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Summer’s going to be here before you know it, and that means time for family road trips!    We know there’s a lot to think about when you’re planning a vacation...money, accommodations, scheduling, keeping the kids occupied in the car...but one thing you definitely should not neglect in those plans is your tires.    Summer road trips are hard on tires. You have to figure you’re in a car that’s likely loaded to the gills, driving for hours and hours to get to your destination in 90-plus-de...

At Van’s Tires & Service, we’ve been doing auto repairs in Kent, OH for a long time. As you can imagine, we’ve seen a lot over the years...and a lot of automotive problems that were 100 percent avoidable. Here are a few examples of how you can head off a lot of trouble for yourself and avoid spending unnecessary money on auto repair in Kent, OH.  Don’t neglect routine preventive maintenance. That means staying on top of things like regular oil changes, transmission flushes, cooling system s...

Many of us have fond memories of our 60s or 70s-era cars, but let’s just face it; back then, you were lucky to run a car to 130,000 miles before it was ready for the junkyard. Today, it’s not at all unusual to see cars with well over 200,000 miles on them and many miles left to go. That’s thanks to better manufacturing and design, but the best car around can’t make it that far without regular maintenance and auto repair in Akron, OH. And just like on your dad’s cars 40 years ago, one of t...

Summer is here, and it’s time to start thinking about your car’s AC system! Nobody likes driving around in a hot, stuffy car, and a car with an AC system which only works marginally is somehow almost even worse than one which doesn’t work at all. Let’s go through a few tips which can help you keep your ride a little more comfortable this summer… Remember a car's AC system is really a heat exchanger which moves hot air out of your vehicle, then replaces it with cold air. One thing you can...

Automotive technology has come a long way since the mid-20th century, and so has motor oil. A 1940s-era car didn’t feature an oil pump or oil filter. Instead, they relied on dippers on the crankshaft’s counterweights, which would then sling oil to coat crucial moving parts. Motor oils in those days weren’t designed with detergents and other additives to help keep the engine clean; even with frequent oil change intervals, many cars would be in need of an engine overhaul by the time they reach...

Before you know it, the days will be getting shorter, the leaves will be starting to turn and the college students are going to be headed back to campus again. You want to make sure they’ve got a safe, reliable vehicle when they start cracking the books again, so let’s go over a few auto repair bullet points: Belts and Hoses: Too often overlooked as an auto repair, the serpentine belt drives the alternator, water pump, power steering pump, AC compressor and other accessories on today’s car...

The kids are going to be headed off to school again before you know it, then of course, the holidays will start coming one after another between Labor Day and the end of the year. There’s a lot to stay on top of, and auto repair should be one less thing for you, the grownup, to worry about as the year marches on. Here are some suggestions for things you might want to take care of before it all starts rolling again:    Oil Change – Can’t remember the date of your last oil change? Then it mig...

The days are getting shorter, there’s a snap in the air, and before you know it, the winter months are going to be upon us. Is your vehicle ready?    Wipers: Even the best windshield wipers are only good for about a year; normal wear, the sun’s UV rays and the elements take their toll on them. Get a good look and check them for chunks, strips or chips missing, and replace if necessary for a streak-free field of vision in wet weather. Hint: a fresh application of Rain-X on your windshield and ...

Where did this year go? Before you know it, it’s going to be time for the holidays, and that can mean travel in some pretty trying conditions (and we don’t just mean restless kids in the back seat). Is your vehicle ready for some interstate miles? Tires: It’s a good idea to have your tires rotated every 5,000-7,000 miles to ensure even wear. With that in mind, it’s easy to just schedule a tire rotation with every oil change, since the vehicle will be up in the air on a lube rack anyway. Ha...

So the holidays are right around the corner…is it time for an oil change? The answer is a conditional “that depends.” You probably know that motor oil cuts friction between moving parts and helps disperse excessive heat buildup inside your engine. It’s also designed to suspend tiny particles of carbon and metal shavings so they can be trapped in the paper pleats of the oil filter. If left too long, though, the oil filter will become too saturated to absorb any more impurities and sludgy dep...