As all of us Ohioans are all too aware, the start of November means the chilly Winter months are closer than we’d like. Here at the Roy’s Wash and Lube, we want all of our customers to be safe on the road this snowy season. Below are a few ways to make sure your tires are “up to snuff.”

Tire Traction

Every tire is different in the way they are designed and engineered. Some are designed for the heat, some for highway driving, and some specifically for snow. The difference with snow tires is that they have a rougher tread setting that allows them to not only grip the snow easier, but they are made with temperature-withstanding materials that don’t allow them to freeze in the cold months, giving them more traction. Some tires, like all-season tires, are a close second. However, nothing will compare to the real thing.

Tire Tread

Wait, what’s the difference between that and tire traction? Well with tire tread, it doesn’t matter what kind of tire you have, if you no longer have any tread on your tires it may be time to switch them out. Double check them with the penny test. Insert a penny into the tread of the tire, Abraham pointed down, if you cannot see the tip Lincoln’s head, you are in the clear! If you can, stop into Roy’s for a free tire quote.

Tire Inflation

This may be the easiest fix! With every 10 degree drop in temperature, your tires lose 1 psi, meaning that if your tires were properly inflated during the Summer months, they may be dangerously low during Winter. Improper inflation can be a danger not only to your maneuverability and traction but can also affect the vehicle’s gas mileage and tire wear. Check your owner’s manual for proper tire air pressure.

If you have ANY more questions, don’t hesitate to stop by Roy’s and ask the team!

Winter tires? It’s only fall, why are we mentioning Winter? Good question. As we all know, Winter weather in Ohio comes a lot faster than we all expect. The Roy’s Wash and Lube team wants you to be as safe as possible for the upcoming Winter as 2020 has thrown us enough hardship. Winter tires is how.

“I have all weather tires, isn’t that the same?”

No! Winter tires are a dedicated set of tires for just the Winter. They have a much more aggressive tread, making them, not only safer when it snows, but safer during the Ohio sub-zero temps we’ve faced these past few Winters. Even when there is no snow on the ground, black ice is always lingering.

“Aren’t they expensive?”

Unfortunately, the answer is yes. However, when you put the price of tires next to the price of your insurance deductible or the safety of yourself and/or your family, they do not compare. They can also save you money in the long run – having two sets of tire means less wear and tear on just having one set. The Roy’s Wash and Lube team will do their best to give you the greatest possible price.

“I have all-wheel drive, I’ll be fine!”

As all-wheel drive will ensure that you do not get stuck during the Winter, it does not ensure you will be able to stop. Tests conducted by TireRack has shown that dedicated snow tires can help increase your stopping chances by as much as 35%. That could be the difference between a safe and effective stop or bumping into someone’s rear end.

Don’t wait until it’s to late. Get the jump on your new tires early before the snow starts to fly. Stop in at Roy’s and we can provide you with free tire quotes. Seeya soon!

Picture this – you jump in the car ready to go, and that pesky engine light is on. Should you just leave it? The answer is NO! Below we will tell you why it is important to check it out and regularly maintain your vehicle.

Avoid Those Major Problems in the Future

Checking in on that engine light could save you a huge fix down the line. Getting an oil change every 5,000 miles is a great step to regularly maintenance for your vehicle. During a full-service oil change at Roy’s, we make sure to go over your entire vehicle to make sure it’s running in tip-top shape.

Better Gas Mileage!

Servicing your vehicle regularly ensures that your car/truck is running at it’s most efficient. This may only add a gallon or two extra on your MPG, however, that adds up after a while saving you cash in the long-term.

Expands Your Vehicle Lifespan

While the two reasons above are both important – this may be the best one. Having your car stay road worthy for an extra couple of years will definitely save you the huge expense of purchasing a new vehicle.

Prevents Emergencies

Performing regular vehicle maintenance is the key to your car’s reliability. When the time comes that you need to take an extended journey – you can drive easy knowing that your vehicle will make it to your destination and back. No one likes the headache of breaking down on the side of the road, then potentially paying for a two on top of that.

Save yourself some cash. Stop into the Lube Shop today and get your car washed after. See you soon!

2020. What a year. This year has thrown everything imaginable at us. What is one thing you don’t want to do? Lose money. In today’s market, vehicles can depreciate in value with ease. Stay clear of these three things to keep your vehicle from depreciating too fast.

No Smoking Allowed!

Not only do cigarettes smell up your car, they go one step further. Cigarette smoke can get into the fabric inside of your car, discoloring it and making the fabric smell for years to come. Not to mention the smell, smoking cigarettes inside your vehicle runs the risk of potential burned holes in the car’s interior.

Cigarette smoking can potentially be a hard habit to kick, you can always look at alternatives such as patches, gum, or even e-cigarettes!

Keep an Eye on the Oil-Change Sticker

Neglecting your vehicle’s service can be very harmful to vehicles down the line. One of the first things used-car buyers look at is a vehicle’s service history to ensure good car care. Keep a sharp eye on your oil-change sticker to avoid the possibility of forgetting your car’s scheduled service appointments.

Don’t Celebrate Too Many Car Birthdays

According to Edmunds, each mileage milestone can greatly decrease the value of your vehicle. The first of which is between 30k – 40k, followed by 60k – 70k and ending with 100k miles. If you plan on selling your vehicle, do it within each of those milestones to maximize the return you can get.

These are just a few of the ways you can retain the value of your car. Feel free to ask one of our car care experts for more tips! Stop in for an oil-change, no appointment necessary.

Roy’s Wash and Lube is being celebrated as a CARFAX Top-Rated Service Shop based on verified reviews from actual customers. The exclusive list of service shops being recognized in the inaugural CARFAX Top-Rated Service Shops received an average of 4.77 stars out of five on CARFAX Car Care (formerly myCARFAX).

Established in 1985 by Roy Clunk, Roy’s Car Wash & Lube Shop has provided top notch service to the Alliance, Ohio area for over 30 years. With services from full-service oil changes, car washes, and a tire dealer, Roy’s is committed to the service it provides to its customers.

“Our goal is help car owners make confident decisions,” said Mike Liou, head of Service Marketing at CARFAX. “We have over 10 million active Car Care subscribers who use the program to help keep up with maintenance and recalls on their vehicles. We want to utilize this community to highlight the service shops who are going above and beyond when it comes to customer care, and we do so with reviews from only verfied customers.”

About CARFAX

CARFAX, part of IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO), helps millions of people every day confidently shop, buy, service and sell used cars with innovative solutions powered by CARFAX vehicle history information. The expert in vehicle history since 1984, CARFAX provides exclusive services like CARFAX Used Car Listings, CARFAX Car Care, CARFAX History-Based Value and the flagship CARFAX® Vehicle History Report™ to consumers and the automotive industry. CARFAX owns the world’s largest vehicle history database and is nationally recognized as a top workplace by The Washington Post and Glassdoor.com. Shop, Buy, Service, Sell – Show me the CARFAX™. Based in London, IHS Markit is a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions.

Currently the world is in an unprecedented time. A lot of you that are currently viewing this article might now have a lot of extra free time on your hands as many other millions of Americans during COVID-19. Many people are resorting to cooking a lot more, cleaning out their attic, and various other tasks to keep you busy during this stay-at-home order. Another task to add to the list is to check up on your car’s health.

How much longer do you have until an oil change?

An oil change can be one of the more common forgotten about car maintenance items. Your average individual should change their oil every 3 months or 5,000 miles. Often times however, most common in cars 7+ years old or high mileage, may require some attention before those dates. Certain vehicles have the tendency to burn oil which makes it necessary to keep an eye on your oil level. All you have to do is pop your hood, grab a paper towel, find your oil dipstick, and pull it out to read your car’s current oil level. Sometimes it is necessary to add another quart or top off some of the fluids before your next oil-change and this is the perfect time to do it.

Tire Pressure…

Tire pressure can be one of the easiest things to maintain on your vehicle. Amazon sells tire pressure gauges for as low as $5. All you have to do is press your gauge on to the air nozzle on your tire and pull it off once it gets a reading. Most passenger cars require 32-35 psi, but if you want to make sure with your car, open the door and it should be listed on the inside of your doorway. Sheetz in Alliance has a free air compressor for use. Make sure you wear some gloves and pump them up!

Clean out the junk!

During the excess time you have during COVID-19, now is the perfect time to clean out the excess junk you have in the back of your car. Everyone is a victim to throwing trash in your backseat and cluttering up your vehicle. Take some time to clean it out! If you need to vacuum your car out is well, Roy’s self service area is perfect for that. Make sure you wear some gloves and grab 50 cents, and swing by. The car wash is still open 24/7 during this time.

We hope this helps give you the motivation to give your car a nice check-up. Enjoy 🙂

 A Northeast Ohio can be extremely rough on vehicles. In between the potholes, the deep chill temperatures, and the dangers associated with snow driving, it is important to show vehicles as much attention you can spare during the Winter months. However, one of the most damaging factors during the Winter is the salt that as put on the roads. Keep reading to understand why it is so important to wash it off your vehicle!

Why is Salt Damaging to Your Vehicle?

Rust is one of the most difficult problems to treat on a vehicle. Once it begins on a specific area, it can cost hundreds even thousands to keep it from spreading. Not only does rust not look very appealing on your vehicle’s exterior, it can do quite the number on the undercarriage. Rust beneath your vehicle can cause mechanical issues that could become quite bothersome to your wallet down the road, or even can result in endangering yourself while driving. Salt on your vehicle can accelerate rust tremendously, thus making it very important to wash off.

What Do I Do?

About every snowstorm, the salt trucks are out as soon as they can, covering the roads with salt to ensure driver safety. Unfortunately, that salt doesn’t just stay on the road. During the Winter months it can be crucial to get your vehicle washed as soon as the roads dry up to allow minimal exposure to your vehicle. Salt will still accumulate on your vehicle overtime, making the best practice to make sure your vehicle gets cleaned about once a week.

Won’t That Cost a Fortune?

No! Luckily car washes now are beginning to switch to a subscription-based model of business, allowing for multiple car washes in one month to be possible without breaking the bank. Roy’s has several car wash subscription plans for all buyers. The “Good” “Better” and “Best” include the chassis bath to shield your car from all the damage that salt can cause.

What are you waiting for? Stop in today and sign up to keep your vehicle safe and guarded from any unwanted Winter inconveniences.

New year new me, amirite? 2020 is here and time to make new year’s resolutions. People normally make resolutions for themselves, so why not make them for your car? Continue reading for some potential new year’s resolutions from the Roy’s Wash and Lube team.

A Clean Car is a Happy Car!

When was the last time you vacuumed your car out? Around this time of the year, salt starts to accumulate in your floor mats, along with the outside of your car. Use this time to declutter the junk that has been in your back seat for the past few months. Start the new year out right with a clean car to make your drive around town just a bit less stressful.

Is it time for an Oil Change?

The new year is the perfect time to start taking good care of your vehicle. Start off the new year by making sure you schedule your oil changes. You should get an oil change about every three months. That way you can ensure your car is running at its peak efficiency, and you make sure that there are no problems with your vehicle.

Take Care of Your Tires so They Take of You!

As a part of your car care regiment for the year, make sure tires are on the list. Your tires can’t take care of you, if you don’t take care of them. Make sure that with your scheduled oil changes throughout the year, make sure you rotate the tires as well. Don’t forget the ol’ penny trick to check your tires. Put a penny inside of the tread of your tire, Lincoln’s head down, and if your tires are above Lincoln’s head, your okay! If not, it may be time for you to get a new set of tires.

These are just a few tips and tricks to help keep your car happy and healthy. New years are full of resolutions, there’s no reason that your car shouldn’t be one of them!

In 2019, tires have become more advanced than ever. Rain, snow, whatever the condition you are driving in, there are tires that will ensure safety on the road. Even with all the technological advances at our disposal, we have to make sure that we take care of them to keep us safe.

How often should I rotate my tires?

Most vehicle manufacturers recommend about every 7,500 miles. That means your best bet it to have them rotated every oil change, or every other oil change depending on the number of miles in between them. If you have trouble keeping track of the number of miles you have between the last time of your oil change, a good rule of thumb is to rotate them every six months depending on how much you drive in a year.

Why do I have to rotate my tires?

Tires have to be rotated so often to ensure that the tread wears equally. Front wheel drive vehicles wear the tread on the front-half of the vehicles tires because all of the torque from the vehicle comes from the front two wheels. Rear-wheel drive vehicles are not as bad on your front tires, but because the front of vehicle is responsible for turning, it still wears them down.

How do I check the tread on my tires?

A good way to check the tread on your tires is to first examine them. Look at the tires on the front-half of your vehicle and compare them to the back-half of your vehicle. If the front tires look balder then the back tires, then you should definitely have them rotated. Another trick is to take a penny and put it inside the tread on your tire with Lincoln’s head pointed down. If the tire is above Lincoln’s head, then you’re fine, if it isn’t then you should look into getting new tires.

So, before the Winter season hits in full force, stop by Roy’s and have your tires checked! We want you to be safe this Winter.

As northeast Ohioans, we all know how treacherous an Ohio Winter can be. As you’re sliding around Alliance this snowy season, here are some helpful tips to stay safe.

Stay Home During Bad Weather.  

How many people do you know that boast about how well they drive in bad weather? Even if you are one of those people, everyone on the road is not. Oftentimes, if you don’t need to go out, don’t. You can’t get into a car accident if you aren’t on the road.

Drive Slowly.

It can be very easy to go into autopilot while on the road. When was the last time you were running errands, a million different tasks on your mind, and then next thing you know you’re passing the street that you had to turn on? While driving in the snow, do your best to keep your attention on the road and drive slowly to account for lower traction. Don’t be in a hurry! Apply the gas slowly to keep traction and avoid skids. Take time to slow down for a stop light and know your breaks.

Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop.

There is a huge difference in the amount of inertia needed to get your vehicle moving from a full stop versus how much it takes while your vehicle is still rolling. Try to avoid stopping all together to avoid getting stuck. ESPECIALLY when going up a hill. As you come upon a hill, get some inertia going before you take it on. Don’t power up them. Let the inertia carry you to the top of the hill. As you reach the top, reduce your speed and proceed downhill slowly.

Above all, be prepared. Stay current on the weather and the changing weather patterns. Stay connected, always keep your cell phone handy in case of an emergency. Don’t forget to dress warm either! You never know when you may have to get out of your vehicle. Stay safe out there!