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Yes, everyone has the best of intentions after the first of the year. Lose weight, be more active, start exercising, stop smoking, drink less, so on and so forth…and we always end up forgetting most of them by the time January’s over. 

Here are some resolutions you can keep, though, and they’ll result in you having a more dependable and better-running car:

Wipers: Even the best windshield wipers are only good for about a year. If you’re noticing smudges or smears in your field of vision when you use the wipers, or if your wipers are losing chips or chunks or strips of rubber (or are cracking and drying out), go ahead and replace them. It’s your safety that’s on the line here.

Oil changes: Your dad was right – oil changes at regular intervals are still the best way to cut wear and get the most miles out of your engine. Check your owner’s manual for manufacturer’s recommendations and have your oil changed using factory-spec oil.

Wheel alignment: A vehicle that constantly pulls to one side is more than an annoyance for the driver. It means that you’re wearing your front tires out unevenly as well. Don’t just put up with that…schedule a wheel alignment with Family Tire Distributors.

Tires: No vehicle has 50/50 weight distribution from front to rear – that’s why you need to have tires rotated at a 5,000-mile interval. Also remember to check your tire inflation regularly, and remember to check while the tires are cold. Underinflated tires wear prematurely and will hurt fuel economy due to their added rolling resistance.

Cooling system maintenance: Coolant (really a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and distilled water) needs to be changed at regular intervals. We can test the condition of your coolant using a hygrometer; failing to flush the system regularly can lead to scale and corrosion.

It’s 2017 and we hope your new year is off to a good start. To make sure it goes smoothly for your car, make an appointment with us at Family Tire Distributors and let’s get a little preventive maintenance done.