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Late evening, in the mountains of no where, North Carolina - My sister and father were driving home from a day of snow ski racing.  Seeing as it had been sleeting and snowing all day long (a rarity even in those parts), everyone and their grandmother were holed up with their white bread and whole milk.  No one had the insanity to venture out on the slick, frozen roads.  No one but my dad, anyway. As they coasted down a hill toward an intersection, the light flipped a haunting green, and my dad flipped on a haunting light bulb.  My sister had just started studying for her driver's test, and Dad thought "What better way to teach about the dangers of inclement weather driving...?"  He spun the wheel, popped the brakes, and their four door four wheel drive sedan fishtailed through the intersection like a Disney on Ice.  My sister completely  missed the "Don't tell your mother about this," while she tried to reign in her attack of terror, but she didn't start to grasp the severity of driving in ice. There are a lot of tips and tricks on how to master winter conditions.  Almost half of them are probably true - but this one we can vouch for - buying the right tires. Since the early 1900's, engineers and other braniacs have spent a lot of time designing tires to fit every last possible need of the driver.  Certain tires built to withstand certain seasons may have been the most important. There are four main types of tires, each with a variety of subsections.  But we're focusing on the basics here, so let's get to it. 1. Winter Tires: We don't tend to have too much need for these down here.  Built to maintain traction in light snow and ice, these tires are specifically built with a certain rubber compound to remain soft in freezing temperatures so they can grip in the winter elements generally so rare to us here in Augusta, GA.  It's not recommended for us here because of how poorly they perform in rain. 2. All-Weather Tires: After this year, these tires might become a little more marketable across the SouthEast.  These tires are built to reflect their name - withstand all four seasons and whatever nature throws at them. The rubber compound remains soft and effective in both freezing and warm temperatures. These tires tend to have a slightly aggressive tread on one side for light snow and ice, but still have the channels to repel water on rainy days. The tread can also help in  maintain traction on wet leaves in the fall. An easy tell on the difference between All-Weather Tires and All-Season tires is the Mud and Snow capability.  Slightly elevated grip and traction make these tires good for almost anything. 3. All-Season Tires: The most common type of tire found in the Southeast, all-season tires are built with multiple channels to repel water and maintain grip through rain puddles (not flooding).  The rubber compounds can remain soft in warm temperatures, but will harden below freezing, compromising traction (ie: turning and braking is riskier).  The sidewalls on All-Season tires are built stronger and thicker - making them ideal for smooth ride quality.  Because they are such a popular tire, the tread is constructed for longevity. 4. Summer and Performance Tires:  These tires are built to withstand the fires of Dante's Inferno (I'm exaggerating a little - please don't try to set your tires on fire).  We'll revisit the construction of Performance tires when we talk about Speed Rating, but the basis is that these tires are built for high speeds, high friction, and thus, high temperatures.  Thinner and shorter sidewall enhance grip and handling for quick turns, but this also keeps the tire from being able to absorb impact of road imperfections - throwing a bump or two in your ride quality.  Because these tires are meant for heat and intensity, they tend not to last as long as All-Season tires.  They equipped with some channels to control grip in water, but they most definitely cannot perform in snow. Nine times out of ten, an All-Season tire will meet the needs of the people in Augusta, GA.  Of course there are also tires built for off-roading, big trucks, etc.  But these are just the basics - feel free to enlist the help of our tire experts if you are interested in an all-terrain or light truck tire. Don't forget to make sure you're getting the appropriate size, that you're considering tread life, and that you'll be happy with the smoothness of your next road trip. Stay up to date on our Basics of Buying Tires blog series by liking us on Facebook, and following us on Twitter! This post and all graphics was created by Milton Ruben Social Media Specialist Heather Cortright.

"You get what you paid for."  College, weddings, dating someone new, buying new tires - there are some things in life that make your eyes glaze over with dollar signs and a thinning wallet.  Sticker shock frequently makes it difficult to wave off those dollar signs floating in your periphery and focus on the long-term benefit, particularly for the first three points on that list (because it usually doesn't exist). The last one, though, might warrant some explanation. If we dove straight into how the prices of tires are assessed, it would be a lot of mumbo-jumbo, calculations and figures and images of crazy-haired Einstein sticking his tongue out at you as though he knows its all going straight over your head.  What we can do, though, is focus on one of the 19-25 components tire manufacturers say make up a quality tire - and it happens to be the biggest defining factor in price. (See the introduction to Feet First: The Basics of Buying Tires for more components.) Tread Life is the longevity of the tire before it starts to crack or "bald." If you haven't been living under a rock, you've heard about the Lincoln's head trick - the one where you apologetically shove the top of a penny into the tread of your tire and if you can see the top of Lincoln's head, you need new tires.  You have heard of that right?  How about the George Washington trick? Or the Lincoln Memorial trick? No, this isn't a history of coins lesson, put away your notebook and get out your coin purse (or raid your kid's piggy bank). "The Penny Trick" works in more than one way: If you're testing for snow ready tires, you shouldn't be able to see the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial on the tail-side of the penny. Flip that penny over and look at the tail's side.  When the penny is turned upright, take a peek at the bottom of Lincoln's Memorial.  If your tread is just grazing it, your tread is at 6/32", which is a reasonably safe tire under most circumstances in the southeast.  But if you're planning on trekking to the Great White North anytime soon (or Jay Jeffries is calling for another Icemaggedon - we miss you, Jay!), it might be time to consider some new tires.  This is the bare minimum tread your tire can grip snow. (Read about the right tires for inclement weather in the next Feet First Post!) Use a quarter to test for wet-weather ready tires. Since it pretty much rains everywhere, this is also a good way of preparing for an impending tire purchase. Now it's time to whip out good ole Georgey.  Slap that quarter upside down into the tread and squint at Washington's crown.  If your tread is at the top of his head, it's brushing 4/32" - respectable, but not great.  Wet weather conditions become tricky at this much tread.  You have a little time left before it becomes downright dangerous, but not long. These tires are in (goat-like voice) baaaaaaaad shape. No, they won't grip anything. They basically make your brakes into "more of a guideline than actual rule." Time to break down and buy new tires! Then there's the one everyone knows: If you can see the top of Lincoln's head on a penny, that means your tires are at less than 2/32" - and they're downright dangerous.  The tread has worn so thin, it has virtually no traction in any variety of wet weather.  Your risk of hydroplaning and losing control of your vehicle go up exponentially.  It's time to go tire shopping. Well, if it's that time - how do you pick a tire that will last longer next go round? Uniform Tire Quality Grading (or UTQG) is the trusted resource for how quickly a tire's tread will bald. The grades are based on percentage to wear to bald compared to a control tire in experimentation.  So if it wears 50% faster than the control tire, it would have a 150 pt rating. These tests, however, are conducted in a lab, so other factors like weather, road conditions, and temperature could also contribute to tread life, and they should be considered when you're looking at tires with no mile warranty. You can find UTQG on the sidewall of any tire, broken down into how quickly the tread wears down, the quality of grip on the tread, and how well the tire can withstand extreme temperatures. Still, having a warranty isn't a completely care-free world. Tire manufacturer's warranties come with caveats.  For example, warranties don't carry from owner to owner, nor do they carry from vehicle to vehicle (this is why it's important to hold on to those pesty papers documenting tire's being installed on your automobile).  Warranties will also void if you didn't pencil in some regular maintenance ( checking tire pressure and ensuring proper inflation, regular rotation and alignment, replacing suspension if it wears, etc.) Yep, you're seeing dollar signs again, aren't you? Perhaps a little perspective will rest that panic. Although we keep inexpensive lines to fit any budget, most of the time, the tires that seem to be the easiest on your wallet come without a mileage warranty.  Those tires don't always last very long, making the mid-shelf and upper-shelf tires more of a long-term investment - not to mention safer.  (Cue E-Trade baby talking about easy investing!) Milton Ruben's parts departments carry a variety of tires to meet your needs and budget. We aren't discouraging you from purchasing those lower-end tires. (After all, they can be practical on an older vehicle that's just a temporary fix.)  We just want you to be prepared with the necessary pros and cons to make an informed decision. Of course, our parts departments are all trained on this information - they could save you some hassle and help you pick out the tires that will meet your needs - and your budget. As always, if you'd like to stay informed on future posts about tire buying, or anything else vehicle-related, Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or take a peek at our Instagram. This post, including graphics, was created by Milton Ruben Social Media Specialist Heather Cortright.

Flipping through the ads that dominate the Sunday paper last weekend was a myriad of brightly colored keds, flip flops, and heels for back to school shoe sales (since when do kids wear heels to school??).  The fashionistas of late don't seem to put much thought into things like arch support or tread traction for the longevity of your kid's knees. But we do. Well, for your car baby anyway.  If you've been considering a purchase of new tires for your vehicle, there are a number of elements to consider.  Tire manufacturers say there are 19-25 varying components that measure in to what frequently seems to simply be circles of rubber.  When it really comes down to it, according to our tire experts, there are four key components you really need to consider: ride quality, tread life, weather conditions, and speed rating.  We address the basics of sizes and a brief overview of those four key components in a past blog, Feet First: The Basics of Buying Tires.  But now we would like to dive a little deeper into ride quality and discuss how you can decrease the richter scale you may be experiencing on your commute. 1. Ride Quality is how minimized the road irregularities are to the vehicle's passengers. “Ride Quality is usually the number one concern for our customers,” says Lisa Randall, one of our Toyota Parts tire experts. Owners of family vehicles tend to prefer a smoother ride to not jostle the little ones, so they would require a larger, thicker tire to absorb any bumps in the road.  Those who drive performance vehicles, however, may like a tire with a lower profile.  The latter have thicker sidewalls and improved handling, but are more susceptible to taking the hit each time they roll over road damage.  Unfortunately, this component relates to that old children's song: "The toe bone is connected to the foot bone," ankle bone, leg bone, etc.  If the comfort of the ride feels like an old wooden roller coaster with questionable safety inspection certifications, the under belly of your beloved carriage might be taking a beating.  Each vehicle has tire size suggestions based on the needs of the alignment and suspension of the car.  Wandering outside of that suggestion could result in harm to your car - and could void your warranty. A small sedan wouldn't need low-profile performance tires or high-series off-road tires. With 55 series rating, this tire is more mid-series than high or low. In this infographic of size markings on the sidewall of a tire, you can see where I've marked the ratio between sidewall thickness (or height) and width in green.  It's a percentage of the relationship (ie: the sidewall height is 55 percent of the tire's width), and is called the tire's "series" or "profile." A sporty tire with shorter sidewalls would be considered a lower-series tire. Off-road tires tend to be higher-series tires, designed to absorb the impact of a rough road or track. (Read about how different tires perform in inclement weather here.) If you're hoping to get the best ride quality possible, there are other parts of the car that can help. Read about those relationships here. Since a lot of these factors are difficult to measure, consulting an expert is really the best bet here. To stay updated as more portions of our Feet First series is published, Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter! This post was written by Milton Ruben Social Media Specialist Heather Cortright.

Have you ever had those terrible aches and pains in your knees and back that seem to have no cause whatsoever? (Stop it, you are not getting old!) Then you go to the doctor and he tells you to take better care of your feet.  What? My feet? Congrats! We just found yet another way that your car directly reflects you - its "feet" impacts an enormous amount of its performance.  Tires are the root of safety in your vehicle, the hidden crutch for your failing fuel economy, the terror behind your testy alignment.  Any automotive technician will tell you - having tires that fit your car, life, and environment is vital to keep your vehicle healthy and you safe. This is the part where I remind you of that documentary that popped up after Top Gear - that one with diagrams floating across the screen and some deep, throaty James Earl Jones wannabe saying words that sounded like English but had far too many syllables.  The components that go into the quality of tires are extensive, confusing, and far more complicated than we'd like.  This is why we hired professionals in our parts departments to help you.  And right now, we're going to lay out the basics so it's not all mumbo-jumbo the next time you purchase new "shoes" for your ride. Every brand likes to decorate their handiwork - and tires are no different.  On the side of your tires, manufacturers stamp their brand, the model of tire, and the specs of the tire in an alphanumerical code.  Here's the breakdown of that code: Here's an example of reading a portion of the metric sizing on your sidewall. This tire is fitted on a large truck. Another example of metic sizing code on the sidewall of a tire. This one also includes the Load Rate and Speed Rating. It's fitted on a luxury sedan.   Each portion of the code points to a different component of the tire that defines its size, performance, rating, etc. Tire manufacturers say there are 19-25 varying components that measure in to what frequently seems to simply be circles of rubber.  According to our tire experts, there are four components that really top the charts when you're considering purchase: ride quality, tread life, weather conditions, and speed rating. 1. Ride Quality is how much of the bumps and divets of the road gets absorbed into the tires, providing you with a smoother ride. (Read more about Ride Quality.) 2. Tread Life is the longevity of the tire before it starts to crack or "bald." See more about tread life gradings here. (Learn how to tell what your tires are ready for.) 3. Weather conditions define what kind of environment tires have to survive and perform in. 4. Speed Rating defines the amount of heat or friction a tire can endure. See a chart explaining speed rating here. Each of these factors impact the life, safety, and performance of how a tire interacts with your car, and breaking down the formula isn't always easy.  This is why we are breaking it down for you in a series of posts - stay tuned for more of Feet First: The Basics of Buying Tires! Of course, if you're not a math person, our Parts experts are always happy to crunch the numbers!

So you’re a savvy couponer, waiting to buy until you can get the best deals. The weekend paper is your treasure chest with its wealth of golden coupons featuring the latest bargains in the CSRA. You pipe up when you see ones that have to do with  automotive services ( I mean car services are expensive, so who wouldn't??). The words free oil change, discount tire rotation, free freon recharge leap out at you. Now you've  hopped in  your vehicle on a quest to your local dealership (like Milton Ruben) to redeem these services. Upon arrival the service advisor sends your car off to get your free or discounted services performed. While your vehicle is in the service bay, the advisor delivers to you a list of problems  wrong with your car. However,  being the savvy couponer, you  decline the service. You just wanted the free stuff, were hoping to save money, or worried that the dealership was trying to take advantage of you. Well friends, that was not a savvy move. Our mechanics check your vehicle to ensure safety and reliability. You can't get skimpy on your car maintenance. Maintenance needs to be preventative. For example, a minor problem like steering shake could mean that your brakes are worn out or that there is a problem with your tires. A tire blowout or a loss of stopping power can be prove to be catastrophic. Better to address the problem when it is minor before it becomes major. At Milton Ruben, our service advisors and mechanics are here to help you have a safe amazing ride - not to break your bank! We understand that you can’t always pay for you services upfront, so we offer maintenance financing programs like GE Money, if you qualify,  so you can pay on your service monthly interest free. Continue to be savvy, but always ensure one of you greatest investments (your vehicle) gets the preventative maintenance it needs to provide the safest ride possible. Do not bargain on your transportation! This post was written by Gerry James, Social Media Manager at Milton Ruben SuperStore

Did someone say coupons?  Why yes, yes we did! We know that once you purchase your vehicle, that's only the beginning of your investment.  There are simple maintenances that must be performed as well as more in depth maintenances.  To help with some of the costs, Milton Ruben Superstore releases different coupons at the beginning of each month! So enjoy the savings and great customer service!  For all your vehicle needs come see us at 3510 Washington Road in beautiful Augusta, GA.  To visit us online, http://www.DriveBaby.com

The innovative HawkEye Elite, by Hunter Engineering, is here, at Milton Ruben Chevrolet. The system 's three interchangeable sets of arms grip the tire, rather than your expensive rims. There is also a protective rubber ring at the point of contact with the rims to ensure no damage. The entire target assembly is lightweight, easily installed and handled. The target has a polymer construction and no electronics, allowing for resistance against breakage and very little maintenance required. The sensors and console together use high resolution cameras and intel processors to instantly update the adjustment readings. Enjoy our walk through video with Aaron Thompson, then come check it out for yourself at Milton Ruben Chevrolet.

Watch David Percival, Sales Manager at Milton Ruben Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, transform this 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara into something really spectacular.... David took a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara and customized it with 4" lifts, 37" tires, 18" wheels, dual exhaust, cold air intake, new front bumper with wench, new rear bumper with tire carrier, chrome accents, and a backup camera. Interested in aftermarket accessories for your Jeep Wrangler? Dream about customizing your Jeep? Contact David Percival at Milton Ruben Superstore at 706.868.0588, or visit us in person on Washington Rd. in Augusta, GA. Jeep inventory is available at www.DriveBaby.com.

Have you considered additional exterior lighting to enhance your Jeep 4×4 lifestyle experience? Off-road lighting is specifically designed with rugged, weatherproof construction and is made to endure difficult off-roading conditions. Options include flood lights, driving lights and fog lights. Mounted on a light bar on top of the vehicle or on a windshield frame, flood lights will illuminate large areas, such as a campsite. Driving lights are good for seeing off-road obstacles at long distances and can be mounted either on a light bar on the bumper or also on a windshield frame mount. Fog lights are used for poor weather conditions such as rain, fog, or mist, or anywhere you may need additional lighting for safe driving. Fog lights are sometimes amber in color and are mounted low to help illuminate the road in front of the vehicle. Whatever you choose, be sure to check your state laws on using auxiliary lighting during highway driving, and consider professional installation. Ready to check out some lighting components for your Jeep? The Milton Ruben Parts Department can guide you in the right direction. Check out our parts catalog. From the comfort of your home, you can find, price and order your parts. Parts can be delivered directly to your door or be waiting for you to pickup here at our dealership. To speak to a Parts Advisor, call 877.220.3046.

Hi friends, We are embarking on a major renovation of our Milton Ruben Toyota facility here on Washington Road in Augusta, GA. Here's a glimpse of the week one: As usual, customer service is our top priority, and we have everything in place to continue to offer you top notch care! Look for our temporary trailor marked with the big, red, Toyota signs. Call us at 888.276.6925 or visit us at www.DriveBaby.com.