Hearing abnormal sounds? Smelling foul odors emitting from your tires? Feeling pulsations when you brake at high speeds? If any of these apply to your vehicle, your best move is to get your brakes inspected before more expensive parts wear down due to metal on metal grinding. The most common problem we find are rotors that are warped and damaged when worn out brake pads and shoes haven’t been replaced, ultimately shortening the life of healthy parts due to the metal on metal friction that occurs.

Take note of these sounds, smells and sensations that scream ’brake problem’:

• Screeching, squealing, grinding and other awful braking sounds are the main symptoms warning you that your brake pads & shoes should be inspected right away. The sooner you stop in, the better your odds of addressing worn down pads and shoes before they affect other more costly parts, resulting in more expensive repairs that could have possibly been avoided.
• Vibration and pulsation traveling through your brake pedal and steering wheel. When you brake, are you shaking along with it? If this feeling applies to you, your brake system is giving you a pretty big hint to its worn down condition. Driving with this problem can not only warp your rotors from metal on metal rubbing, but it can also turn a small brake repair into big and expensive repair territory. Stop in to Tires Plus as soon as possible if you are noticing this severe symptom.
• Braking functions requiring more brake pedal pressure. If you notice you’re pressing your brake pedal farther than normal in order to stop your vehicle, you’ve entered the beginning stages—and one of the first signs—of brake pad wear. Although this symptom is not as common today as it was in the past, this should never go unchecked. Don’t press your luck. The farther you press down your brake pedal, the closer your car is to an "I can’t brake" situation. Scary.
• That noxious smell coming from your tires is a cry for help in the form of foul odor. If you start sensing awful smells coming from your tires, do not drive your vehicle any further than to the nearest brake repair bay. These nasty smells you’ve detected could have dangerous consequences if you delay inspection. The safe bet is to have us perform a brake inspection to determine which part of your braking system has been affected and in need of immediate repair.
• Brake warning light. If this light appears, your best insurance to what triggered this warning is to visit your nearest Tires Plus location. We’ll perform a free brake inspection to make sure it’s not just a glitch in your computer system.
  

Car manufacturer braking systems have unique and varying makeups, so we’d rather not scare you with worst case scenarios and the hundreds of different symptoms each vehicle type can experience. No one needs the added trouble—or anxiety—of self diagnosing a car problem that is either rare or hard to detect without specialized equipment.

If you have concerns about your braking system that aren’t covered in the previous questions, please call your local Tires Plus and we’ll provide you with a free brake inspection. We’ll determine if any parts need to be replaced or repaired and provide you with an estimate of those costs. You could have no problems relating to your brakes at all. But, rest assured, if you have any related problems, we can find them.

Put an end to your brake worries today.

Schedule an appointment at Tires Plus for a Brake Inspection today.

There are five ways to increase the life of your rotors. Follow each one and you’ll be surprised at how much longer your rotors could last. Go for it!

1. Stop-and-go driving aggravates rotors. If you’re a big city driver, you’ll also be a big stop-and-go type of driver. This scenario leads to brakes wearing down faster, especially your brake pads. If your lifestyle demands this type of driving, be sure to have your brake pads inspected more often or replaced sooner. Leaving worn brake pads on your vehicle can warp your rotors, resulting in more expensive repairs. Have your car brake inspected at least once a year just to be safe and to protect your more expensive parts.
2. Put an end to excessive brake pedal usage. We’ve all been an offender of using the brake pedal too much. Some drivers, however, make it look like they’re braking more than they’re going. Riding your brake when you don’t need it is a good way to not only wear your pads down pretty fast, but it’s also a leading cause of rotor warp due to excessive heat generated.
3. Stay off the Tail. Conservative driving habits pays dividends in the form of maximizing the life of your brake parts. Avoid tailgating, give yourself more room between the car in front of you, and you’ll find that you’ll need to brake less often. Natural deceleration is the name of the longer living brake game. More distance gives you time to naturally slow on its own instead of resorting to the brake every time. It’ll also generate less heat, friction and wear in your brake parts.
4. Retire all Aggressive Driving Habits. Nobody appreciates an aggressive driver, just ask your brakes. Last second braking can lead to excessive heat roasting your rotors. Put an end to this dangerous habit, and you could also put an end to the expensive brake damage that this dangerous driving habit can cause. Take a look at how you can reduce any aggressive habits in your driving, and you’ll find you’ll save more than just your brakes.
5. Get the junk out of your trunk. Bet you didn’t think that set of workout weights in your trunk was making a big impact on your brakes, did you? Well surprise, it does. The more weight your car has to lug around the more brake pressure you’ll need to bring your car to a stop. Not only that, but the added weight will wear those brakes down more quickly. Examine what you don’t need in your trunk and remove it. Less extra weight = better stopping power and longer lasting brake components.

Driving habits are the ultimate indicator as to the life expectancy of your brake parts. The first and most important step to proper brake maintenance is having them checked out before problems worsen or develop. Never ignore a brake problem because they never get better on their own.

The hard parts are built for lasting durability: Rotors and calipers can last for a long time if you maintain them and follow their recommended inspection intervals.

Warning: Completely warn brake pads can damage your rotors pretty fast, requiring expensive repairs. Pay close attention to brake pad wear, their symptoms are pretty noticeable when they are in need of replacing. Replace them before they compromise your more expensive parts, such as your rotors.

Calipers are in it for the long haul. Calipers can last awhile if you play your cards right. Their biggest foes are heat and corrosion. Not maintaining your vehicle with routine and manufacturer recommended maintenance can lead to caliper corrosion and leaks. The main culprits for these symptoms are constant stop-and-go, worn pads and metal-on-metal grinding. Road salt and weather conditions can also cause caliper corrosion to develop. Schedule your annual brake inspection, and we’ll give you a complete evaluation of your braking system. Your car’s next recommended maintenance is listed in your owner’s manual. Every vehicle varies. Make sure to always follow yours.

Balance this. When you’re off balance, you’re bound to fall over, right? Well similar types of calamities can occur with your suspension system’s shocks and struts. If they’re off balance, you might have noticed a shift in your vehicle’s weight distribution. The best way to detect this problem is if you’re braking and you can feel the front end nose dive as it comes to a complete stop. The distance needed to stop your car will also be longer, resulting in faster wear on your front brakes, not to mention increased likelihood that your car won’t stop in time to avoid the vehicle in front of you.

The Great Pull: When you apply your brakes, is your car constantly pulling to the left or right? This is not the road playing tricks on you but rather an indication your brakes or suspension are not functioning well and are due for an inspection. Stop in and we’ll help set you back on the straight path.

Well, for starters, our expertise in Tires just so happens to play a big role in our knowledge of brakes. You could say it gives us an upper hand on the competition. Because when you have a tire expert operating on the brakes responsible for every stop you make, you also have a knowledgeable hand that’s experienced with all the intricacies of your braking system. We have Tires Plus locations nationwide with the added bonus of extended weekend and evening hours to get your brakes checked out. You’ll also have the convenience of having a warranty that’s covered at all our Tires Plus locations nationwide. Now that’s a plus!

Schedule an appointment at Tires Plus for a Brake Inspection today.

We provide all the services to protect your ride—and your wallet. Stop on in for a braking service that’s in-tune with your sixty to zero needs.

1. Brake Fluid exchange — removes air and brake fluid contaminants
2. Replace and Install — new brake hardware, brake hoses, calipers, drums and master cylinders, rotors and wheel bearings.
3. Resurface — drums and rotors
4. Clean and Adjust — drum brakes and parking brakes
5. Repack — Wheel Bearings. This is crucial for keeping bearings lubricated
6. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) — Diagnostics and system repair

Here at Tires Plus, we’ve found quality parts and great brake power go hand in hand. You can always count on the best with any service you have performed at Tires Plus. We install the best in friction materials from Wagner® brand ThermoQuiet®; and rotors and drums cast of the highest strength alloy from Qualis Automotive. If we don’t stock your brake part because it requires a specific custom original manufacturer part, we’ll be able get the original equipment part that meets or exceeds OE standards.

Wagner® ThermoQuiet® is known for engineering brake pads with innovative and advanced technology. Each Wagner brake pad we install feature the unique patented IMI™ one-piece brake pad, providing noise damping and heat dissipation.

We stock Wagner Brake pads for most every make and model vehicle out there — with the specified friction material that meets or exceeds manufacturer developed stopping testing results. Our Wagner brake pad inventory includes semi-metallic, organic and ceramic materials.

Our rotors and drums are supplied and engineered by Qualis Automotive. All are cast of high strength G3000 alloy and built with the precision to meet or exceed performance specifications for metallurgy (material strength and heat resistance) as prescribed by the Original Equipment manufacturer guidelines. These specifications include: dimensional configuration, surface finish and longevity. All in the name of greater stopping power, increased rotor life and greater warp resistance.

Give your brakes the best in stopping power.

Schedule an appointment at Tires Plus for a Brake Inspection today.

Here at Tires Plus, we take just as much pride in our tire expertise as we do in the brake components that play a role in your ability to stop with ease and confidence. Ask for our Free Brake Inspection and our brake techs will uncover most all braking issues, big or small by checking out the various brake components on your ride. We boast over 1,500 ASE certified brake technicians. Rest easy knowing each Tires Plus store has the most knowledgeable and trusted brake technicians handling all your braking needs.

In order to take the ASE brake certification exam—or any ASE exam for that matter—each technician must have completed the required two years of automotive experience necessary just to qualify for any ASE certification test.

The ASE offers over 50 different exams in addition to the Brake Specialist exam. Talk about a rigorous process. It’s the industry standard and the most accurate way to determine the capability and know-how of each technician. These aren’t just handed out. In fact, each certification requires retesting every 5 years in order to remain fully ASE certified.

MAP is short for Motorist Assurance Program and is a consumer outreach program. It was created by the Automotive Maintenance and Repair Association, Inc. (AMRA) to provide consumers with consistent and honest information regarding their vehicle and parts—no matter where they have it serviced. From the dealers to the car manufacturers to the trusted technicians like us, we all have one big thing in common, MAP standards.

MAP has been around since 1994. MAP consists of a set of universal guidelines that are followed by all industry leading retailers, suppliers, independent repair facilities and vehicle manufacturers. Our goal and the goal of every manufacturer we service is to help consumers better understand their vehicles by following the trusted and consistent recommendations the MAP guidelines prescribe. This includes vehicle specific parts and manufacturer information. The more you know your vehicle the better you can maintain and keep it rolling for the long haul.

We take pride in the quality of service we provide. MAP makes sure that every Tires Plus is providing information to all our customers for consistent service all across the country. MAP is made possible with the help of government and state officials and is regularly updated to reflect new developments in the automotive industry.

The color code system on our vehicle inspection form was created in 1994 alongside the start of the Motorist Assurance Program (MAP). The color code system provides us and the consumer with a reliable and trusted way to recommend parts and services for all makes and model vehicles. At Tires Plus, we not only uphold the MAP industry standards, we also have our own set of quality standards to ensure you receive the same great service at any Tires Plus store across the country.

The color code is Red, Yellow and Green, so we can precisely classify the wear on your parts:

Red: Red means ’stop,’ the part must be repaired or replaced. Repairs can involve alignment issues that need adjustment. More often than not, a Red mark let’s you know that particular vehicle part is no longer performing properly or no longer meets the manufacturer design specs. In order for your car to perform up to drivable standards, the underperforming part will need to be replaced. If the part is missing all together, we’ll also check the red box and give you the cost of having it replaced.

Yellow: When you have a part in the Yellow zone, the particular part is still functioning, but not for too much longer. We’ll usually recommend having this part repaired or replaced before it reaches the dreaded red zone. When a part is in the yellow zone, we’ll also check with your vehicle manufacturer’s recommended action based on the original equipment specs. Your tech will also tap into his knowledge base with the particular part in relation to your make and model vehicle.

Green: We all love the color green. If you see a green checkmark, the inspected part is good to go. No need to replace it or change anything. Keep on cruising and see you at your next scheduled check-up.