Rockland & Rockport Auto Repair

If you’re like most people, the thought of opening your wallet to shell out money for tires isn’t at the top of your “things to get excited about” list. Unfortunately, this is a necessary part of owning a vehicle. How often you must replace your tires depends on your driving habits, how well you maintain your tires and the type of tires you purchase. Taking steps to maintain your tires will extend their life significantly, saving you time and money down the road!    One step to maintaining your tires is regular tire rotations. A tire rotation is the simple act of moving  Maximize the life of your tires your tires from one position to another to ensure they wear evenly. You may be wondering how moving your tires around can increase your tire’s life. Well, it’s simple! The weight on the front and rear axles differs, which causes uneven tire wear if your tires never change positions. Typically, the front tires bear more weight and will w ... read more

It’s early in the morning, and you are walking out the door to head to work. As you walk up to your car, you notice your tire is flat. “I just bought these tires two months ago,” you think. Unfortunately, no matter how new your tires are, they are always susceptible to being damaged by nails or other debris in the road. Can it be replaced, or will you have to buy a new tire? Flat Tire   The ability to repair the damaged tire instead of replacing it will depend on how large the puncture is, where the puncture is located and how quickly you spotted the damage. Sure, repairing the tire is the most cost-effective option but not at the expense of you and your passengers’ safety. Before deciding to repair your tire versus buying a new one, you’ll want to ensure your tire is a good candidate for a repair.    The first factor when deciding if your tire can be replaced will be how long you drove on the tire before noticing and responding to the punct ... read more

It’s a sunny day and you’re driving down the road with your windows down and music turned up. All of a sudden, the car in front of you stops abruptly, causing you to slam on your brakes. Thank goodness your brakes worked perfectly, and you avoided a collision. Until this incident occurred you probably haven’t given your brake system much thought. Sure, you know your brakes should be inspected and serviced every once in a while… but how do they actually make your car stop with just a tap of the foot? How Brakes Work   When you really stop and think, you realize brakes are a pretty amazing invention. They have the power to bring a large, multi-ton machine traveling at 70 miles per hour to a complete stop with just a push of the pedal. This ability is all thanks to science!    A moving car has a lot of kinetic energy, meaning “energy in motion.” To stop your car, your brakes must eliminate that kinetic energy. When you push your foot to ... read more

The construction of the modern tire is a testament to how far engineering and technology have come over the centuries. No more are the days of an air-filled donut comprised of rubber. Years of research by the world’s top tire companies have resulted in the tires we have today, which are full of state-of-the-art materials and technology.   Tread   The outermost layer of your tire is called the tread. This is the patterned rubber layer you can see. The pattern of the tread will depend on the type of tire you purchase and what use it is intended for.   Belts (or Belt System)   Directly below the tread of your tire are the belts. Most commonly, belts are constructed of steel. Their primary purpose is to provide stability and strength to the tread so that the tires will handle better and last longer.   Body Ply   One of the most important parts in the construction of the tire, the body ply, is located ben ... read more

You’ve probably been told at some point in your driving career to not drive your car while the gas tank is on empty, but did you know why that is? This recommendation is more than just an old wives’ tale—you can damage your car by ignoring that gas light for too long.Driving with no Gas   First, you should understand what your fuel light indicator really means. When you hear the familiar “ding” that accompanies your fuel light, your fuel tank has reached “reserve” levels, or around 10-15% capacity. It is possible to calculate how long that will last using your car’s average range, but we would advise against it, just to be safe. Avoid doing the math if you know you are the type of person to risk it and drive on empty anyway.   One reason it’s not advisable to drive on an empty tank is the potential damage to your fuel pump. The fuel pump is responsible for transporting gasoline from the tank to the engine, and it depends o ... read more