There is more to tires than just catchy commercials...
We can handle your tire needs from a simple repair to replacement and at competitive prices. You may wonder how a small store can be competitive on tire pricing, well we have a partnership a with major supplier that handles sales to many automotive dealerships. This gives us the buying power we need and allows us to offer competitive prices all while using our experience to make sure your vehicle gets the proper tires you need. Below we discuss several topics concerning tires, alignment and maintaining your safety while you are on the road .
Shopping for tires??? Just send an Email to service@autorepairofstpaul.com with your tire type and size, what vehicle you are shopping for and we will provide you a free quote including other choices for you to compare. Many of our tires include free road hazard coverage and to help maintain your tires we include filling them with nitrogen and top them up free for the life of the tire when you purchase a tire from us.
If you are unhappy with the quality, ride or performance of your current tires please let us know and we will work to make sure you get the best fit for you and your vehicle.
Click on any of the following links for more information:
Tire Repairs
Rotating Tires
Knowing Tire Wear
Differences between Summer and Winter Tires
Importance of Wheel Alignment
Checking Vehicle Alignment
Nitrogen Filling
Tire Repairs
Tires cut or punctured in the shoulder or sidewall areas, as well as any tires driven on while flat or with very low inflation pressure even for short periods of time are often damaged beyond repair and should be replaced. Driving on a tire while flat or with very low inflation pressure will permanently weaken the tire's internal structure, rendering it more susceptible to catastrophic failure. (back to top)
Rotating Tires
Because the front and rear tires perform different duties while accelerating, braking and cornering, tire rotation is important to even out, and maintain equivalent treadwear of all of the vehicle's tires to minimize potential driveline stresses.
If the vehicle is equipped with a matching road wheel and full-sized spare tire, they should be integrated into the vehicle's rotation pattern at the first tire rotation. This will allow all five of the vehicle's tires to share in the workload and wear at similar rates. In the event that a single tire is damaged and has to be removed from service, this will allow the tread depth equivalent spare tire to be used with the remaining three tires.
If the spare is not integrated into the vehicle's tire rotation pattern, it will not match the tread depth of the four worn tires on the ground when called into service. Additionally, if a single tire is replaced by the full size spare tire, hopefully the new replacement tire can remain as the spare tire until the other four tires have worn out and need to be replaced. (back to top)
It's Not Just About Tire Wear. Do You Know When to Say When?
There are many reasons why tires should be replaced. Here are some general recommendations
Tires are usually considered legally worn out when they reach 2/32" of remaining tread depth due to the loss of traction at that low of tread depth. Choosing the right time to replace your tires can be affected by the climate they travel in. Dry roads do not need as much tread as wet roads and wet roads do not need as much as snow/icy roads. Have your tires checked regularly and consult a service professional about when is the right time for you as tread depth and road conditions all play an important part in stopping distances and being able to safely stop or avoid a collision.
Most small cuts and punctures in the tread area (up to 1/4"in size) can be repaired by trained personnel using industry-approved methods. These tires can be returned to service if they have not been driven on while flat or with very low inflation pressure.
Tires that exhibit any bubbles, blisters or bulges, or have large cuts, cracks or other significant damage from road hazards in the tread, shoulder and/or sidewall areas should be replaced. Only inspecting the tire's innerliner after dismounting the tire from the wheel will reveal the probable cause and help determine if the tire manufacturer's workmanship and materials warranty applies. Tires that have been in use for five (5) years or more should be carefully inspected periodically for external signs of aging. While this inspection will confirm the condition of the exterior rubber, it cannot assess internal degradation or damage. (back to top)
Differences between Winter and Summer Tires
Yes, there are differences between winter and summer tires and those differences are important to those living in upper Midwest states such as Minnesota and Wisconsin. We encourage you watch the following video from Continental that explores the differences in-depth. (back to top)
How important is wheel alignment?
Proper wheel alignment can reduce tire wear... Improperly aligned vehicle can reduce a tires life by thousands of miles. one of the most common reasons tires are replaced prematurely is due to adverse wear due to the vehicle being out of alignment.
Better handling... Whether you use your vehicle for fun at the track on weekends or just running errands around town having the alignment correct will reduce the tendancy for a vehicle to pull to one side but it can also reduce harsh road feel as the tires are correctly aligned and the suspension can better handle the rough roads of Minnesota.
Better gas mileage... By decreasing rolling resistance an engine doesnt have to work as hard to get your vehicle down the road. By having the alignment correct, the tires are contacting the road as the manufacturer has designed which when combined with proper inflation reduces the rolling resistance.
Safer driving... When performing an alignment a suspension inspection is done and a technician will check for loose or damaged parts that can cause poor handling or tire wear. This not only makes sure the suspension is operating properly but can help prevent issues that can lead to more costly repairs. (back to top)
How often should your vehicles alignment be checked?
As with any maintenance item refer to your vehicles manufacturer for there recommendations but Minnesota is filled with road construction and pot holes and it can take one to shift a vehicle out of alignment. As a general rule once a year would be good, after all having an alignment done can extend the life of your tires and possibly add thousands of miles to their life. (back to top)
If you notice symptoms such as these please have it checked imediately!
- The vehicle pulling to one side or the other
- The steering wheel vibrating or shimmy
- A feeling of loosness, play or wandering
- Excessive or uneven tire wear
- The steering wheel is tilted to one side or the other when the vehicle is going straight
Every tire we install is filled with Nitrogen and we will top it up FREE for the life of the tire!
Because of its molecular size Nitrogen migrates through a tire three to four times slower than oxygen. Typically a tire filled with standard compressed air can loose approximately 1.5 psi in less than a month. With Nitrogen this could take three months or more.
Vehicles with tire pressure monitoring systems can be susceptible to warning lights due to varying pressures on tires filled with "air". Nitrogen is more stable and does not vary like "air" so the system is less likely to trigger a warning light. Add the advantage of less moisture to corrode the wheels or valves and it proves itself time and again. (back to top)
Vehicles with tire pressure monitoring systems can be susceptible to warning lights due to varying pressures on tires filled with "air". Nitrogen is more stable and does not vary like "air" so the system is less likely to trigger a warning light. Add the advantage of less moisture to corrode the wheels or valves and it proves itself time and again. (back to top)
Phone (651) 494-1451 Email service@autorepairofstpaul.com
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Our hours are Monday to Friday from 7 am to 6 pm
Our hours are Monday to Friday from 7 am to 6 pm
