Category: Tires

What To Keep In Car For Winter Emergencies

Whether you live in a treacherous countryside or just going into the wild for a few days as a break, you need to be prepared for any emergencies. The guys at The Car Salon have listed down the essentials you have to carry along with you on every trip to ensure that you can comfortably make it in every scenario. Here is our list of supplies you need to keep in your car, especially in the winters, as you prepare for the worst-case scenario while hoping for the best.

Winter Emergency Kit For Cars – What to keep

1. Winter Tires

The one absolute must before driving out during the winters is to ensure that your car is fitted with winter tires. All-weather tires are okay, but depending on the amount of snow you’re expecting winter tires would be the best way to go about it. You should also consider carrying a few chains to wrap around your tires especially in extremely dire situations. They could come in really handy for a whole host of other reasons as well.

2. Shovel

When you’re out in the middle of nowhere with the closest house many miles away it pays to have packed your very own shovel. We cannot even begin to tell you the number of times a tiny shovel has come in handy to escape from tedious situations. Think about how long it would take you to dig the snow out from under your car with only your hands or other items you could find around you. Take it from us, keep a shovel handy.

3. Food & Water

This is a no brainer, ensure that you have plenty of food stored in the car. You should have enough for 2 days’ worth of supplies at least, depending on the number of people in the car with you. Also, make sure to carry plenty of water with you as you go. This is for emergencies only as you’ll be able to melt the snow and drink that if you need to but for the most part keep some water handy as you may need it.

4. Flares

If you’re really in the thick of woods and you know there are people out looking for you but they’re not able to find your exact location having some flares is brilliant. It can be used to signal planes in the sky or search parties down on the ground. You just have to makes sure that you have enough room to make sure the flare reaches as up high to ensure as many people as possible can see it.

5. Cell Phone Charger

If you ever find yourself in an emergency you have to make sure to keep your cell phone charged. Stop using it immediately and only save batteries for emergencies. A prudent move is to always keep a charger in your vehicle so that in case you do run out of battery you can always charge it on the go.

6. Fix-A-Flat

A miracle tool especially when time is of the essence. Fix-A-Flat can help save time as you won’t need to put in your spare tire immediately after the flat. You can still drive your vehicle, although cautiously till you get to the closest Auto Repair Shop. It was not meant to be a permanent solution but having a can in your car can help you in the long run.

7. Jumper Cables

It’s absolutely crucial that you carry jumper cables in your vehicle. If all you need is a jump to kick start your engine then having jumper cables in your car will come in handy. If a good Samaritan wants to help and stops but can because he doesn’t have jumper cables? Or think about the number of times you stopped for someone only to not be able to help them. Carry a set in your car at all times, they’re affordable and reliable.

Conclusion
We think these are the absolute essentials you have to carry with you at all times. We haven’t mentioned the obvious bits like warm clothing and blankets because who travels without them in the winter anyway? If you’re looking for more tips on auto safety during the winters speak to The Car Salon experts today!

Tips To Buy New Car Tires

Your car tires are most often one of the most overlooked feature of the vehicle, however, they are also one of the most essential. Regarding safety, fuel efficiency, or comfort your tires play an important role in keeping your car in the best shape. Unfortunately, it’s difficult buying new car tires because it requires an in-depth knowledge of what’s best for your vehicle.  That does not mean that you cannot learn, in this post, we will look at the best tips to buy car tires.

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How Do You Know If You Need New Car Tires?

In most circumstances, the common Joe won’t be able to tell you if you’re due for a tire overhaul. Chances are the only time you’ll hear someone speak about your tires is when you’re in the garage for an oil change. You can’t always rely on the off chance that someone else notices something amiss about your tires so here is how you find out:

1) Wear & Tear

Tires usually have a mark showing the wear and tear on them. If you’ve gone beyond that point chances are you must change your tires pretty quickly to avoid dangerous situations. 

2) Toonie Test

With a toonie. Slip a toonie in between your tread blocks. If the tread reaches the bear’s paws, your tires have lots of tread left (they’re probably new!). If the silver part of the toonie is covered by the tread block, your tires are about half worn.

3) Visible Wear Signs

Sometimes the tire is so far gone that you can see visible signs of distress on the tires. Tears, inner lining visible, tires balooning out in odd shapes and lumps. You absolutely cannot ignore these signs. 

Tips To Make Sure You Buy The Right Tire

There are several factors you need to consider about yourself and your vehicle before you buy a new set of tires for your car. Here are tips to make sure you always buy the right kind.

1) Check Size

Each car comes with a specific size tire that is best suited for their design. Some people buy smaller or larger tires based on their aesthetic requirements. We would recommend against that as it affects the performance of the car poorly. 

2) Speed Rating

Most tires come with speed ratings. This is the tolerance levels of your tire for high speeds. Most tires have a regular speed rating of over 100 mph so you need not worry about the rating unless you are part of a race crew. 

3) Cost

It should come as no surprise to anyone but tires can be very expensive. Even the base variants on most tire models are expensive and the prices only go up from there. We would recommend buying a tire in the mid variant segment. Never go for the cheapest option (do only after a thorough inspection), as it might give out sooner than you expected and come back to the tire store.

4) Quality

The most important aspect of a tire you should focus on is the quality. One cannot overlook the importance of the value that a good quality tire provides. If there is one area where you should not compromise it is this. But like I have said in my previous point, most expensive does not always mean best quality for you. 

Where To Buy The Best Car Tires In Calgary?

The Car Salon naturally should be your first option. We sell car tires all year round with a special focus on the special weather tires during winters. You will most likely look for car tire stores near me which is what I would recommend. You should, however, also make sure that the shop has an expert in that particular tire department. As experts we provide you just the kind of answers you are looking for from a practical standpoint of your vehicle. Also, never hesitate to ask questions as it‘s the only way you‘re guaranteed to be fully satisfied when buying a car tire.