Vehicles are an essential tool for our livelihood—they are our means of getting us to where we need to go. But have you ever found yourself wondering how your vehicle is capable of being such an important tool? While each model is designed with a particular style and its own set of features and amenities, every vehicle begins with the same essential components: an engine and transmission to distribute power, a battery and a fuel or electrical system to power the vehicle, a braking system to stop the vehicle, the chassis which acts as the bones of the vehicle, and the axles and differential to allow the vehicle to move. However, there is another essential part that is usually forgotten and neglected even though it is one of the most important safety features on your vehicle: the wheels. If you aren’t sure what to look for regarding the upkeep of the tires of your vehicle, here at McCluskey Chevrolet, your local tire shop in Cincinnati, we’re here to help.
Tires are a critical component of your vehicle’s operation. They not only help absorb bumps in the road and dampen the sound of your drive, but their traction is what helps your vehicle grip the road in inclement weather and help your vehicle stop when you need it to. As important as they are, many people still don’t acknowledge their vehicle’s tires until it’s too late. Worst-case scenario, you end up finding out the importance of your vehicle’s wheels when you get a flat on the highway without a spare tire in the trunk of your car—it happens. But no matter what your tire needs are, whether you’re looking for routine tire maintenance or need to visit McCluskey Chevrolet for new tires to keep your vehicle on the road, our team of Certified Service experts can assist you every step of the way.
When it’s time to put a fresh set of wheels on your vehicle, just know that there isn’t a one size fits all option. This is beneficial since it allows you to customize your driving experience and maximize your safety on the road, but we know how overwhelming options can be. This is why we have put together a list and explanation of the different tire types available to help you choose which is the best for you.
Finding the right tires depends on your vehicle, the conditions you’ll be driving in, and the type of driving you do on a regular basis. Certain vehicle types will require certain tires. For example, it is unlikely that you will be putting off-road all-terrain tires on a sports car like a Chevy Camaro. Similarly, you probably won’t want to put performance tires on your Chevy Silverado work truck.
All-terrain tires are for vehicles built for venturing off the pavement, like SUVs and trucks, since they provide the traction needed to grip any terrain. All-terrain tires are available for driving on and off the road. Since they are designed for adventurous travel on rough terrain, any travel on paved surfaces won’t be as quiet or smooth as if you were to choose a tire type specifically for pavement use.
All-season tires are designed to work well in all four seasons. They aren't as great in the snow as winter tires, but they will still handle adverse conditions well and can be used in the summer. This is probably the most common type of tire you will see.
Summer tires pretty much say what they are for in the name–summer. These tires are designed with rubber specifically made to handle hot temperatures better. They also improve handling and agility along with cornering. You'll also have increased performance in wet conditions. However, you should not have these tires on your car in the winter months as they will degrade quickly and offer very little in the way of performance.
Winter/snow tires can be installed for optimal traction and performance in cold weather conditions and should never be used out of season unless you want to replace them early. Although you may get the best performance year-round by switching between summer and snow tires, it can be a hassle to convert between the seasons, which is why many drivers end up installing all-season tires. However, if you live in an area that gets a lot of snow, these tires will far outperform all-seasons due to their deeper treads and unique rubber.
Performance tires are designed for pavement use only. You’ll likely find these tires on performance cars, like the Camaro. But performance tires should not be confused with track and competition tires that are designed specifically for track performance—whether the drag strip, racetrack, or autocross. They are a whole separate category of their own. Your options between the basic tire types are plentiful, but even if you are still uncertain which type of tire you need for your vehicle, we’re here to help you find the tires that can provide you with the best performance.
As your local tire shop in Cincinnati, we can do more for you than just find you the right tires for your vehicle. We can assist you with any of your tire needs. Similar to getting a tune-up for your engine, there’s routine maintenance we can help you with to keep you on the road and your wheels moving. Since your tires are an important safety feature on your vehicle, the last thing you want is to neglect them.
One of the simplest parts of tire maintenance is ensuring they have the right tire pressure. Properly inflated tires are critical to the performance of the tires and will even help the longevity of their tread life, preventing the need for premature replacement. Many vehicles, including Chevys, have Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) that alert you when your vehicle's tire pressure is low, allowing you to maintain the proper tire pressure. However, TPMS can malfunction and need replacement from time to time. If there’s any concern over the operation of your vehicle’s TPMS equipment, we can take over for you and ensure that it’s functioning properly before it leaves the shop.
Other important services we offer for tire maintenance are wheel alignment and balancing with tire rotations. Wheel alignments are essential to keeping the tread from wearing unevenly on your tires, inevitably prolonging tread life. Similarly, when one of the vehicle’s tires is out of balance, it can cause a vibration which also shortens the life of the tire by wearing the tire tread more quickly. In both scenarios, our Certified Service Technicians will perform a tire rotation to help even out the wear of the tread on the tires. Furthermore, it is recommended to have your tires routinely rotated every 7,500 miles to ensure the tread is wearing properly. Luckily, we’ll catch any of that improper wear and tear of your tires every time you come in for any service.
As critical as the wheels of your vehicle are, the other components that make up the essential tool you use to get you to where you need to go each day are just as important. Therefore, routine maintenance on the whole vehicle should be kept up with from the day you purchase it until the day you retire it. From routine oil changes to bodywork, here at McCluskey Chevrolet, as a full-service dealership, we can take care of it all for you.
Having routine oil changes performed on your vehicle ensures that your engine is running to its potential and is critical to prolonging its life. Many people don’t have a problem keeping their oil changes on schedule. Brake work, however, although it may not be routine, is expected and should be inspected when you notice your vehicle struggling to stop or you hear a noise when braking. More importantly, if one of our Certified Service Experts recommends a repair or replacement to one of the braking system’s components, it should not be put off because if you postpone replacing something like the brake pads, you risk damaging other parts of the system, like the rotors, which will result in higher safety risk for you as well as a more costly repair.
Your vehicle’s battery is also crucial to your vehicle’s operation. Although you may be able to replace the battery yourself, we have the equipment to check the life of your battery and can order one for you if we don’t already have it in stock if you do end up needing a new one. If you’d prefer we take care of the battery installation for you, we can handle that too.
McCluskey Chevrolet is more than just your average tire shop in Cincinnati. From all of your tire service needs to car-buying to automotive maintenance and repairs, we offer it all. Our one-stop-shop is ready to provide the drivers in and around Cincinnati, OH, with excellent service, great prices, and an enjoyable experience no matter what they need from us. Whether you’re looking for a new or pre-owned vehicle from our fully-stocked inventory or maintenance and repairs on your current vehicle from Cincinnati's best full-service shop, our professional and friendly team is here for you.
We are proud to be able to provide our community’s drivers and those from all around us with any automotive service they may need. By giving our customers the opportunity to work with the same well-rounded team of professionals they know and trust from when they first bought their vehicle throughout the life of their car, truck, or SUV, we are able to demonstrate our dedication to our customers, making our dealership stand out from the rest. When you're ready to work with an automotive team who’s prepared to stick by you and your vehicle’s side from the beginning until the end, come visit McCluskey Chevrolet.
