Category Archives: Tires and Wheels

Twin City Auto Tire Safety: Washington vs. Lincoln

  Welcome to the Twin City Auto automotive blog. Today, let's talk about the effect of tire wear. Let's focus on stopping in wet Scottsbluff conditions. In order for a tire to have good contact with the road, it has to move the water out of the way. If it can't move the water, the tire will actually ride on top of a thin film of water.That's called hydroplaning. If it's really bad, Scottsbluff drivers can actually spin out of control - endangering themselves and the other drivers around them. At best, you won't stop as fast. So how does a tire move water? It has channels for water to flow through. Look at your vehicle tire and you'll see channels: channels that run around the tire and channels that flow across the tire. They're designed to direct water away from the tire so it can contact the road better.And the deeper the channel, the more water it can move. A brand new Twin City Auto tire has very deep channels and can easily move a lot of water ... read more

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Tires and Wheels

The Twin City Auto Guide to Custom Wheels

If you're interested in customizing the wheels and tires on your vehicle, there are a few things you should know first.Most importantly, the wheels you buy need to fit your vehicle. Not all wheels are created equal. Too many Scottsbluff drivers have bought a set of wheels that caught their eye, then, after going to the work of mounting them, have found that the wheels don't fit right and the tires rub against the vehicle when they turn or go over a bump.To ensure a proper fit, you can consult with your Twin City Auto tire professional. He/she can also help you find tires that are suited to your driving habits as well as your vehicle. You may find their auto advice invaluable, and you'll probably be happier with your new wheels once you purchase them.But if you just have to have that set of wheels, and you're willing to pay for them, you can modify your vehicle to fit the wheels. Again, you should see ... read more

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Tires and Wheels

Getting New Tires in Scottsbluff?

There are so many tire choices in the Scottsbluff area that selecting the right one can be a bit overwhelming for drivers. And even though it's kind of fun to have new tires on your vehicle, they're a significant investment for most Scottsbluff area folks so you want do it right.Tip: talk with your friendly and knowledgeable Twin City Auto tire professional. He'll help you sort through the choices.Here are some of the issues you'll talk about: One is size – you know, all those numbers on the side of the tire. The right size is . All new vehicles are required to have stability control which, along with other important safety systems, is calibrated to work with specific tire sizes. Your Scottsbluff tire professional can help stay within manufacturer's specifications or program a different tire size into your vehicle's computer.And you'll want to discuss how and where you drive to determine the type of tire you need: summer, winter,  all season ... read more

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Tires and Wheels

Treat Your Vehicle to Good Tires at Twin City Auto

When we shop for shoes, most of us know that we can get two pairs of cheap shoes or one good pair for about the same price. And since the two cheap pairs wear out in about the same time as the good pair, there really is no difference in cost. If you like having a closet full of shoes to match your moods and outfits, then cheap shoes can be what you want. But if you spend a lot of time on your feet, you probably know that cheap shoes can come with an added cost of sore feet and other foot ailments. When you add in the benefits of comfort and protection, the more expensive shoes are actually the better value.Buying tires at Twin City Auto in Scottsbluff is a lot like buying shoes, except that Scottsbluff vehicles don't have changeable apparel and don't need a closet full of tires to match. Vehicles spend a lot of time on their tires—all the time, in fact—so they need tires that can stand up to the job. Tires are work shoe ... read more

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Tires and Wheels

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Wheel Bearings

Why are wheel bearings for Scottsbluff vehicles important? It's simple: your wheel bearings keep the wheels on your vehicle. In today's Twin City Auto post, we'll discuss more about wheel bearings and how you can make sure they can do their very job while you drive around Scottsbluff, NE. Wheel bearings are pretty simple parts. They're made of high quality steel and are engineered to last 100,000 miles (160,000)  or more if properly cared for. The bearings do two jobs: First, they allow the wheel to freely rotate with as little friction as possible. Second, they support the weight of the vehicle. For example, if your car weighs 3,600 pounds (1600 kilogram), each wheel has to support approximately 900 pounds (400 kilograms). That's a lot of heavy lifting over those long distances.Even though wheel bearings are pretty straightforward, they need to be in near perfect condition to do their job for Scottsbluff vehicles. The bearings are packed with heavy grease to lubr ... read more

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Tires and Wheels

Picking the Right Tires in Scottsbluff

Shopping for tires in Scottsbluff can be bewildering because there are many choices. Let's simplify. There are four main classifications of tires, each designed for different purposes.First off, there are summer tires. Those who buy summer tires in Scottsbluff are looking for maximum summertime performance. The rubber is a little softer to help stick to the road on fast corners on NE roads. The tread has wide blocks at the shoulder to stiffen the tire in turns. The tread design can handle rain but really isn't set up for snow and ice. Next comes winter tires. Scottsbluff people buy winter tires because they still like performance driving when it's cold and slippery on NE roads, so they need a tread design that'll really bite into ice and snow. The rubber compound is formulated to stay pliable when temperatures drop below 45 degrees F/7 degrees C so they get great traction even on dry roads. On the other end of the winter tire spectrum are tires d ... read more

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Tires and Wheels

Go Big or Go Home: Upsize Your Wheels at Twin City Auto

A lot of us Scottsbluff drivers like our vehicles to reflect our personalities. We're picky about color and body style. We'll customize anything from floor mats to window tints to license plates. One popular way for NE motorists to customize a vehicle is to get new wheels.Wheels come in thousands of designs. Custom wheels can add personality, style or sass to a vehicle. Many of these customizations involve getting a bigger wheel.Fifteen or 16-inch wheels used to be the factory standard, but today, because a lot of Scottsbluff drivers like the look of larger wheels, many vehicles are available with 17 or 18-inch wheels. Optional wheel packages of 20 inches or more are also available in Scottsbluff.If you want to upsize the wheels on your current vehicle, however, you should know it's not a do-it-yourself project. There are factors involved in ensuring your wheel change doesn't jeopardize the safety of your vehicle.First of all, you need to understand rolling diameter. Th ... read more

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Tires and Wheels

Below 45 Degrees in Scottsbluff: Consider Winter Tires

Remember snow tires? They were basically just regular tires with big, knobby lugs to get them through deep snow. They were loud and rode hard, and Scottsbluff drivers couldn't wait to get them off the car. Then along came television advertisements for “all-season” radials. NE drivers ran out and bought some and we thought we were done with snow tires forever.Tires have come a long way since then. Modern winter tires sold in the Scottsbluff area are much better designed for the wide range of conditions that come with NE winter weather. They are made with a rubber compound that helps them stay flexible in cold weather. Regular tires become hard and stiff at Scottsbluff temperatures below 45°F (7° C) which reduces their traction. That's a concern in winter, especially with snowy or wet conditions. But it also means that Scottsbluff drivers are better off with winter tires in cold weather even when it's dry.The tread design on winter tires has been improved to move sno ... read more

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Tires and Wheels

The Twin City Auto Guide to Tire Specs

You know you need newtires, but you're not sure what type. You look at a tire to get the size: 225, 50, R, 16, 92, H. All the way to the Scottsbluff service center you keep repeating it over and over. You even say it over in your mind while waiting in line. Then you get to the counter and the manager asks what size you need. Then your mind goes blank.Tire size can be confusing for many Scottsbluff drivers. There's so much on the side of the tire, and it's hard to keep straight.Even though there's a lot on a tire - if you know what it all means, it's actually more helpful than confusing for Scottsbluff tire shoppers. Let's start with the size number.For example, let's say a tire reads: 225 50 R 16 92 H. The 225 part is the width of the tire in millimeters - the width between the sidewalls of an inflated tire with no load. The 50 is the aspect ratio - the ratio of the sidewall height to the tread width. Off-road tires will have a higher number and ... read more

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Tires and Wheels

Automotive Tips from Twin City Auto: When to Replace a Damaged Tire

Repair or Replace? That’s a question Scottsbluff drivers ask when they have tire damage. Some punctures cannot be repaired because of their size or location. Punctures larger than a quarter of an inch (6.4 mm) are considered too large to be safely repaired. Punctures in the sidewall or near the shoulders may not be able to be repaired. And sometimes there is internal damage revealed on inspection that indicates the tire should not be repaired. Run flat tires should not be repaired. Repairing high performance tires may make them unsuitable for motorsports. Your friendly and professional Twin City Auto service advisor can inspect your damaged tire and tell you if it can be safely repaired or if it should be replaced - and then help you get back on the roads around Scottsbluff.Give us a call.Twin City Auto1802 E Overland Suite #4Scottsbluff, NE 6936130

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Tires and Wheels