Boulder Auto Repair

When winter arrives in Colorado, the temperature isn’t the only thing that drops – your tire pressure does too! As the mercury falls, the air inside your tires contracts, causing a decrease in pressure. This can lead to reduced fuel efficiency, uneven tire wear, and even safety risks. Let’s dive into why tire pressure matters and how to keep your tires road-ready this winter. Why Does Tire Pressure Drop in Cold Weather? For every 10-degree Fahrenheit drop in temperature, your tires can lose about 1-2 psi (pounds per square inch). For example, a tire properly inflated at 35 psi when it’s 70°F may drop to around 30-31 psi at 20°F. Since Colorado winters often bring significant temperature swings, this change can catch drivers off guard. Low tire pressure impacts more than just your ride comfort. It increases rolling resistance, which means your car has to work harder, lowering fuel efficiency. It also leads to uneven tire wear, shorteni ... read more

Fall in Colorado is a beautiful time of year, with vibrant colors, crisp air, and cooler temperatures. But as the season changes, so do the challenges that your vehicle faces. From unpredictable weather to temperature drops, fall can introduce a variety of car problems—especially if you’re heading into the mountains. Here are some common fall car issues and tips on how to prevent them: 1. Tire Pressure Drops As the temperatures in Boulder start to cool down, your tire pressure naturally drops. Cold air causes the air in your tires to contract, which can affect your handling, fuel efficiency, and tire wear. How to Prevent It: Regularly check your tire pressure as the weather cools, especially if you’re planning on driving into higher elevations where temperatures fluctuate more dramatically. Proper tire pressure is critical for staying safe on the wet and potentially slippery fall roads we often see in Colorado. 2. Battery ... read more

Have you ever felt like your car is pulling to one side, or noticed uneven wear on your tires? These are signs that your car may be in need of a wheel alignment. While it might seem like a minor issue, neglecting proper wheel alignment can lead to a host of problems down the road.    Extended Tire Life: When your wheels are properly aligned, they all point in the same direction, ensuring even wear on the tread. Misaligned wheels can cause uneven wear on your tires, leading to premature tire replacement. By investing in regular wheel alignments, you can save money in the long run by maximizing the lifespan of your tires.   Improved Fuel Efficiency: Believe it or not, proper wheel alignment can also contribute to improved fuel efficiency. When your wheels are out of alignment, it can create unnecessary resistance as you drive, forcing your engine to work harder and consume more fuel. When your wheels are correctly aligned, you reduce this resistance, allowing your car to ... read more

  Making the decision to invest in snow tires depends on a few things including where you live, the type of vehicle you drive, if you’ll be frequenting the mountains, and your experience with driving in snow and ice.    Many Boulder residents choose to use all-season tires year-round. Those who live in the foothills, or enjoy trips to the mountains often switch to snow tires during the winter months for added safety. Snow tires provide better traction in snow, on ice and in cold temperatures than all-season or summer tires.    Vehicle Type  While AWD and 4WD on a vehicle can help you in snow drifts, your drivetrain alone won’t do much to keep you from sliding on ice. Your best protection against ice is snow tires or even studded snow tires, if you’ll be doing a lot of mountain driving.   In FWD vehicles, the power from the engine goes to the front wheels. Snow tires on the front wheels provide extra grip which can improve sta ... read more

When you are going on a road trip, there are several things you can do to prepare. While most of us consider the snacks we are going to bring or the directions to our destination, it is also important to think about car care. Some of the things you should do before a road trip is to get an oil change and balance and rotate your tires. Naturally, these are items that will help make your car last longer. But, did you know that it will also help you enjoy your road trip more? Here are three ways that this is the case. Savings Completing these tasks on your car can actually wind up saving you money. They will help make your car function more efficiently, which could help you cut down on the amount of gas you use on your trip. Also, if you have your entire car serviced and checked before your road trip, the savings could be even more significant. Comfort These are also things that can help make you more comfortable on your trip. Having tires that are properly aligned a ... read more