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Take a few moments and become familiar with our Services link with more detail on all aspects. Take care of your car and it will take care of you. Following basic car maintenance tips can help keep you on the road and out of the repair shop. A little vehicular TLC can even help stretch your fuel dollar and help the environment too.
HERE ARE SOME CAR CARE GUIDELINES:
Most car batteries today are maintenance-free, sealed and can last more than three years. The first sign your battery should be replaced is often trouble starting the engine.
A car tire inflated to 35 pounds per square inch (psi) can lose one psi every month or for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit of temperature change, so your car maintenance checklist should include checking tire pressure. Find the recommended level in the owner’s manual or on a sticker on the driver’s side door jamb. And don’t forget the spare.
Rotate tires every 6,000 miles to prevent uneven wear, replace them when they become worn and have the alignment checked if the car pulls to either side when driving or if you notice uneven tire wear.
Checking and changing oil is critical to keep today’s engines running properly and efficiently. Follow manufacturer guidelines for changing the lubricant – generally, every 3,000 miles or three to six months.
Check the oil level with the engine off and the car parked on a level surface. Open the hood, remove the dipstick, wipe it clean with a cloth or paper towel, then return it to the oil reservoir. Take it out again and see whether the level is within the acceptable range marked on the dipstick. If you add oil, don’t overfill, which can damage the engine.
Checking the automatic transmission fluid is another vital item on the car maintenance checklist. Look for a reservoir marked ATF (automatic transmission fluid) and follow the same steps as monitoring the oil level – only this time, with the engine running. Follow manufacturer’s recommendations for change intervals, about every 30,000 miles.
Replace most engine coolant or antifreeze every 30,000 miles – or every two to three years. Newer formulas, however, may last up to 50,000 miles. To check coolant level, turn the car off and wait for the engine to cool. Locate the coolant reservoir (usually a translucent plastic tank) and eyeball the level of the coolant against the full and low indicators.
Power steering fluid should be changed every three years or 50,000 miles. If you have a power steering fluid reservoir, check the level visually; otherwise, follow the dipstick method. Low power steering fluid may indicate a leak, so have your mechanic take a look.
Check to ensure that brake fluid levels are within tolerance. How often you need to replace brake pads or other components depends on how you drive and typical driving conditions. Warning signs of a brake problem include noise, vibration or “grabbing” when you apply the brakes. Working on your brakes is a job probably best left to the professionals.
Basic car maintenance suggests changing your air filter each year or every 12,000-15,000 miles. A clean air filter can help your engine “breathe” better and improve gas mileage and reduce harmful emissions.
Replace it annually to help prevent debris from clogging your car’s fuel line.
Windshield wiper care is one of the most neglected basic car care tips. Replace the blades every six to 12 months or whenever the rubber becomes worn. Check the wiper fluid reservoir every week or so and keep it full.
With your car turned on and parked, have someone walk around to see that your lights are working – headlights, brake and tail lights, turn signals, etc. Replacing bulbs in today’s vehicles can be a challenge. Have a mechanic do the job, particularly replacing and aiming headlights. A pro also knows if the problem is a blown fuse, not a burned out bulb.
Check and/or change your Air Filter every 6 months to improve fuel economy and keep your engine running smoothly.
Most car batteries today are maintenance-free, sealed and can last more than three years. The first sign your battery should be replaced is often trouble starting the engine
Have your antifreeze fluid changed and Cooling System flushed every 30,000 miles or 2 years. Newer formulas, however, may last up to 50,000 miles.
Schedule a complete and Engine Diagnostics (Professional Maintenance) check every 15, 30, 60, and 90,000 miles.
Take 10 minutes and use our Monthly Checklist to do your own quick visual car inspection and fluid levels check.
Tire rotation or rotating tires is the the practice of moving automobile wheels and tires from one position on the car to another, to ensure even tire wear.
Have your Wheel Alignment checked every other tire rotation and always when installing new tires. Wheel alignment sometimes referred to as tracking, is part of standard automobile maintenance
Joe’s Tires proudly serves the local Berkeley, CA area. We understand that getting your car fixed or buying new tires can be overwhelming. Let us help you choose from our large selection of Tires.
So I realized my car had a very flat tire today and called around to see if I could get a same-day fix. Other places said no or were hard… read more to get a hold of but when I called Joe’s, they said they could do it and they did! I was so relieved to be able to get it taken care of and Tito and his guys did an amazing job.
Honestly, going to a garage or a place that works on cars as a woman who doesn’t know very much about cars is intimidating. This obviously wasn’t something I could have put off for later (I would have if I could have ) so in we went. Tito was upfront, honest, and knowledgeable and which made me feel comfortable about the whole process and service. We ended up having to replace two of my tires so Tito explained AND showed me why (which was helpful so I didn’t feel like I was getting taken advantage of). AND these new tires even come with a warranty that my previous tires didn’t have!
I’d recommend this tire shop to anyone in the area who needs a tire rotation, realignment, or replacement. I’m glad I came here and won’t be anxious at all about bringing my car back for my next tire rotation. These guys are great and worth every cent.
Thank you, Tito!
Ally Y.
Got a flat driving around Berkeley. Needed a fix or replacement tire. Got a brand new tire I guess was fine and worked. But not a good… read more deal. Nice folks. Quick and good if you in a pinch around CollegeTown.
Dom C.
Tesla had failed me and my alignment was severely off resulting in my tire wear being very uneven.
No fear because Joe’s Tires fixed it well within the allotted… read more estimate time (just over an hour vs the est. 2 hours). I even had to cut my coffee time short because they were so quick, which, as an added bonus there are tons of shops and restaurants around the area to hang out at while you wait.
Tien N.
Came 15 min to 6pm for them to check my tires… the guy said I have another job I can’t help you.
Manager said: “tire repair takes an… read more hour”
Horrible service.
Is not even about the closing time, is the employees’ attitude.
Yudith V.
Very friendly, super fast service and a great deal. Carlos was super helpful and made my experience a joy! Highly recommend
Luke R.
I needed new tires fast – it was an emergency – and they got me in on short notice. Super kind, too. Will come back.
Haley H.
My air pressure light came on again a couple days after I had filled the tires due to my front right tire being low. After re-checking, I realized the… read more tire must have a leak. I drive into Joe’s Tires straight from summer camp pick up after a very short search for places nearby– shortly after 4pm. I expected to have to make an appointment for the next day or later in the week and also assumed I would need to replace the tire. To my surprise and delight, I was helped right away. They took the car and said it would probably be about an hour. 15 minutes later they called to say it was a simple fix– a screw had punctured the tire and they plugged the hole and patched it up. $35 and 15 minutes?? Amazing. They have my business for our two family cars for life!! Friendly, fast, fair.
Anjuna L.
Joe’s Tire is the place to go if you ever need your tires replaced or any tire services -the business goes out of its way to provide excellent service.
Sheila Z.
I’ll always go to Joe’s now. The other week on a Saturday, I noticed a tire in really bad shape, and I was just a couple blocks from Joe’s.… read more I drove there. When I saw how busy they were, the line of cars waiting to get in, the busy waiting area, technicians running around all over there place, I did not expect they would be able to take me that day.
They did, no problem – what a place! They are so professional, knowledgeable, efficient and NICE. They easily and smoothly handled all us customers. My technician quickly helped me pick tires, someone gave me a ride home, 2 hours later the same person picked me up and it was all done. EASY!
I’m a super-happy customer. I’ve been going to America’s Tires in Walnut Creek for 20 years, and they are excellent too. But what convenience to have this kind of customer service, and a ride home, that meant a lot. From now on, it’s Joe’s. I’m so happy I found them.
Sharon S.
Great service. Honest. Helpful. Friendly. Tito and Carlos know their tires. Would definitely recommend.
Lynne H.