Sant Automotive

Having your car's wheels aligned is an essential part of keeping your vehicle in good condition. Proper wheel alignment helps keep your tires in top shape and reduces the risk of tire wear and potential issues like pulls or premature tire wear. In addition reducing tire life, improper alignment will cause drag that reduces fuel economy.  In this blog, we will explore what wheel alignment angles are, and why they are important. Wheel alignment angles are the angles at which the wheels of a vehicle are set relative to one another. These angles determine how the tires contact the road, as well as how evenly they wear. The four main wheel alignment angles are camber, caster, toe-in and toe-out. Camber is the angle of the wheel in relation to vertical. It affects how much tire contact is made with the ground and the overall stability of the vehicle when turning. Caster is the angle of the steering axis in relation to vertical. This helps determine how well your car turns corners. Toe-...

Best Tires: Tires range in price, so make sure to shop around and pay attention to factors like warranty and mounting costs before you make a purchase. Also, according to Consumer Reports, "Tires aren't like shoes. The bigger the size, the more you pay." Anchor Text: Consumer Reports External Link: https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2012/11/why-car-tire-prices-vary/index.htm The right tires are essential for the safe operation of your vehicle. The first step in choosing the correct tire is to check the proper tire size. The manufacturer's suggested tire size and type can be found on the driver's door sill. This label also lists the tires proper inflation level. But with countless brands and models available, choosing the best tires for your vehicle can be overwhelming. That’s why we have compiled this buyer’s guide to help you choose the right tires for your car or truck. The first question that we ask when customers are considering replacement tires is...

If you live in Crestwood or Webster Groves, Missouri, chances are you've already been dealing with the rough roads and potholes on Watson Road in Crestwood and Big Bend in Webster Groves. Unfortunately, driving on roads like these can cause your car to get out of alignment. Regularly scheduled alignments will ensure that your vehicle is aligned properly so that you can drive safely and smoothly. So if you've recently noticed any of the signs listed above, don't wait – contact Sant Automotive shop for an alignment today! What are the warning signs of your car being out of alignment? Uneven or rapid tire wear : Uneven or rapid tire wear is a telltale sign that your car is out of alignment. If you notice any areas on your tires with abnormal tire wear or uneven wear, it might be time for a proper wheel alignment , also called a tire alignment, to make sure everything is in proper order. Pulling to one side: The most recognizable symptom of needing an alignment is if your ca...

 Not Sure When to Change Spark Plugs? Look for These Signs Worn-out spark plugs can lead to engine misfires, increased emissions, reduced fuel economy, higher exhaust emissions, and expensive repairs. To ensure your car is running at peak performance, pay attention to these five signs that you need new spark plugs. 1. Engine Misfires: A faulty or worn spark plug can cause the engine to misfire, which may result in a jerking motion while driving or a rough idle. If you are experiencing rough idling, it’s likely time to replace the spark plugs. 2. Check Engine Light: If you have a faulty spark plug or the plugs wears out completely, the check engine light will illuminate on your dashboard. As soon as you notice this warning sign, take your vehicle in for service and have the technician diagnose this concern. 3. Reduced Fuel Efficiency: When your car’s spark plugs are worn out, it causes more fuel to be burned than necessary which results in decreased gas mileage and an increase in em...

Tire size refers to the diameter of the wheel rim and its width in inches, as well as sidewall height or profile. Radial tires are typically marked according to their size on the sidewall of the tire. The letter “P” is used for passenger vehicles, while LT (light truck) is used for larger vehicles such as trucks and SUVs. In addition to these letters, there will be three numbers following; this is an important part of understanding your tire size. The first two numbers indicate the width of your tire in millimeters and the third number indicates your sidewall height as a percentage of that width. For example, if you have a P225/45R17 tire size it means that your wheel has a 17-inch diameter and 225 millimeters width with a 45% sidewall height (or profile).

The load index chart is an important tool to help you determine the maximum weight your vehicle can safely carry. It shows the load capacity for each tire size and gives a corresponding number that indicates its level of strength. The higher the number, the greater the load capacity. Most passenger tires have a load index between 65 and 100, while light truck tires may be as high as 140 or more. In addition to the load index, you should also check the sidewall of your tire for its maximum inflation pressure rating. This will tell you how much air pressure is recommended to ensure optimal performance and safety. For winter driving conditions, it’s especially important to make sure your tires are inflated properly as they can lose air pressure faster in colder temperatures. While most vehicles come with manufacturer-recommended tire pressures, you should always follow their guidelines when driving in winter weather. For p-metric tires (those used on passenger cars) typically require 32 p...

Radial tires are a type of construction that provides superior performance and handling compared to other designs. They are made with flexible cords arranged at a 90-degree angle to the tread, allowing for more efficient energy transfer from the tire to the road. The radial design also helps the tire maintain its shape during cornering, reducing rolling resistance and increasing fuel efficiency. Tire size refers to the diameter of the wheel rim and its width in inches, as well as sidewall height or profile. Radial tires are typically marked according to their size on the sidewall of the tire. The letter “P” is used for passenger vehicles, while LT (light truck) is used for larger vehicles such as trucks and SUVs. In addition to these letters, there will be three numbers following; this is an important part of understanding your tire size. The first two numbers indicate the width of your tire in millimeters and the third number indicates your sidewall height as a percentage of that widt...

Temperature grades (UTQG) indicate the performance of a tire in terms of treadwear, traction, and temperature resistance. Generally, tires with higher UTQG ratings will provide better performance than those with lower ratings. When selecting tires for your vehicle, it is important to select one that has a temperature grade suitable for your driving habits and the type of vehicle you drive. The higher the UTQG rating, the better traction and grip you can expect from your tires in various weather conditions. If you frequently drive in wet or icy conditions, then selecting a tire with a high UTQG rating will help ensure maximum performance from your tires and safe driving conditions. Be sure to check the UTQG ratings when selecting tires for your vehicle so that you get the best performance possible from them.

Speed ratings are an important part of understanding how a tire will perform on the road. These ratings are given to tires by the manufacturer and represent the maximum safe speed that a tire can handle when properly inflated and in good condition. The most common rating is “S”, which stands for 87 mph, while “T” stands for 118 mph. Other ratings include “U” (124 mph), “H” (130 mph) and “V” (149 mph). Higher speed ratings generally come with higher price tags, but they also offer improved handling on the road due to their stiffer sidewalls and increased traction on dry roads. When selecting new tires it is important to ensure that the speed rating matches your vehicle's requirements as this will help to maximize safety and performance.

Aspect ratio is a key marking on the side of a tire that indicates the height of its sidewall. It is expressed as a percentage of the tire's width and typically ranges from 35 to 55 percent. Low aspect ratio tires have shorter sidewalls, which provide better handling, but also result in a harsher ride quality. Conversely, taller sidewalls are softer and provide more cushioning, but can make cornering at higher speeds more difficult. Aspect ratio also impacts the maximum speed capability of your tires, so it's important to choose one that suits your driving style and vehicle type. For vehicles used primarily for highway driving, taller aspect ratios are usually recommended as they provide a smoother ride. However, lower aspect ratios may be preferable for performance applications where maximum grip is desired.

Tire markings are a part of any vehicle's safety. These markings, found on the sidewall of the tire, provide important information about the tire's construction and performance capabilities. The markings typically include aspect ratio , speed ratings , radial construction, tire size , maximum speed, temperature grades , traction grade, maximum load capacity, load index chart, and load indexes . Aspect ratios refer to the sidewall-to-sidewall height of the tire in relation to its width. Speed ratings indicate the maximum speed capability for a given tire. Radial tires are identified by an "R" in their marking and are constructed with a steel belt that runs around the circumference of the tire providing stability at high speeds. Tire size is based on vehicle manufacturers recommendations and includes wheel diameter and rim width along with other measurements such as section width and overall diameter. Maximum inflation pressure is also noted on the side of the tire and...

R-1234yf was introduced in 2015 and became mandatory in Europe in 2017 to replace R-134a in automotive air conditioning systems. R-1234yf and R-134a are similar. The primary reason for the mandate is that R-1234yf has a global warming potential (GWP) 300 times lower than R-134a, which means that it is much less harmful to the environment. Another difference is that R-1234yf is classified by the ASHRAE as a 2L flammable gas, meaning that it is slightly flammable. On the other hand, R-134a is not classified as flammable. Additionally, R-1234yf can be tougher on evaporators than R-134a, which led to the development of this new standard to prevent wear and tear and premature failure of the evaporators. However, there are not really many differences between the way the systems are designed and work, which is one of the reasons that R-1234yf was overwhelmingly chosen to replace R-134a in automotive air conditioning systems.