Holly & Saginaw, MI Auto Repair

You may live in a region where roads become pockmarked with craters known better as potholes.  They're caused by moisture seeping through a compromised road surface that can freeze, expand and literally punch holes in the road.  And when your vehicle hits one of those holes that's big enough, the impact can flatten a tire, bend a wheel or tear apart a suspension component.  To minimize pothole damage, leave enough room between you and the vehicle in front of you so you can see the road surface and any upcoming potholes.  That way you'll have time to slow down and steer around them.  Also, if you see what looks like a puddle of water, it may be hiding a pothole underneath, so treat it as if was a pothole. If you keep your tires inflated to the manufacturer's specifications, they're more likely to withstand hard impacts.  And the slower you're going when you hit a pothole, the less likely you are to break something.  ... read more

Heat isn't easy on vehicle tires, and as the seasons change, make sure yours are ready to take the heat.  Let's talk first about inflation.  Heat causes air to expand, so heat alone can raise the pressure in your tires.  If you are driving on overinflated tires, they won't have as much contact with the road surface.  In that case, it will take you a longer distance to stop. On the other hand, you don't want your tires to be underinflated during hot weather, either.  That can cause your sidewalls to flex.  Friction will then hike up the temperature and your tire can be in danger of blowing from the added heat. Other things can cause problems, such as uneven wearing.  Your service advisor knows the signs to look for and can diagnose where the wear is and what is likely causing it.  Another thing a technician will look for on tires is tread depth and the condition of the sidewalls.  Any cuts, cracks or bulges could be indicat ... read more

To say that driving in a Michigan winter can be dangerous sounds silly saying it out loud… because, DUH! Even if you are a recent transplant, you’ll by now just how crazy it can get out there during the winter months. It’s worth it, though, because this is a wonderful place to live, but there are some things you can do to stay safe. Today, we focus on brake safety.   Make sure your tires are appropriate for the conditions. Snow tires are a must. Proper tread depth also a must. Both of these will affect your braking on snowy icy roads. Be aware that all of the de-icing salts and chemicals work to keep the ice on our roadways down, but it also makes your brakes wear out. If you haven’t had someone check this out already this winter, do it now. Our weather can be insane and it greatly contributes to the number of accidents in our state. In fact, we are in the top five for winter accidents and between Christmas and New Years alone, there were over 30 roa ... read more

For anyone who is new to living in Holly, Michigan and they are not familiar with driving in snow (those poor native Floridians!), there is a lot to learn. Among the important things to figure out is the difference between winter tires and all-season tires. The main questions we get asked here at Armstead Automotive Repair are:   How are the tires different? When do you need to switch them out? What other tires should I consider? In an effort to offer useful and helpful information, we will share our professional opinion about key points between winter tires versus regular tires. How are the tires different?   Winter Tires: Winter tires are better equipped to grip the road when covered in heavy snow and black ice. You can tell the difference between the two types of tires when you look at the tread depth, tread patterns, the tread rubber, and biting edges. Certain winter tires are made for commercial vehicles and are engineered for heavy-duty winter performance ... read more

Is it December already? Where did the year go? We don’t know about you, but it’s been a blessed whirlwind of auto repair activity all year at Armstead Automotive Repair in Holly, Michigan, and we are thankful to serve this community. Now that we’re in the middle of the holiday season, our family wants to make sure your family’s vehicles are ready to safely drive over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house for Christmas. To help you prepare for holiday travel, here are a few checklist items to make sure your vehicle is ready to hit the road safely: Tires -- Do you have your winter tires correctly balanced? Is your tire tread deep enough? Are your tires showing signs of uneven wear? Are your wheels properly aligned? Are you crash sensors properly aligned and synced up with your wheels? Has your TPMS / Tire Pressure Monitoring System shown up as an alert on your dashboard? Is your spare tire ready to go and do you have all the tools ... read more