PureContact with EcoPlus Technology (Grand Touring All-Season)

One of the best tire's to come along in recent history in Carolina Tire's opinion is by Continental tire, headquartered just minutes from us in Fort Mill, SC. Please welcome in the PureContact with EcoPlus. 

The PureContact with EcoPlus Technology is Continental's Grand Touring All-Season tire developed for the drivers of luxury performance sedans, sporty coupes and crossover vehicles. PureContact tires are designed to balance long wear, a comfortable ride and low rolling resistance with wet grip and all-season traction, even in light snow.

Featuring a silica-enhanced, all-season tread compound, the PureContact with EcoPlus Technology incorporates Continental's Tg-F Polymers and +Silane additives to improve treadwear, fuel efficiency and traction on slippery roads. The compound is molded into a computer-optimized asymmetric tread design that reduces pattern noise while chamfered tread block edges enhance dry-road handling. Independent tread blocks are siped to provide additional biting edges while Continental’s Traction Grooves (vertical ridges in the circumferential grooves) promote three-dimensional snow-to-snow traction.

PureContact with EcoPlus Technology’s tread pattern features Tuned Performance Indicators — visible letters molded into the outboard shoulder to alert drivers of the tire's potential performance in various weather conditions. A visible "DWS" indicates the tire has sufficient tread depth for dry conditions, as well as wet roads and light snow. After the "S" has worn away, the remaining "DW" indicates the tire only has sufficient tread depth for dry and most wet road conditions. And after the "W" and "S" have both worn away, the remaining "D" indicates the tire has appropriate tread depth for dry conditions only.

The tire's internal structure features twin steel belts reinforced with spirally wound jointless polyamide to blend high-speed durability with ride uniformity. Continental's ComfortRide Technology includes a cushioning layer of rubber to absorb vibrations caused by road surface irregularities. PureContact tires also feature weight-optimized construction to reduce weight and rolling resistance.

These tires are available for purchase and for a limited time qualify for an instant $75.00 dollar rebate. ONLY at Carolina Tire & Auto:

Price comparison example: P195/65R15 91H

Tire Rack = $103.87 SHIPPED

Discount Tire = Not for sale (although they boast 5 Chinese tires in stock)

Carolina Tire = $93.34 (AFTER INSTANT REBATE ON 4 TIRES)

If you buy tires ANYWHERE else in Charlotte, you paid too much!

Pineville - South Charlotte, NC

10822 Pineville Rd.

Near 1-485 & South Blvd.

Pinevill, NC 28134

(704) 553-9800

Uptown Charlotte

3325 Monroe Rd

Charlotte, NC

(980) 219-8500

SIZES

SizeServ. Desc. 195/65R1591H 205/55R1691H 205/55R1691V 205/60R1692H 205/60R1692V 205/65R1695H 215/55R16*97H 215/60R16*95H 215/60R16*95V

SizeServ. Desc. 205/50R17*93V 215/50R17*95V 215/55R17*94V 225/45R17*91H 225/45R17*91V 225/50R17*98V 225/55R17*97V 235/45R17*94H 235/50R17*96V

SizeServ. Desc. 235/55R17*99H 245/45R17*99V 225/45R18*91V 225/60R18*100H 235/45R18*94V 235/50R18*97V 235/55R18*100V 245/40R18*97V 245/45R18*100V

Buying Tires Online has Become Too Expensive

Remember when buying tires in "the old days of the internet", (2 years ago) was always a good deal? Go to sites like Tire Rack and more times than not, they were less money than your local Charlotte tire dealer. Then sprang up copy cat sites like Tire Buyer, Discount Tire Direct and Tire Monkey. All boasting "free delivery" to your local tire installer.

Tire buyers in Charlotte already know that Carolina Tire is the only place to buy tires. No one has and no one can compete on prices of tires and we're going to prove it to you right now by doing a real world comparison of tire prices at popular online tire sites on very popular sizes and brands like Continental and Michelin brand tires.

We're going to compare the P205/55R16 Continental DWS tires from Tire Rack, Tire Monkey, Tire Buyer and Discount Tire online. All tires were shown delivered to Charlotte zip code 28277.

Tire Rack = $116.67 delivered
Tire Monkey = $135.00 delivered
Tire Buyer = $115.19 delivered
Discount Tire = $119.00 delivered

Carolina Tire $115.00 per tire


Now let's try the Michelin LTX M/S2 in the 265/70R17 tire size.


Tire Rack = $267.55 delivered
Tire Monkey = $258.00 delivered
Tire Buyer = $229.56 delivered
Discount Tire = $242.00 delivered

Carolina Tire $228.00 per tire


We could go on and on with examples. These are the exact same tires that you would get from any of these distributors as you would get from Carolina Tire. The fact is as we stated as the headline for this blog post, buying tires online has become too expensive. Buying tires has gone back and in favor to the local tire dealer and that my friends is your # 1 online rated and Angie's List 2010 and 2011 Super Service Award Winning Carolina Tire & Auto. Please remember that if you buy tires any place else than Carolina Tire & Auto, you'll pay way too much.

To buy these inexpensive tires, contact Carolina Tire at any of these locations.

Carolina Tire & Auto - www.carolina-tire.com

South Charlotte

10822 Pineville Rd
Pineville, NC 28134


704-553-9800

Uptown, Myers Park or Dilworth


3325 Monroe Rd
Charlotte, NC 28205


980-219-8500

Carolina Tire to Open New Store in Uptown Charlotte

Family-owned and operated Carolina Tire & Auto Service Centers, based in Fort Mill, SC, has opened a new full service auto repair facility in Uptown Charlotte near Myers Park and CMC Main.

The company has grown to two locations throughout the Charlotte metro area. The South Charlotte store is located on Pineville, NC near Ballantyne. The new store is in the Myers Park/Randolph Rd area on Monroe Rd near Uptown Charlotte. The building is the former Buffalo Tire center and has a large swanky waiting area with wood floors, refreshments, Wi-Fi, leather couch and  HD-TV.

The facility boasts 5,500 square feet of floor space with eight full service repair bays featuring state of the art equipment, including environmentally friendly lifts, and will offer all of Carolina Tire’s current selection of tire brands like Continental and Michelin and services, according to the business.

“We have a passion for service and go out of our way to serve all of our customer’s automotive needs,” said company President Jim Seidel, who is also known as Charlotte's Tire King. “We are proud to provide the Seidel standard of professional tire and auto service, and are excited to bring this quality automotive care to the Uptown Charlotte, NC, area.”

The new address is:

Carolina Tire & Auto
3325 Monroe Rd
Charlotte, NC 28205
980-219-8500

Five Warning Lights That Keep Your Car Running

Summer's a prime time for road trips, but logging hundreds of miles also means you’re more likely to encounter vehicle trouble. Warning lights can make any driver nervous, but if you know what each light means, you’ll be able to handle any problems that arise.

Oil Pressure Warning Light

Imagine the sound of two pieces of steel grinding together without a lubricant. That’s the sound your car could make without enough oil. The oil pressure light doesn’t tell you when it’s time for an oil change (although some cars can do that), but it will tell you if there are low levels of oil, or if the oil pressure is low.This could be a result of a punctured oil pan, a leak or a number of problems. If your oil pressure warning light turns on, pull over safely, turn off your car immediately and add oil. If you run the engine without oil, it will seize because the metal parts won’t be able to move against each other. That kills your engine.

The cost of diagnosing and fixing an oil leak on a 2007 Honda Accord with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine can cost between $396 and $534, according to Carolina Tire. That’s a lot to dish out at once, but it’s less than replacing a seized engine, which can cost $5,000 or more.

Check Engine Warning Light

In most cars, the check engine light and the onboard diagnostics light are the same thing: They indicate that there is a problem in the engine or the emissions system. If this light is on you could have a minor problem like a loose gas cap. But you could also be facing more serious issues, like fuel leaking into the exhaust pipe. If this happens, the fuel could damage the catalytic converter, a component that helps clean your exhaust fumes and is expensive to fix. Replacing both catalytic converters in a 2009 Ford F-150 with a 4.6-liter V8 engine could cost up to $4,302, according to Carolina Tire.


Tire Pressure Warning Light

Under-inflated tires can lose traction, increase a vehicle’s stopping distance and can make blowouts more likely. Since 2006, all vehicles in the U.S. are required to have a standard tire pressure monitoring system. A standard warning light has two parts: a low tire pressure warning and a tire pressure failure warning. If a tire pressure light comes on, you can find a gas station where you can check your tire pressure and add air, pull over and replace the tire or drive your car to a maintenance shop. If you have run-flat tires, you’re in luck. Most run-flat tires can drive up to 60 miles without damaging your wheels. Carolina Tire says that run-flat tires ride rougher than traditional tires, but to most of us, peace of mind in case of a flat is more important than how your car will perform on a race track. On the other hand, driving after a tire hascompletely blown will ruin your rims, adding thousands of dollars to your repair cost.



Engine Temperature Warning Light

Keep a watchful eye on your engine temperature gauge, which tells you how hot the engine is. If your engine is overheating, a small thermometer, a picture of a radiator or the word “temp” might light up. Usually, this temperature gauge notifies the driver that there is a problem with the engine’s coolant system. If the temperature light turns on, pull over to the side of the road and wait until the gauge falls back to the halfway mark. Remember, never pour water over a hot engine, and never open the radiator cap until the engine has fully cooled. Rather than cooling the engine down, dousing hot metal with cold water can result in dangerous amounts of steam and can warp or crack the metal. Opening up the radiator while it’s still hot can release a boiling radiator fluid that can badly burn your hands or face. If you don’t take this light seriously, you could damage your vehicle’s internal parts significantly. Hoses can burst, gaskets can blow and if aluminum cylinders expand too much, the engine could seize. Get to Carolina Tire immediately, where they can diagnose and fix the problem.


Brake Warning Light

Generally, the brake warning light turns on if pressure in the brake system has changed because of leaking or overheating brake fluid. Since disc brakes are operated by hydraulics, a change in fluid pressure means that they might not function properly. Most cars have disc brakes on at least the front wheels, while older cars generally use drum brakes on all four.

If your brake light goes on while you’re driving, take your foot of the gas and switch on your warning flashers so others know there’s a problem. Try pumping your brakes to get a bit more fluid in the brake system, which may give your brakes enough capability to work. Driving on grass or gravel, like what might be found on the shoulder of a highway, can also help you slow down.

Brake fade and failure can occur on a long downhill grade, when the driver has used the brakes too much and caused them to overheat. To prevent brake fade, shift from “Drive” into a lower gear. Allowing your engine to run only in a lower gear will limit its top speed and act like a brake. This technique is called “engine braking,” and many truckers and other drivers use it on long downhill grades to preserve their brakes for when they’re really needed. If your brakes totally fail, keep your eyes out for a runaway truck ramp. These ramps are located on the side of a downhill road, are built on an incline and are usually made of deep sand or soil. They can damage your car, since the engine can get filled with sand and any large rocks in the mixture can scrape up your car, so only use a runaway truck ramp in extreme cases. Still, they’ll slow you right down and keep you safe.

Remember to check your owner’s manual if you see a light you don’t recognize, since every car is a little different. Hopefully, knowing the warning signs ahead of time will help you prevent further damage to your car, and save a little money in the process.

Failure to Check Tires Causes Wrecks in Hot Weather

Six out of 10 motorists wash their cars at least once per month, but only one in seven properly checks their tire pressure, a recent survey by the Carolina Tire & Auto reports.

And as the summer days turn into Charlotte scorchers, that lack of tire care can be deadly, especially with large trucks, cars and van or hauling summer luggage, says Jim Seidel, president of Carolina Tire & Auto of Pineville, NC.

“Excessive heat is a key trigger for tire failures,” says Seidel, whose company replaces thousands of tires per year.

“Tires are engineered to support the high amount of friction that occurs when trucks are traveling at high speeds. But couple that with very high outdoor temperatures, and you’ve got a serious safety hazard on your hands.”

That’s because hot weather can cause tires to heat up beyond their design specifications, Seidel explains. Also, trucks carrying loads exceeding their approved weight limit or whose tires are underinflated can lead to fatal blowouts, the tire expert says.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,400 people were killed in tire-related crashes in the United States between 2005 and 2009. An additional 116,000 were injured in wrecks caused by tire problems.

While some blowouts are nobody’s fault, others occur due to negligence on the part of driver. People sometimes just pay less attention to tire maintenance.

“The the heat, coupled with the air pressure and load that you may be carrying makes it even more important that Charlotte drivers do simple things like check tire pressure,” Seidel says. Or come on in to Carolina Tire & Auto and have them professionally inspected for free.

For your free tire check up in Charlotte; contact the best tire company in town at Carolina Tire & Auto - Charlotte's # 1 online rated tire & auto repair company.

704-553-9800

www.carolina-tire.com

Rebates Rebates Rebates

Most everyone hates budgeting for their car repairs or especially tires, even us so we understand. But here at Carolina Tire & Auto and in some cases ONLY at Carolina Tire & Auto you can get major rebates or even cool Maui Jim sunglasses on tires, brakes or a tune up. So let's get this cool list started:

Tires in Charlotte, NC

• Continental tire $80.00 rebate on 4 tires - Buy an 4 Continental tires and get an $80.00 Visa card back in the mail. This is a deal ONLY at Carolina Tire & Auto. Not at Tire rack, not at Discount Tire, not at Griffin Brothers, not Woody's, not at Firestone and certainly not at any car dealership.
• General tire $50.00 rebate on 4 tires - Buy an 4 General brand tires and get an $50.00 Visa card back in the mail.
• BF Goodrich tires $50.00 rebate on 4 tires - Buy an 4 BF Goodrich tires and get an $50.00 Visa card back in the mail.

Auto Repair in Charlotte, NC

• The Ultimate Tune up rebate - Get your car tuned up at Carolina Tire & Auto and you could receive up to $75.00 Visa card back from Napa.
• The Perfect Brake job - Needs rotors and pads for your car, truck or SUV? Buy them and have them installed at Carolina Tire & Auto Repair and get up to $90.00 in a Visa card or $180.00 Maui Jim Award Card. Just in time for your summer vacation

So when it comes to buying tires, getting the best brakes or getting the Ultimate Tune Up you need to think only one place. The auto repair dealership with the highest online ratings, the auto repair dealership with an Angie's List Super Service Award, the auto repair dealership with nationwide warranties on parts and labor, the auto repair dealership with free roadside assistance with any tire purchase or auto repair job.. Who am I talking about? Charlotte's one, Charlotte's only, Charlotte's Carolina Tire & Auto off of South Blvd and I-485 on the Pineville side.

Let the rebate card shower your mailbox this summer as you're driving around the coolest car in town fitted with cool Continental tires, awesome brakes and an engine that NASCAR would to hear hum on the track.

See you soon at:

Carolina Tire & Auto

10822 Pineville Rd

Pineville, NC 28134

704-553-9800

$25.00 gets you $100.00 at Carolina Tire for Continental Tires

Everyone loves a great deal right? YES! Everyone loves to buy tires right? NO! What?!

Well Carolina Tire & Auto in Pineville, NC has just made buying tires very fun and very cool.

How about a HUGE discount? Yes Yes ! Ok, go to Carolina Tire & Auto's website right now and click on the Buy Now button on our website. It will take you to PayPal where you can pay the $25.00 and print out your receipt.

Now call Carolina Tire & Auto at 704-553-9800 and get a tire quote on on four (4) Continental tires. Make an appointment to get your tires installed and bring in your $100.00 coupon. It's that simple.

Want more? Yes!

We'll throw in a brand new Flip HD Video Recorder with a qualifying set of four (4) Continental tires. To qualify, your order must be for $499.00 or more which includes all labor. We'll send in your paper work and your Flip HD Video Recorder will be delivered to your house.

p.s. We are an Angie's List Super Service Award Winner for 2010 and the top rated auto center in all of Charlotte, NC.

** Offer is only good at Carolina Tire & Auto, no cash value, cannot be combined with any other offer, discount or coupon. See store for details.

Carolina Tire & Auto

10822 Pineville Rd

Pineville, NC 28134

704-553-9800

Near I-485 & South Blvd

www.carolina-tire.com

Free Flip Video Recorder with Continental Tire Purchase at Carolina Tire

Let me make this as easy as possible for you. If you were thinking about buying a Flip HD Video player for yourself, I just bought one for you. How do I get my new Flip HD Video recorder from Carolina Tire & Auto? I'm glad you asked.

Just come to Carolina Tire & Auto between now and March 12th, 2011 and buy any 4 Continental tires valued at $499.00 or more (including mounting & balancing), and I'll hand you a certificate to mail in for your very own Flip HD Video recorder to be sent to your house.

It's that easy. Still not not enough for you? Ok, you twisted my arm hard enough. Carolina Tire & Auto will also throw in a $50.00 certificate to be used at a later date back at our store for auto repair service or labor. Because if you didn't know, we are the #1 ranked Charlotte auto repair center for all makes of domestic and all makes of foreign car service and repair. Still not good enough for you? Alright, I'll throw in a bottle of Mona Vie Active to boot. Deal? Great!

To find Carolina Tire & Auto on the internet, go to Google and type in "tires charlotte nc" and hit the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button.

Call us today at 704-553-9800 to place your order today or visit us at:

Carolina Tire & Auto

10822 Pineville Rd

Pineville, NC 28134

Near I-485 & South Blvd (on the south side of I-485).

www.carolina-tire.com

Winter Driving Tips for Charlotte, NC

In case the weather breaks bad on us again here in the Carolinas, Carolina Tire & Auto has come up with some driving tips for you.

The best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all, if you can avoid it.

Don't go out until the snow plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination.

If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared and that you know how to handle road conditions.

It's helpful to practice winter driving techniques in a snowy, open parking lot, so you're familiar with how your car handles. Consult your owner's manual for tips specific to your vehicle.

Driving safely on icy roads

1. Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
2. Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
3. Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
4. Keep your lights and windshield clean.
5. Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
6. Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
7. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
8. Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
9. Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.

If your rear wheels skid...

1. Take your foot off the accelerator.
2. Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they're sliding right, steer right.
3. If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
4. If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
5. If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse — this is normal.

If your front wheels skid...

1. Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don't try to steer immediately.
2. As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in "drive" or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.

If you get stuck...

1. Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.
2. Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.
3. Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.
4. Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car.
5. Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction.
6. Try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner's manual first — it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. Each time you're in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.

If all else fails, call the # 1 rated auto center in all of Charlotte, NC at 704-553-9800 and we'll send someone to rescue you.

Carolina Tire & Auto Earns Coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award

Carolina Tire & Auto has been awarded the prestigious 2010 Angie’s List Super Service Award, an honor bestowed annually on approximately 5 percent of all the companies rated on the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local service companies.

“Our Super Service Award winners are the cream of the crop when it comes to providing consistently high quality customer service, as judged by the customers who hired them,” said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List.

“With over 200 positive online reviews, an "A" rating with the BBB of Charlotte and now a 2010 Angie’s List Super Service Award, we couldn't be happier”, the company officially announced.

Angie’s List Super Service Award winners have met strict eligibility requirements including earning a minimum number of reports, an exemplary rating from their customers and abiding by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

Service company ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List, but members can find the 2010 Super Service Award logo next to company names in search results on AngiesList.com.

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Angie’s List collects consumer reviews on local contractors and doctors in more than 500 service categories. Currently, more than 1 million consumers across the U.S. rely on Angie’s List to help them make the best hiring decisions. Members get unlimited access to local ratings via Internet or phone, exclusive discounts, the Angie’s List magazine and help from the Angie’s List complaint resolution service. Take a quick tour of Angie’s List and view the latest Angie’s List news.

Carolina Tire & Auto is an auto repair and tire center located in south Charlotte, North Carolina. With 12 service bay garages and over 7,000 sq feet of retail space to perform auto repair on European cars like Mercedes, BMW, Saab, Volvo, Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche as well as all Japanese imports like Honda, Toyota, Mazda, Suzuki, Lexus, Acura, Infiniti, Nissan and of course all domestic cars and trucks like General Motors, Ford and Chrysler.

Continental Cross Contact LX Handling Deep Snow

Continental Cross Contact LX

Thanks to the open outer shoulder, this tire provides good handling and braking properties even on easy terrain. The four deep and broad circumferential grooves widen towards the opening, ensuring very good aquaplaning resistance and reducing tire damage by hindering stones from getting caught. Thanks to their rib characteristic and pronounced siping, the three circumferential block rows make for precise steering response and very good straightline performance while guaranteeing that the tire rolls very smoothly and quietly.

This tire is available exclusively at Carolina Tire & Auto, one of the largest Continental Tire dealers in Charlotte, NC. 704-553-9800

Click below to see our demo of this tire in severe winter mountain weather.