Life tends to get busy and we find ourselves more worried about getting somewhere and less about how we actually get there. But when it comes to tire maintenance, proper tire tread depth is one of the easiest ways to help maximize your safety and performance. SO if you are thinking to yourself I have not looked at my tires in a while you might want to keep reading and then go give those bad boys a looking.

You should monitor your tread depth closely once it reaches 4/32 inch deep. If you want to check it yourself, here’s how to assess your tread depth:

• 4/32” or deeper = good
• 3/32” = replace tire soon
• 2/32” or fewer = replace tires now

There are a couple of ways to measure your tire depth. The first is the penny test, which is very simple to do. Take a penny and insert it in the tires tread groove with Lincoln’s head upside down and facing you. If you can see Lincoln’s head you tire’s depth is less than 2/32” which means you need to replace your tires.

Another simple test is the quarter test. Insert a quarter into your tread groove, if the tread touches Washington’s head you have at least 4/32” so you’re good to go!

Don’t have any change on you? No problem! Another way to check your tire tread depth is to look at the tread wear indicator bar that’s molded into most tires. The bars are located at the bottom of the tread grooves in several locations around the tire. When these bars become visibly flush with the adjacent ribs the tire has no more than 2/32″ of tread remaining. This is a

So next time you are unsure if it might be time to replace those tire of yours, use one of the handy tricks I told you about and you should be golden! Remember tire tread is very important, it is what grips the pavements stops your car instead of it sliding all over the place! With the fall/winter months approaching you don’t want to find yourself driving on slippery snow or wet pavement with little to no tread! So check out your tire treads and stop by Loughead Nissan for your tire fix, we’ve got them all!

Do you have trouble driving in the dark? Well, you’re not the only one! It is a proven fact that your vision can become impaired in the darkness. There’s a whole lot of science behind it but trust me it’s true! Anyway, driving in the dark can become difficult for some people, and it is harder for us to see in the dark to begin with. When you can’t see the road clearly this can lead to dangerous driving. Don’t stress this doesn’t mean that you can’t drive in the dark, it just means you should look up some tips to help you through the dark. Luckily I did the hard work for you! Check out our tips for driving after the sun has gone down safely!

1. Don’t use “night driving glasses.” In fact, don’t wear glasses with any tint at all when driving at night. The only spectacles on your nose should be the ones with your prescription in them (if you wear glasses). Otherwise, keep that tint out of here!
2. If approaching headlights tend to blind you, focus on the white line on the side of the road. You’ll stay in your lane and not get spots in the center of your vision from the oncoming headlights.
3. Try to work your schedule around nighttime. If you know that you’re going to be driving after dark, try and find a ride home or to wherever you’re going. Ridesharing services or taxis are also a great option. Alternately, just don’t leave the house after dark. (This is what I do. I am very lazy and any excuse to stay in bed is a good one.)
4. Try and drive in well-lit areas at night so that you can have the added bonus of streetlights.
5. Have your dealer look at your headlights and ask about reconditioning or upgrading to brighter bulbs. It can make a difference!

Installing a car seat is not as easy as it seems to be, all new parents can attest to this…actually any parent can let’s be honest! And the scary fact is most children aren’t riding as securely as they should be. The good news is I have some information to share with you from the experts, that will help you avoid the most common error and ensure your child’s safety!

If you have had a child before and have never followed these car seat safety rules and new had an issue, you’re lucky. But just because something worked for you doesn’t mean you can’t improve what you’re doing to better ensure safety for your child because that is the ultimate goal!

Most Common Mistakes:

Loose Installation:

• Always read the manuals for the car seat, I know we all think we can figure things out without help but the truth is when it comes to safety you want to make sure you’re doing EVERYTHING correctly. Generally speaking there should be no more than 1” of movement at the belt path when you give it a firm shake.

The wrong recline angle:

• Getting the recline angle just right on a rear-facing seat can be tricky, but it’s crucial. Babies have big, heavy heads and weak neck muscles: If the seat is too upright, your babe might end up chin to chest, which can interfere with breathing. Plus being reclined also protects your baby’s spine in the case of a crash.

• More advanced seats now come with a built-in indicator that will tell you if you have installed it properly, but your seat doesn’t have that the rule is generally a 45-degree angle.

Loose or poorly positioned straps:

• If you are a parent you have probably experienced a wailing child saying that their straps are too tight, which then you might have pulled over loosed them and then got some peace and quiet. I’ll be the first to tell you not to do that. Yes, the screaming is annoying, and their seat belt probably isn’t too tight, You shouldn’t be able to grip the strap at all; if you can, it’s too loose.

• Make sure the chest clip is at armpit level—any lower means the clip isn’t doing what it’s designed to do

Moving to a forward-facing or booster seat too soon

• In each state, there are different requirements based upon height, weight, and age, but those are bare minimum requirements. As long as the child can comfortably remain seated rear-facing, they should remain that way because it is safer.

Using the wrong seat for your kid or your car

• Your manual will be able to provide you with information about the height and weight your child should be at in the car seat you have. Every baby has different body types but it is a good reference point to go off.

Using a second-hand car seat:

• Unless you know with 100% certainty that a seat has never been involved in even a minor fender-bender or that there are no missing or damaged parts, it’s best to avoid it. You might be saving a buck but it’s more important to save your child’s life.

Picture this you’re running late, rushing to the car, you through everything into the car, buckle up, turn the key, and nothing. You realize your headlights are dim and the engine is refusing to turn over despite you pleading it to. So, your battery is dead but how did it die? To help save you from having to call work and say that you’re going to be late, here are five main causes of car battery drain or failure.

Human Error: Hey it happens we all make mistakes but to avoid having to deal with a dead car make sure be extra vigilant before leaving your car. Make sure to double check your headlights, and make sure you’ve closed your doors and trunk all the way.

Parasitic Drain: This is caused by components in your vehicle continues to run after the key is turned off. Your battery is pretty strong, it has enough energy to keep things like the clock, radio presets, and security alarms operational at all times but if there’s an electrical problem, the parasitic drain may exceed what’s normal and drain the battery.

Bad Charging: if your charging system isn’t working properly your car battery could drain while you’re driving the car. If you think this could the issue causing your battery to die, a professional mechanic will be able to diagnose what’s causing the charging problems.

Defective Alternator Diode: An alternator is what recharges the battery and powers certain electrical systems if your alternator has a bad diode your battery can drain.

Old Battery: Old batteries are just that, old. They can be close to dying altogether and might have trouble holding a charge. This could be the case if you find that your car won’t start often. You are supposed to change your battery every 4-5 years so if you’re in that time frame and you’re experiencing issues with your battery, bring your car to a professional for a diagnosis.

Dealing with a dead battery can be stressful and hard to figure out why it’s happening in the first place. If you can’t seem to figure out what is causing your car battery to call I suggest that you bring the Vehicle to a professional.

Do you ever go to clean out your car and find that your whole life has moved into your car’s trunk? Well, same. When it comes time clean your trunk, aka get a box and throw everything into it, there might be a couple of things you should keep in there! I know, I know, you’re probably confused as to why I’m telling you to leave things in your trunk that you probably don’t even know what they do. But, hold tight because you will and you’ll thank yourself for having them later!

1. Mounted LED Light:
   • These are small but powerful (1,000-lumen lights) lights that work with a mount. You’re probably asking why you need a mounted flashlight in your trunk right? Well, this one is a whole lot more powerful than your cellphone light and it’s hands-free! Which means you can stick it to the side of your car to light up a campsite, change a tire, or work under the hood! And the cool thing about these lights are that the light runs off your car’s battery or an external battery pack so you don’t have to worry about it dying!
2. Emergency Jump-Starter
   • You should always carry jumper cables, but what if you’re alone and have no cell service? That where having this guy is very handy! An emergency jump-starter kit comes equipped with its own cables and has enough juice on a full charge to jump most cars up to 20 times.
3. Tire Gauge
   • Airing down your tires is one of the best ways to get better traction in rough terrain or even snow. If you find yourself stuck pull out this tire gauge and air down, then after your out use it to re-inflate your tires to proper pavement pressure!
4. Handheld Radio
   • If you find yourself going for a joy ride in your Nissan and find yourself needing assistance but not having service this handheld radio will be your lifesaver! Use the radio to make contact and have someone come assist you!
5. Synthetic Shackle
   • In the case that your car goes off the road and needs to be pulled out you’ll find yourself needing one of these. It loops through the recovery hooks under your car or around your frame, creating a place to attach the tow rope.

So next time you’re cleaning out your trunk remember to leave these few items in there! Don’t want them rolling around freely in your trunk? I wouldn’t either! I would recommend getting a small organizer for your trunk to help store all your necessary goods!

Let’s face it our dogs are part of the family and leaving them behind really puts a bummer on vacation and has you wondering how they’re doing all the time. So when you find out your hotel is dog-friendly they just have to come along for the ride! But what if your dog has only been in the car long enough to make it to the dog park and back? Or what if your dog hates the car? And what do you even pack for a dog? Lucky for you, we’ve got you covered!

First and foremost. Don’t forget the essentials!

• Water bowl (bring water for the car ride)
• Your dog’s regular food – Don’t feed your pet right before the ride to avoid them from getting sick and frequent potty breaks
• Medications – If your pet takes any medications or if medicine was prescribed to them by a doctor for the ride
• Bring updated tags, a collar, and a leash – Most places will require the animal be on a leash and will probably ask for updated tags (Including vaccinations certificates, especially rabies)
• A kennel – Although we might like putting our animals in one, and they might love it themselves, you should have the dog in one for the car ride. This helps to keep you and your pet safe and help to keep you less distracted
• Don’t forget the doggie bed! They get tired too, after long days at the beach and having fun, make sure they get some much need rest on this vacation, too!
• DON’T FORGET THE TOYS!! They’re your pups best friend..besides you of course! Just don’t forget their… BALL!

It’s a good idea to take a few test drives before the big trip. Take them for a spin to let them get comfortable in the car, but make sure to bring the crates so they know they have to be in the. Don’t act sad when you put them in the crate and don’t force them in, our pups are pretty smart and the will pick up on the negativity towards the crate.

Lastly, it’s a good idea to do some research about your trip before going. Look for designated stopping spots to let your dog get out, go the bathroom, and play a little. You might not get to your destination as quickly by including these stops, but your pet will appreciate it. And so will you because you won’t be dealing with a hyper dog!

Summer is officially here and there’s no better time to take control of your life! Specifically the part of your life that is your garage. Sure, it’s the place to store all your junk, but imagine this: what if you could park your car in the garage and have it not be super hot from the summer sun? Also what if everything in the garage was neatly organized and you knew where everything was? It’s a great idea and you know it. Check out how to clean and organize your garage so well that you’ll surprise yourself every time you open the door!

The very first thing you want to do is to take EVERYTHING out of your garage. Literally everything. Car, junk, trash, stuff you need… get it all outside into the driveway or onto your lawn and leave your garage totally empty. Then you should start to sort everything you’ve just taken out into two piles, one for things that you want to keep and one for things that you’ve been meaning to throw away or just forgot about. Throw those things away right now. Dispose of chemicals like paint safely, but just get it out of there forever.

With your garage empty, you should sweep and vacuum the floor and dust the corners. If it’s a nice day, you could even hose down the floor! If you’re feeling super adventurous, consider applying an epoxy garage floor kit. It’s a lot of work and a lot of waiting, but it’s worth it if you’re looking for a really serious makeover.

With the space clean, it’s time to take a critical look at your current storage solutions. If you don’t have shelves or wall storage, consider getting some! It’s a great space-saving hack to store things vertically. You can even store bikes on wall racks, which saves a TON of space.

Finally, get everything back into your garage, organizing as you go. You’ll probably spot some things that you thought you wanted to keep but are really junk that you can just go ahead and throw away. You don’t need that in your life. When everything’s back in place (or has found a new home), park your car back inside!