5 Tips to Indentifying Tire Issues

5 Tips to Identifying Tire Issues

Tire Rotations Reveal....

Rotating tires means that you are changing where the individual tires are mounted on your vehicle.

The front tires carry a large percentage of the vehicle's weight (over 60%). If you have Front Wheel Drive, they carry the weight of the engine, transfer the power to the front wheels, do all the steering and most of the braking. All vehicles tires will wear out faster on the front unless you are "The Burn Out Champion"    The right front tire seems to take more abuse as well due to driving patterns and road hazards and hitting curbs. All of this means that tires even though they all get the same amount of mileage, they wear at a different rate.

To get the maximum amount of wear out of a set of tires, you have to rotate them.
Check your owners manual to know what the recommended rotation schedule and proper rotation pattern for your specific vehicle is. A diagram is likely to be in the manual to show how to rotate them and usually every 5,000 to 8,000 miles is the schedule for rotating. 
Rotating tires will make your ride smoother and handle better, which makes for a safer drive. 

 Tire Rotations not only are a great way to get the most amount of mileage out of your tires but, rotations also reveal, in one simple word - Problems.

How do you know if your alignment is bad? 

A poor alignment or unbalanced tires will cause uneven wear. Your front end gets a little out of sorts every time you hit a pot hole, bump in the road, and curb you go over among other things. You won't always know when it is out of alignment but there are clues that you can pick up on if you pay attention. A few of them are:

•  Tires are wearing unevenly, usually on the outside edge.

•  Vehicle pulls to one side when driving in a straight line.

•  Fighting to keep the steering wheel straight.

•  Feeling some vibration in the steering wheel.

• Steering wheel is off center when driving in a straight line.

• Using more gas than usual.
  
  Mind you that aging shocks and struts will have a cause and effect on your tires and driving ability as well.

 Another thing to watch out for is your tire pressures.

Underinflated or overinflated tires will effect the handling of your vehicle, wear of your tires and your gas mileage.

Check the recommended tire pressures, usually located on a decal in your glove box or on the driver's side door jamb.

Some tire pressures are different between the front and back tires, be sure to check for the correct PSI. 

Tire pressures that are listed are for when your tires are COLD.

Driving heats up your tires and the air pressure reading will be higher. So be sure to check tire pressures before you start driving or after the vehicle has set for awhile.

It is a good idea that you use an accurate tire gauge, don't rely on the built in gauge on the air hose at the Gas Station, they can be inaccurate.

Check your tire tread depth. 

We all want to get as much mileage out of tires as we can. There comes a time when it is no longer safe to keep driving around on tires that have minimal to NO tread left. Blow outs, poor road grip are two concerns. When it is raining, or the roads are wet, or covered in snow you need tread to help grip the road. Your vehicle will not pass State Inspections with a tread depth less than 2/32". An easy way of determining your tires tread depth is to reach into your pocket and pull out some change.

Place a penny into several grooves around your tire. If the head of Lincoln is covered you have at least 2/32" of tread.

If you place a quarter into several grooves around your tire, and Washington's head is covered by tread, you have more than 4/32" of tread left.

Another way to know that you are seriously low on tire tread is to look for the "wear bars" on the tire. Manufacturers have designed them into the tires to visibly warn you that your tires are becoming unsafe to drive on.


When your wheels are pulled for the rotation, your brakes are visible and if your brake pads, shoes, rotors or drums are in need of replacement or repair it can be easily spotted.
Make sure that all of them are in good condition. Check the lining of your pads or shoes, if there is minimal lining, get them replaced. Check the rotors for any uneven wear or cracks and make sure that your drums are in good shape as well. All of the braking system should be dry. If you notice brake fluid, make sure that you check your calipers for leaks.

Something so easy to get done can make a difference in your tire wear, tire mileage, gas consumption and can give you information as to other problems you may have with your suspension, struts, shocks, steering, and braking system. Don't overlook this needed and necessary service. Make a habit of rotating your Tires, for your safety and peace of mind.

Keep it between the lines,
Happy Motoring

Interested in Tires? Check out our Tire Page.
 http://www.biggsautos.com/tires.html

2013 Cadillac ATS

Cadillac ATS is easier to say than Cadillac (A)lpha (T)ouring (S)edan.

The tag line: "The Nimble, Quick and Fun Compact Luxury Sport Sedan". That is a mouth full, but it covers all the elements that this smaller Cadillac has to offer.

     
            Why would Cadillac introduce another new model? What is the reasoning behind creating another Cadillac? Cadillac wanted to compete in the same market as those other guys, BMW, Audi, Lexus, Infiniti and Mercedes. Luxury in a Sports Sedan. The emphasis is on Sports. Why not bring what they have to offer to an American made car. So Cadillac went and dissected what the other guys were bringing to market, and one upped them. Cadillac wants to introduce its brand to a new customer base. Appealing to a new market with costs staying very much in line with what the competition has. The ATS does ride and drive like a sports car. Let's say this, Cadillac is bringing it.
            The ATS has been racking up the awards since it entered the market in September 2012.
Awards that have been given to the ATS so far are: Esquire magazines 2012 Car of the Year, Motor Press Guild 2013 Car of the Year, Popular Mechanics 2013 Luxury Car of the Year, Decisive magazines 2013 Urban Car of the Year, and the ATS was a winner in Motor Trend's V6 Compact Luxury Comparison (with BMW 3 Series and Mercedes Benz C Class).

             What is the appeal of BMW, Mercedes, and Audi? They are Sporty, Luxurious, have Style, and just plain Fun to Drive.The Cadillac ATS has all of that, and they are doing it better. The car is balanced (50/50). Aerodynamically designed all the way to the undercarriage. The steering is on point. The ATS squats down when needed for handling corners and has a driver adjustable sport suspension. The gas mileage isn't bad either, 22 city, 33 highway, 26 combined mpg. Another plus, the ATS is set up to run on Regular gas, while the others are Premium drinkers.
              3 Engines are available for ATS. The 2.5L delivers 202 hp@6300 rpm.
                                                                   The 2.0L Turbo delivers 272 hp@5300 rpm.
                                                                   The 3.6L V6 delivers 320hp@6800 rpm.
Transmissions, 6-speed, automatic or manual. The ATS is available in Rear Wheel Drive (Burn Outs!) or All Wheel Drive.

Cadillac ATS interior is Stunning.

               The Interior is adaptable to your needs and wants, for the most part. Seven distinct cut-and-sewn handcrafted interiors are available. 6-way power front seats and power lumbar are standard. The add-ons that are available are many.
               This is a technology lovers dream. With the CUE (Cadillac User Experience),
Media ports (3 USB, aux, and SD card), natural voice recognition, Bose 7-speaker system, and Bluetooth to name a few. Let's not forget that it has OnStar. OnStar Directions & Connections with Turn by Turn Navigation is standard for one year. Don Sherman - Car & Driver says, "High-quality materials, good visibility, sensibly located controls, and supportive seats: Cadillac got the ATS cockpit very right."
               Some of the ATS Safety Features available are: Adaptive Forward Lighting (available on some models)- Means the headlights will help you to see around the corners as you are turning(pretty cool). Illuminated door handles - to better see you with, grille shutters that close at certain highway speeds to reduce aerodynamic drag and improve fuel economy.
               Rear Vision Camera System, Forward Collision Alert, Brake Automatic Collision Preparation, Lane Departure Warning, Side Blind Zone Alert, RainSense Automatic Wipers, and Heads Up Display are available on select Models.

                What about the Cadillac ATS Manufactures Warranties. How do they compare to those other guys? Bumper to Bumper: 4yr/50,000 - same as. Powertrain: 6yr/70,000 - better than. Roadside assistance: 6yr/70,000 - better than most. Courtesy Transportation: 6yr/70,000 - better than.

Want to know about fuel comparisons: http://www.fueleconomy.gov

That is the short story. Really want to know more about the ATS? Get to your Cadillac Dealer and Drive one of these babies. Use the CUE and experience the difference.

Keep it between the Lines,
Happy Motoring.

Why, An Oil Change?

Automotive Maintenance - Why, An Oil Change?
         
The OnStar program notifies, an email tells, a light or buzzer sounds...What do you have to do now? Why do all of these things keep telling you to do maintenance on your vehicle?
Why all the questions...What is the answer.

There are different opinions shared about why notifications are sent out. Truth is you need them. 

          Vehicles need maintenance to stay running, to safe guard from little minor worn out parts from turning into:

Our Service Team at Biggs Cadillac Buick GMC

1. Blown up on the side of the road
2. It won't start!
3. It's making a funny noise and
4. I smell something burning.

• Keeping your vehicle in good order leads to peace of mind when you are driving. You have confidence that you can get from point A to point B without problems.

• Keeping your vehicle up on maintenance also means that when you go to sell  or trade it in, you have built up value in your vehicle, giving the new owner confidence that the vehicle has been cared for, and is less likely to be a problem to them. 

• Maintenance also leads to better gas mileage and lower cost expenditures when it does come to repairing your vehicle.

• If you keep your tires rotated on a regular basis, you can identify problems with your suspension, correct alignments and save wear on your treads, and that is money in the bank.

• Keeping your oil changed, saves wear and tear on your engine. Bad maintenance leads to blown up motors.

• Changing air filters, Engine or Cabin, allows  for better air flow. In the engine it helps save you gas. In the Cabin it allows the Air Conditioner to work more efficiently.

• Checking your car battery can save you from being stranded. Winter is hard on batteries and if yours has lost some of its power, you better be prepared.

• Owners manuals are there to help you understand your vehicle, from the location of a button, how to use it, to what maintenance you need to do.

              Yes, we have many more important things to do with our time and our days.The oil change will get done eventually.
 Have you thought about - What are you going to do when you don't have wheels?
 Have you thought about - What to do when you can't afford to repair your vehicle because you didn't do preventive maintenance?

             Why do we put out Service Specials all the time? Because we want you to get the maintenance done. We want to help you be safe and have peace of mind when you are driving.

Check out our service specials on our websites, or get a mobile service special on your phone with our Biggs Cadillac App.

Our Service Bays are clean and protected from the elements.

http://www.biggsautos.com/biggs_service_specials.html
http://www.biggscadillac.com/Specials/auto-service

Our Service Technicians go through training year round and every year they are re-trained on the latest and tested on what they know. All Technicians are GM and ASE Trained  and Certified.

Keep it between the lines,
Happy Motoring 

Blogs That Follow

Renting a Vehicle, does your Insurance Policy cover it?

Renting a Vehicle, does your Insurance Policy cover it? 

 People rent vehicles for different reasons including: 

•  A business trip, 
• To take a vacation, 
•  For alternate transportation when their vehicle is being repaired. 

When renting a vehicle, one of the most important things to make sure of is, if your insurance transfers to the vehicle that you rent.
To find this out, you can check a few places:

• Your actual policy document, 
• Your agent 
• The insurance company directly. 

You may want to contact your insurance company to find out if your policy will cover a temporary rental vehicle. 
 Ask the following questions, this will help you avoid some of the possible issues. 

• Does my insurance policy cover a rental vehicle? If so, how long will it cover the rented vehicle? Most insurance companies will cover rentals only for a specific time frame. Every Insurance company policy is different. 

• What type of vehicle can you rent? Some policies will not allow for luxury, exotic or custom vehicles. 

• Who is covered to drive the rental vehicle? Make sure you know who can drive and who is not covered to drive. This is important because some policies limit who is covered. 

• What do I do in case of an accident? 

• Who am I speaking with? Write down to whom you have spoken with and what they said to do if an accident happens. This could be important if information you received was not correct. Make a note of what department or extension they are at since some employees do interpret policies incorrectly and if they are incorrect and something happens, you want to be sure that you record who gave you the erroneous information.   

• Will I be liable for a deductible should I need to file a claim? If you have collision coverage, some policies will, and others will not, charge a deductible for this type of loss. 

Other Information you need to know: 
Does the credit card that you rented the vehicle with provide additional coverage? Find out. Some cards provide free damage coverage for vehicles rented up to a maximum of 30 days when using their card. Check with your credit card company to see if this is offered.
  
Warning: Make sure to read the fine print because each company has different requirements for the coverage. Some will only cover you for the amount not covered by your auto insurance policy, and others will cover you as a primary and do not require any concurrent coverage. 

Mistakes to avoid: 

• When you rent a vehicle, your coverage will usually only provide temporary coverage for a rental vehicle. 

•  It is usually up to 30 days, once you have rented a vehicle over 30 days, an insurance company does not consider it a temporary vehicle and it must be added onto the policy for coverage to continue. 

• Your policy will only cover you for the amount of coverage listed on the policy for up to 30 days. 

•  If you have a vehicle listed on the policy where you purchased liability and property damage, the insurance company will only cover you for liability and property damage. 

• Make sure you obtain some type of insurance that will cover any damages that you may cause to the vehicle; whether through the rental companies damage waiver or by using a credit card that provides (collision) damage coverage.   

 

If you have further questions, be sure to check with your insurance company, they can provide the best information regarding what your policy will or will not cover. The last thing you want to do is have an accident without valid insurance coverage. 

Keep it between the lines,
Happy Motoring

For the best in Collision Repair Go to:  
Biggs Collision Repair Center, 1197 Hwy 17 South, Elizabeth City, NC 27909 
252.338.2131
http://www.biggsautos.com/elizabeth_city_nc_body_shop.html
We look forward to helping you get your car back on the road.
"We don't just repair it quickly, We repair it right."  


  Reliable Auto Insurance Coverage
www.auto-insurance-coverage.biz helps you to find more suitable and cheaper policies than other Auto Insurance Coverage. Compare best rated policy quotes to make wise decision.
http://www.auto-insurance-coverage.biz

Automobile Accidents - Information for Insurance Claims

Automobile Accidents – Information needed for Insurance Claims


Okay – you have just been in an accident. Now  what?
After the initial shock of, WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!
You need to gather some information. This will help expedite your claim.

Download the Free E Booklet Today. Keep a Copy for Accident and Car Rental Coverage for Insurance Claims, with Checklists handy.

           
          Get complete information from the other party(s) involved.
These means copying down their address, driver’s license number(s), date of birth, and get their phone number.  You also want to get their insurance information including, the company, policy number, agent if there is one, the policy begin and expiration date and the insurance companies phone number. You need as much info as possible to give to your insurance company; this will help get your claim resolved as fast as possible.

             Who saw the accident happen? See if you can get information from anyone who saw the accident. This can help the insurance companies determine who is liable for the accident.

             Have the Police been called? Make sure to get the name and badge number of the officer and a report number. They will usually give you a business card. It may take your insurance company up to 3 months to get a police report. Tip: Get a copy of the police report for yourself. Sometimes issues will come up and you may need it. Do not rely on the insurance company to keep a copy.

             Get the vehicle(s) year, make and model, the license plate number, and VIN number for each vehicle involved in the accident.

             Where were you when the accident happened? Gather as much information as to traffic, speeds, road condition, any traffic signs or signals. Better yet, Get a Picture. Take photos of the cars, and the roads or area surrounding the accident. Write down the intersection or street that the accident happened on. If you can get the other party in the photo, it could help if either insurance company needs help identifying the other party involved.

              Note how many people were in each of the vehicles involved. Once you know, make a brief note of their description or name including: ethnicity, gender, weight, height, etc. This will help if you are the victim of a staged accident or other type of insurance fraud since people sometimes mysteriously are reported as an occupant of the vehicle when they were not even there. This is not common, but if it ever does happen, this will help you avoid being a victim.

               How damaged were the vehicles right after the accident? Was it drivable? How bad is it damaged? Check to see if you can tell if some damage was already there not related to this accident. If there was additional damage on the vehicle not related to this accident, be sure to tell your insurance company, so that you don’t end up paying for something you did not cause.

                Where do I go to get my vehicle repaired? Your Insurance Company may have a Body Shop that they work with in your area. If you know of a Body Shop that you want to use, have that information handy. Be sure to ask about the Body Shop’s warranties and what exactly do they cover. Make sure that you understand your deductibles, and if they apply to this situation.

                 Record all the information and keep it in a safe place. This will help if there is a problem with the claim. When you report the accident, be sure to write down who you spoke with, your claim number, and what if any promises were made.

Keep it between the lines,
Happy Motoring

Buy Auto Insurance Policies
Find quick and easy Auto insurance policies online now. We can help you find and buy the best Auto insurance quotes among multiple choices.
http://www.auto-insurance-policies.us

Driver Safety - Technology - Cadillac

Technology has come a long way in a short amount of time. Remember (some of us) back in the day, watching or reading Sci-Fi movies and  books, where all kinds of crazy electronic gadgets were being used. Star Trek (debuted in 1966) , 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Nineteen Eighty-Four (a novel by George Orwell published in 1949), and even the Jetsons ( an animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera, originally airing in prime-time from 1962–1963). Who would have ever thought that what once was Science Fiction has become reality. It is all simply amazing.
The innovative technology behind Cadillac's newer breed of automobiles is a confirmation that our world as we view it is still being redesigned. Cadillac has been paying attention, and has made great observations as to what has needed to be improved on. What is and what will be required to maintain our safety when we are riding and driving on the roadways.
 “Super Cruise,” Cadillac’s semi-autonomous technology is capable of fully automatic steering, braking and lane-centering under certain driving conditions.
Many of the building block technologies for Super Cruise, (a self-driving car should be available by mid decade) are already available on the all-new 2013 Cadillac XTS and ATS luxury sedans, as part of the available Driver Assist Package. It is the first Cadillac system to use sensor fusion to provide 360 degrees of crash risk detection and enhanced driver assist features, including:

• Rear Automatic Braking
• Full-Speed Range Adaptive Cruise Control 
• Intelligent Brake Assist 
• Forward Collision Alert 
• Safety Alert Seat 
• Automatic Collision Preparation 
• Lane Departure Warning 
• Side Blind Zone Alert 
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert 
• Adaptive Forward Lighting 
• Rear Vision Camera With Dynamic Guidelines 
• Head Up Display 

With all of these new technologies in place, there still needs to be some serious road testing, to be sure that all the systems are working properly.  The latest testing ground.....The Brooklyn Bridge.
The Brooklyn Bridge’s intricate metal design and traffic volume allowed General Motors engineers to refine the radar sensors so they can tell the difference between stationary objects like guard rails and bridge structure from vehicle traffic. More than 120,000 vehicles, 4,000 pedestrians and 3,100 bicyclists cross the Brooklyn Bridge every day. Making it an ideal testing ground. "Metal structures can “confuse” some types of radar into detecting a vehicle or obstacle is approaching, causing an unnecessary warning or action from the safety systems,” said Jim Nickolaou.

About 2,000 scenarios were identified to test the sensors and radars, things such as weather, traffic volume, lighting, and radar reflections, all of which can impact radar systems or other sensors in the car. All this information was collected to anticipate a range of real-world conditions, which was needed to refine the development of the Sensor Fusion software, which is the link between driver safety and Cadillac's innovative technology.

Cadillac has been a leader in developing technology since 1902 and continues it's legacy. The future is here!
No, we are not at The Jetsons level yet... but we are getting closer with each passing year.

Keep it between the lines,
Happy Motoring.

Biggs Cadillac Buick GMC has been in the business of selling and servicing automobiles for 30 years. We are proud to be apart of this industry and take great pride in putting "Customer Satisfaction" as the number one priority.