Chapel Hill Tire is a full-service car care center with 7 Triangle-area locations including Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Durham, and Carrboro, but — it’s all in the name! — we also specialize in tires. We want every driver on the road to travel safely, and that means having fully-inflated, balanced tires that grip the road, keep traction in the rain, and hug those turns at speed. You should regularly inspect your tires for signs of wear, and take your car in for a makeover as soon as you catch sight of a problem.

So what kinds of issues require a visit to a tire specialist?

1. Worn tread

The groove pattern on your tires is called your tread, and it’s a crucial part of their safety design. Substances of all kinds — gases, liquids, and solids — travel between your tires and the road. Never thought of it that way? Remember, your tires travel through or over three substances: air, water, and ice or snow. Each of them interrupts your tires’ traction.

Tread offsets that problem. Substances travel through the tread and are channeled away from your tires, allowing the body of the tire to keep contact with the road.

However, each substance travels differently. Liquids and solids require more time and more energy to move through your tread. This means that tires with worn tread are more likely to hydroplane in the rain, snow or ice. It’s a dangerous situation for both you and other drivers! Tread also provides the friction that your tires need to brake safely, bringing your car to a timely and controlled stop.

The legal minimum tread depth is 2/32”. You can measure this depth approximately with the “penny test;” insert a penny, head first, into the tread of your tires. Can you see the top of Honest Abe’s head? Then your tread is too worn.

However, some experts recommend that you replace your tires at approximately 4/32”, well before they reach the legal minimum. Don’t just rely on the penny test; make an appointment to get your tires inspected if you even suspect they’re getting a little gray around the temples!

2. Cracks

Tires are made of rubber, and just like rubber bands, they lose elasticity over time. This transition to a more brittle state leads to cracks. If your tire is cracked, you’ll know it with a visual once-over. You could find a crack at any point on a tire’s surface, including the sidewalls: the parts of your tire that don’t touch the road. Don’t ignore them in your inspection.

Tire cracks are very dangerous. They expose the underlying structure of tires, making them vulnerable to erosion, which will eventually lead to a blowout. The last thing you want is to lose a tire while you’re heading down the highway at speed — you will quickly lose control of your vehicle, and the possibility of an accident is very high. Avoid this emergency situation by monitoring your tires as they age, and bringing your car in for a tire service at any sign of a problem.

3. Bulges or bubbles

Just like cracks, bulges or bubbles in your tires indicate an imminent emergency. They are caused by air escaping from a hole or tear in the inner liner of your tire, usually due to impact. This impact doesn’t have to be major — you may bump a curb or speed through a pothole and think little of it without noticing that it was, in fact, a big deal to your tires.

If the inner liner of your tire is damaged, fewer layers are protecting it from a blowout. Bring your car in for a repair or a new tire immediately if you notice an uneven tire surface.

Stay safe out there, and remember: Chapel Hill Tire is here to serve all your tire needs! If you think it might be time for new tires in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, or Carrboro – get an incredible price by finding a Chapel Hill Tire near you! We have a wide selection of elite tire brands including Michelin, Uniroyal, Continental, BFGoodrich, Toyo, Cooper, Nexen, Kumho, Nitto, Goodyear, and more! Come in to Chapel Hill Tire Today for new tires in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, or Carrboro 

In the land of purple mountain majesties and amber waves of grain, road trips are as much a fall tradition as carving pumpkins and baking apple pies. There’s a lifetime’s worth of exploring to do in America, and when the refreshing fall air kicks in and the leaves start changing, many families take an opportunity to explore the great outdoors!

But like any major endeavor, a road trip needs some preparation! After all, you’re relying on one thing to get you hither and yon — your trusty metal steed. (That’s your car, of course.) If a tire blows or your radiator overheats, you could be in for some unpleasant scenery as you wait for rescue by the side of the highway. A tow-truck ride is a dispiriting end to an otherwise delightful vacation day!

So before you set out, sit down and make a list. What do you need to do to prepare your car for a road trip? Here is a Raleigh car expert’s opinion on road trip preparations.

1) Make sure you have a roadside assistance kit.

Start with the worst-case scenario first. If you do break down by the side of the road, you’ll need to be prepared to wait as long as it takes to get help — even if that’s overnight. Make sure your phone is charged before you set out, that you have a car charger, and that you have what you need in case of a roadside emergency. Your kit should include staples like first-aid items, a flashlight, gloves and a tire iron, as well as items you may not normally think about, like a space blanket (no, really! Check them out!) and road flares.

2) Inspect your tires.

Whatever you do, don’t start a road trip with worn-out tires. It’s dangerous, not just to you, but to other drivers on the road. If you see cracking, bulges or bubbles on the sidewall, that’s a warning sign. So is a thin tire tread. (Measure this by putting a penny into the tread, head first. Can you see Lincoln’s head? Then it’s time for a change.) Depending on how long of a road trip you’re planning, the miles you put on your old tires might just mean the end of the line for them. Don’t chance it — get ahead of the problem before you start your trip, and get new tires if you need them.

3) Properly inflate your tires.

This one seems simple, but you’d be surprised how often people forget to do it. Before you start out, get your tire pressure gauge (you do have one, right?), and check the air pressure in your tires. If your tires came with your car from the factory, the recommended air pressure will probably be included in your car owner’s manual. If they’re low, fill the tires up to the correct pressure. This will ensure that all tires are operating evenly, so that you don’t experience alignment problems as your road trip continues.

4) Check all your fluids.

Most people remember to check their oil, but how about checking the rest of your fluids? Coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and window-washing fluid are all vital parts of your car’s operation. (Okay, so window-washing fluid isn’t vital, exactly, but it sure is convenient to have when you’re rolling down a beach road being peppered by bugs.) Make sure all your fluids are properly topped off. If you don’t know how to do it yourself, no problem — it’s an easy, quick fix at Chapel Hill Tire!

5) Check your windshield wipers.

If you’ve noticed streaks on your windshield the last few times it’s rained, you probably need new wipers. Not sure? It’s good to double-check. Pick up each wiper and look for signs of discoloration, cracking or jagged edges on the rubber of the wiper blade — the part that actually contacts the windshield. If you need new wipers, don’t wait until you’re at the top of that majestic mountain pass in a thunderstorm to find out! You can replace them easily yourself, or let the experts at Chapel Hill Tire do the job!

Have you done these five things? Then pack your car and turn up the radio, because it’s time for some road-trip fun! Chapel Hill Tire hopes that wherever your wandering heart takes you, you have a blast — and do it safely! If you are in need of help with your road trip preparation, bring your car into your local Chapel Hill Tire location for a trip check. We will make sure that your vehicle is good to go before your big trip; make an appointment today!

Why is My Low-Pressure Light On? And How to Fix It

Most people are familiar with their most important warning lights. It’s hard not to recognize these signs and symbols when your dashboard lights up in bright red. When you see a dreaded warning light, it is often pretty clear that something’s wrong, and you need to figure out the source of these issues and develop a repair plan.

There are several less well-known warning lights that, while they may not indicate impending emergencies, are still important to recognize and respond to quickly. Some of them make a lot of sense — a yellow “check engine” light means, of course, to take your car in and have a mechanic check your engine — but some aren’t as intuitive. For instance, the little yellow horseshoe with an exclamation point in the middle. What does that thing mean?

The horseshoe warning light is your low tire pressure symbol, and it means the air is low in one or more of your tires. You may be losing air quickly through a puncture, which is a problem you’ll need to address immediately. But even if you’re not facing an emergency situation, it’s a good idea to stop and refill flagging tires as soon as possible. Uneven pressure makes your tires wear differently from each other, which in the long run can lead to vehicle instability. Poor tire pressure also leads to lower fuel efficiency in your vehicle.

Tire Pressure and Temperature

It’s intuitive that leaks in your tire can cause low air pressure, but that’s not the most common reason for air pressure problems. More commonly, the weather outside of your tire affects the pressure inside. Hot temperatures increase air pressure; cold temperatures decrease it.

Why? Because of temperature-induced air contraction. Hot air expands, but cold air contracts. If your air pressure has been set during hot summer months, the air in your tire will lose volume when fall brings cooler weather to your area. If it was set in the winter, vice versa. In both cases, your air pressure light will probably come on when the seasons and the outdoor temperatures change.

Nitrogen-filled Tires

One way to account for this weather-induced air pressure change is by filling your tires with pure nitrogen, rather than with simple air. Although air contains around 80% nitrogen, that extra 20% makes a big difference. Nitrogen still responds to changes in temperature, but it doesn’t lose or gain as much volume as air does. Why? Water.

Oxygen easily combines with hydrogen to form water. There is always ambient moisture in the air, and no tire pump can account for it fully. Every time you fill your tires with air, moisture gets in. This vapor expands in the heat. Nitrogen-filled tires do not support moisture, so they will expand less than air does, causing less pressure fluctuation.

The moisture problem also causes corrosion inside your tire, contributing to overall tire wear. The water can freeze, causing damage inside the tire rubber. Nitrogen prevents this problem, giving your tires a longer life and saving you money.

There’s one more reason to use nitrogen: it leaks less! Rubber may seem solid from our perspective, but like anything else, it’s mostly space at the microscopic level. Nitrogen molecules are larger than oxygen molecules; pure nitrogen has a harder time escaping through the rubber.

Chapel Hill Tire can fill your tires with nitrogen for an affordable price, ensuring that they stay happy and your air pressure stays more even. You’ll see that funny horseshoe less with a nitrogen fill service.

Expert Tire Service at Chapel Hill Tire

You may have guessed it from the name, but we’ll tell you anyway — Chapel Hill Tire specializes in tire service. We can sell you tires, fill your tires, check your air pressure, patch leaks, fix flats, and fill you up with nitrogen, all for lower prices than you’ll find at any dealership. If your air pressure light comes on — or any other light, for that matter — just make an appointment and come on in. We’ll get you back on the road in no time, warning-light free.

Everything You Need to Know About NC State Inspections

Getting a state inspection is like going to the dentist. It’s something you need to do once a year; it’s a hassle even in the best of times; and there are consequences for failing to follow through with it. No one wants a cavity — and no one wants a hefty fine!

Why are there such costly repercussions for failing to have your car inspected? Because without a state inspection, you can’t register your vehicle. And without a registration, you’re driving against the law, just waiting to get caught and ticketed. Legally, a little absent-mindedness can take you a long way down the wrong road.

State Inspections: An Environmental Concern

State inspections have been around since a voluntary safety program enacted in Massachusetts in 1926. (That’s close to 90 years ago, for those counting!) Since then, vehicles have obviously progressed — and so have inspections. Most people know that inspections cover safety standards. But they are also designed to check emissions standards. — regulations that protect the environment by ensuring that vehicles are not polluting the air. All that exhaust coming from your car’s exhaust pipe will turn into acid rain and air pollution if it’s not controlled. That’s why inspections exist.

The most recent vehicle emissions standards established in North Carolina were a result of the Clean Smokestacks Act in 2002. This legislation, while primarily aimed at coal plants, also required a reduction in emissions of nitrogen oxide. Nitrous oxide is in your car’s exhaust, and it’s a primary pollutant in North Carolina. In order to keep North Carolina’s air quality up to federal standards set under the federal Clean Air Act of 1990, the state must regulate it.

Keeping the Roads Safe

Emissions standards are federally regulated, but state safety inspections are a state’s prerogative. And like states themselves, state inspection laws can differ in quirky ways. Here in North Carolina, for instance, cars 35 years old or older don’t have to be inspected!

So what are safety inspections checking? A number of systems. Your brakes, headlights, accessory lights, turn signals, steering and windshield wipers are among them. If you have a Check Engine light on, then one of our ASE certified technicians will need to diagnose and fix the problem before your car can pass. Safety inspections are just designed to keep you safe; they keep other drivers safe. If your brake lights don’t work and someone plows into you from behind, both of you could be hurt!

Licensed Independent Inspection Stations

In some states, inspections are required to be done in governmental inspection stations. North Carolina, however, licenses independent inspection stations — and Chapel Hill Tire is one of them! Next time that registration renewal rolls around and you need a state inspection in Raleigh, Durham, Carrboro, or Chapel Hill, you’ll know where to go.

Have you ever noticed that the roof Chapel Hill Tire’s Woodcroft service center is green?

No, we’re not talking about paint. We mean the other kind of green — the kind that accompanies a space filled with abundant flora. The automotive industry often has a negative impact on the environment, but Chapel Hill Tire works to offset automotive carbon emissions in more ways than one.

Woodcroft’s rooftop garden contains plants that bloom in every season, so it’s a year-round treat for passers-by. It provides insulation for the store, lowering overall energy costs. And it symbolizes the commitment to sustainable business practices that differentiate Chapel Hill Tire from the competition.

Being green helped the little service center from North Carolina win Tire Review’s 2012 Top Shop Award. As it turns out, the Triangle community wants good environmental stewardship along with its efficient service, and Chapel Hill Tire delivers. We’ve earned our Green Plus Certification from The Redwoods Group Foundation, a North Carolina advocacy group committed to educating small businesses about sustainability.

We racked up a few “firsts” on the path to sustainability. We were the first car care center in the Triangle to offer lead-free wheel weights. Our work reflects the fact that we want to be part of the effort to keep this very common contaminant out of our industry and our environment. And we were the Triangle’s first independent hybrid repair center, doing our part to ensure that this valuable new technology thrives.

As our world moves further into the 21st century, sustainable business practices will become more and more important. At Chapel Hill Tire, sustainability isn’t just a trend — it’s the root of who we are as a company. So much so that it’s taken root on our roof. You should come see it for yourself! Schedule an appointment with the experts at Chapel Hill Tire today for expert service at an environmentally friendly mechanic!

Imagine this: it’s 10 o’clock at night, you’ve run off the road in the middle of nowhere, and your phone is dead. Next time you’ll be sure to bring your charger. But for now, what do you do?

If you’re dealing with a flat tire, you’re probably set; most cars come equipped with a jack, a lug wrench, and instructions for changing a tire in the car’s manual. But if you’re experiencing another kind of incident, you may need extra help. Prepared drivers carry roadside assistance kits to help them through emergency situations until they can get to Chapel Hill Tire for repairs!

Pre-packaged kits from your dealership or a store are one option, but if you know what items to include, it’s easy to put together your own. Here are 10 essentials:

1. An emergency blanket.

If your incident has occurred in the winter, you may be in for a long, cold wait. In situations like these it’s important to have an emergency blanket: a low-weight, compact layer of very thin, heat-reflective plastic (also known as Mylar®). These blankets trap your body heat, reducing heat loss. They are the most efficient, effective way to stay warm in bad weather, and they’re so small you could tuck one into your glove box. Just remember to place them shiny-side out during use!

2. A first aid kit.

After an accident, you may be contending with some bumps and bangs — and not just to your car. Always be prepared to administer basic first aid to yourself or your passengers. Among other items, a good first aid kit will contain an elastic bandage, adhesive bandages, tape, scissors, gauze, a chemical cold pack, sterile gloves, and over-the-counter pain medication.

(Remember: even the best first aid kit can’t handle serious injuries. If someone is hurt badly, call emergency services as soon as possible.)

3. Warning triangles.

When your car breaks down on the side of the road, you need a way to stay safe from the traffic behind you. Warning triangles — bright orange, reflective triangles that prop up on the road — alert other drivers that they should slow down.

The AAA guidelines for warning triangles recommend that you set up three: one about 10 feet behind the left bumper of your car, one 100 feet behind the center of your car, and one 100 feet behind your right bumper (or 300 on a divided highway).

4. A flashlight.

No one wants to be stuck changing a tire or working on an engine in the dark. Always carry a flashlight in your car, and be sure that its batteries work. An handheld industrial flashlight will be effective; you could also choose a headlamp so that your hands remain free.

5. Gloves.

A good pair of work gloves comes in extremely handy when dealing with car repairs, whether you’re changing a tire or unscrewing a stuck oil cap. Gloves keep your hands warm and functional in the winter, and they’ll give you a better grip on your tools. Choose a heavy pair of gloves with non-slip grip on the fingers and palms.

6. Duct tape.

There is no end to the utility of a good roll of duct tape. Maybe your bumper is hanging on by a thread, maybe you’ve got hole in a coolant hose, maybe you need to secure something over a shattered window — whatever the sticky situation, duct tape will help you out.

7. A tool kit.

Most cars come equipped with a lug wrench to help you change a tire, but what about a standard wrench? If the oil cap we talked about is well and truly stuck, you may need some mechanical assistance. Keep a basic tool kit in your car, including a wrench, screwdriver, and a knife (for cutting all that duct tape, among other things.)

8. A portable air compressor and a tire pressure gauge.

Okay, so this one’s really two, but they need to work together. A portable air compressor with a tire inflation attachment is all you need to reinvigorate a floppy tire. You’ll know how much air to put in by checking your levels as you go with — you guessed it — your tire pressure gauge. (Did you know that a tire’s ideal air pressure is usually printed on its side? Look and see!)

9. Jumper cables.

Dead batteries are one of the most common car problems, and they can happen to anyone — who hasn’t accidentally left their lights on and drained all their battery’s juice? Carry jumper cables to ensure that if a good Samaritan happens to come by, you’ll be able start your engine easily. Check out 8 steps to jumping your car here.

10. A tow strap.

Say that same good Samaritan does come around, but your battery’s not the problem: your car is working perfectly, except for the fact that it’s stuck in a ditch! Having tow straps on hand may help you out. If you can’t call or wait for a tow company, but you do have some help from some other very kind motorist (particularly one with a truck), the other vehicle can pull you to safety.

Good tow straps will be able to withstand 10,000 or more pounds of pressure. Be sure your straps aren’t frayed or damaged before using them, and never attach them to a bumper or to any other part of the car except a proper mounting point. (In most cars these are located just under the front and rear bumpers; check your manual to find yours. If you’re equipped with a trailer hitch, it will probably have a mounting point, as well.)

This procedure can be dangerous for both you and your car, so make sure you’ve got the correct straps and you know how to use them. Be sure to read up on towing guidelines before you attempt to tow your car.

Preventative Maintenance

No one wants to be caught in a situation where their car unexpectedly stops working. Make sure to find a reliable mechanic to ensure that your care is running to the best of its ability. A good mechanic will diagnose possible common car issues before they cause you problems, schedule an appointment with Chapel Hill Tire if you need auto service in Raleigh, Durham, Carrboro, or Chapel Hill!

Good preparation means more peace of mind. Expect the unexpected, and stock your car with these safety essentials!