KANSAS CITY AND OVERLAND PARK AUTO REPAIR

If you were to look out the window to see our late March snow on the ground you might not be thinking about spring but it is definitely on its way. And soon enough, summer will be here and time to put the top down and have some fun. But before you start planning your summer road trip there are a few things you should do to revive your winter-weary automobile in preparation for warm weather. The smartest thing you can do is take your car to an ASE certified repair service (hint: Sallas Auto Repair) for a check up. They can catch those little problems before they become more costly repairs. Check out the battery. Winter is hard on them and they can become drained. Look over belts, clamps and hoses for signs of wear, cracking or fraying. Check the brakes. They can become corroded by cold winter conditions and salt on the road. How was your AC working last summer? If y ... read more

It’s extremely important to take good care of your tires, and the easiest way to do it is to keep them aired up to the proper pressure. We know you’ve heard it before, maybe from your dad, maybe from your auto repair technician, maybe on a commercial. But that doesn’t make it any less true! Your tires are your first line of defense in vehicle safety, for you and your passengers. They’re (hopefully) the only part of your car connecting it to the ground, think about the relevance of that. When you apply your brakes to stop or slow down the car, your tires are just as responsible for making the car respond as your brake system is. On the outside of every tire is the Department of Transportation number. It will begin with the letters DOT and may contain up to 12 additional numbers & letters. The first & last digits are the most imporant as the first 2 letters/numbers identify the tire manufacturer. The last 3 or 4 digits represent when the tires were produced- now ... read more

Most folks around Kansas City have had a flat tire, in fact Bridget, who works in our office, just had one the other day. You know it’s inconvenient and a pain. Our tires are important. Keeping them in good working order isn’t just a big safety issue – it also has a financial impact. With high gas prices, we’ve all heard about the importance of keeping proper tire pressure to save on gas. In addition, proper inflation promotes even tread wear so your tires last longer. There’s another danger to under-inflated tires. Low tire pressure puts added stress on the structure of the tire itself, causing it to break down prematurely. Also, under-inflated tires generate more heat which also reduces tire life. So get those slow leaks fixed quickly – don’t just keep airing them up every few days. You want to avoid serious tire damage. Tires can also be damaged by road hazards in and around Kansas City. Punctures, cuts and impacts on curbs or potholes can also cause damage that could lead to tire ... read more

One of the most popular vehicle modifications is custom wheels and tires. Custom wheels help you stand out from the crowd and custom tires can help you fine tune your performance. Not that long ago, new cars came with just one or two tire and wheel options. Now manufacturers are offering more choices and over a third of new vehicle buyers choose custom wheels. That seems to have fueled public demand for custom wheels in all vehicle categories. The available styles, colors and finishes are endless. You’re sure to get the look you want – from sleek and stylish to tough and aggressive. While custom wheels are largely a matter of taste, custom tires are a matter of function. That is not to say that there are not a lot of cool looking tires out there, it’s just that tires are vital to your safety, so there are some important practical considerations. Let’s look at it in terms of extremes. High heat, high speed, high cornering forc ... read more

and…Are your new tires really NEW TIRES? Determining the age of the tires BEFORE you buy them is a great idea! It is important to find out so you can protect your investment and the safety of you and your family. Tires over 6 years old can have dry rot from the inside out. Just because the tread looks great doesn’t mean they are in great condition. Check the age of all 4 tires. Even though they may LOOK THE SAME – there is a decent chance they are not the exact same age. If your current tires on your vehicle are 10 years old or older they should be replaced immediately. So how do I determine the age of my tires… Since 2000, the week and the year the tire was manufactured is provided by the last four digits of the DOT number. Each tire has a required Department of Transportation (DOT) number on the sidewall. First two letters of the DOT number tells who the tire ... read more