Grand Prix Performance - Costa Mesa, CA

How often do you check your tire pressure? If you’re like the majority of drivers, it’s not nearly often enough. And that’s a problem because tires are one of your car’s most important safety devices—right after the brakes. So why is either too much or too little pressure a bad thing.

• Too much pressure reduces the footprint of the tire. This means that less of the tire hits the road while driving, which creates more bouncing and less traction, and can seriously impact stopping distances.

• Too little pressure means more of your tire touches the pavement, and that increases friction and uneven wearing. It also increases the chances of overheating and tread separation—both of which can lead to reduced control in braking and cornering.

  Always check your owner’s manual or the sticker on the door jam of the car for the recommended tire pressure: Don’t go by what’s marked on your tires. That number is the maximum allowable air pressure—and it can be a lot higher than what’s actually right for your vehicle.

  Some tips on maintaining tire pressure:

• Check pressure once a month, or seasonally at the very least.

• Always take a “cold” measurement. That means check tires after they’ve been sitting for a few hours. A “hot” reading after you’ve been driving is usually less accurate.

• Don’t go by looks. Your tires could be over or under inflated by a good ten pounds and still look normal to the eye.

• If you’re heading out on a long road trip, check the tire pressure in all tires, including your spare before you leave, just to play it safe.

  • Be particularly mindful of your tires in the winter. Tires can lose up to one pound of pressure per square inch every time the temperature drops 10 degrees.

  • If possible, use a digital gauge to check the pressure. Other types tend to be less accurate.

    Regularly checking your tire pressure can help increase your car’s safety and performance—and help you get the maximum amount of mileage out of your tires. Isn’t it worth taking the five minutes to check? 

Oil serves several crucial functions in your car’s engine…and clean oil performs those functions better than dirty oil. That’s why you should change your oil every 3,000 miles or 3 months, whichever comes first. Why is oil so important? What’s the best type to use? We’re happy to tell you…

Motor oil’s prime function is to lubricate every moving part of your engine with a protective film that reduces friction. It also:

• Cleans your engine. Oil collects soot, ash, acids and other moisture that eventually forms sludge. Sludge, if accumulated on critical engine parts, accelerates wear. Oil helps prevent this by keeping particulates suspended until they’re drained away when you change your oil.

• Creates a seal around piston rings and cylinder walls. Without proper sealing action, you lose power and waste fuel.

• Protects your engine against rust and corrosion.

• Cools vital engine parts your radiator coolant can’t reach. In fact, as

• Much as 40% of the cooling job in your engine is performed by oil. 

If the engine is the heart of your car, think of the fuel injection system as its main artery: It is your car’s source for delivering fuel, or pumping the blood, to the engine. This used to be the carburetor’s job. But today, most cars use fuel injectors making service on the injection system a required part of your vehicle’s maintenance. But how do you know when it needs resuscitating?

First, it is good to know that fuel injection maintenance is not something you need to consider as frequently as say, oil changes. Generally, your vehicle’s injection system is good for the first 50,000 miles. At that point, you might want to consider a cleaning especially if you notice your car is:

• Hesitating

• Having trouble starting

• Getting poor gas mileage

• Overall sluggish

  These are all signs of deposit buildup, which can occur naturally over time. And it is no wonder, considering the fuel injection process:

• First, gas is pumped from the tank when you start the engine

• Next, it goes through filters, rails, and the injectors

  ▪ The injectors pump fuel into the engine’s combustion chamber, where it mixes with air and is ignited by the spark plugs creating combustion

  The heat generated by this process is intense, and the burning fuel can leave hardened carbon deposits on pistons, valves and fuel injector nozzle heads. The result can be restricted fuel flow and the need for occasional maintenance. 

They’re one of the hottest trends in the automotive industry. Low profile tires are being fit on everything from sports coupes to family sedans, and tire makers are planning to introduce even more sizes this year. With choices mounting, the question still remains: Are they right for you?

Inspired by motor sports, low profile tires are high on two things—performance and appearance. Lower deck heights both give the tires a racecar look, and also make them better at handling corners. Fewer grooves and smaller void areas between the treads are what make them effective as performance tires. Combined, these features deliver:

•  Greater lateral stability

•  Improved tread wear

• Reduced weight

• Lower cost (generally)

  On the flip side, these same features can make low profiles less than ideal when handling in the snow. Additionally, they:

• Rotate faster than standard tires—which can negatively impact fuel economy if the drive train isn’t modified to account for the RPM change.

• Are more susceptible to sidewall damage, and take a major beating when driving over potholes.

  Before switching to low profiles, check your owner’s manual to find out:

• Your vehicle’s recommended tire size.

• The recommended tire inflation pressure.

• The maximum weight your car’s axle systems are designed to carry.

• The tire load capacity and handling characteristics of your vehicle.

  These factors all influence the type of tire that should be on your car. A final note: If you do opt for low profiles, remember not to mix with standard tires. Change out all four tires or none at all.