. Once you find your TIN, it may seem like a complicated series of numbers and letters, but it is actually easy to break down:

  • DOT: Every tire code begins with DOT for the Department of Transportation.
  • Tire plant code: Next, you will see a letter and a number. This is an identification code for the plant your tire was manufactured at.
  • Tire Size: Another number and letter will signify your tire size.
  • Manufacturer: The following two or three letters make up your tire manufacturer code.
  • Tire age: At the end of your TIN, you will see a series of four numbers. This is your tire age. The first two numbers represent the week of the year, and the second two numbers represent the manufacturing year. 

For example, if your TIN ends with 4918, this means that your tires were manufactured in December of 2018, and are currently two years old. 

Tire Identification Number and what each part stands for, including the tire age

What is the Problem with Old Tires?

Aged tires can often look and feel brand new, so what makes them unsafe? It is a change in their chemical composition during a process called thermo-oxidative degradation. Over time, oxygen naturally reacts with rubber, causing it to stiffen, dry out, and crack. When the rubber inside of your tires is dry and stiff, it can detach from the steel belts in your tire’s foundation. This can cause tire blowout, tread belt separation, and other significant safety hazards. 

Tire separation is often not easily visible, so many drivers do not know they have aged tire problems until they lose control of their vehicle. Driving on aged tires can also cause sidewall deformation, tread chunking (when large pieces of the tread detach), and tread blistering. 

Beyond just the age of the rubber, thermo-oxidative degradation is accelerated by heat. States that experience higher levels of heat also tend to see higher levels of tire aging. Because fast-paced driving also generates heat, frequent high driving speeds can accelerate the tire aging process as well.

A 2008 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Consumer Advisory reported hundreds of vehicle fatalities and injuries caused by tread separation of tires 5+ years old. Other NHTSA research and data suggest these numbers soar to the thousands each year. 

At What Age Should Tires Be Replaced?

With the exception of extraneous circumstances, tires are proven to be safe from oxidation for the first 5 years after their production. This is why many vehicle manufacturers, such as Ford and Nissan, recommend tires be changed 6 years after their manufacturer date—regardless of your tire tread depth. However, as seen in the NHTSA research above, 5-year-old tires can also cause accidents. Changing your tires every 5 years provides the most comprehensive standards in safety. 

Buying from a Reliable Tire Shop | Chapel Hill Tire

Tire age is another reason why it is essential to buy from a reliable tire shop. Used tire distributors, for example, may buy older tires for cheap prices, allowing them to make a higher profit. Even if the “new” tire has never been driven, the aged rubber presents severe safety risks. 

When you are due for a new set of tires, visit the experts at Chapel Hill Tire. Our trusted experts provide comprehensive tire and mechanical services, offering a customer-focused buying experience. We also offer a Price Beat Guarantee, which helps you get the lowest possible price on your new tires. Make an appointment at one of our 9 Triangle-area locations, or buy your tires online using our Tire Finder tool today!