Detroit’s Big 3 automakers and Honda are shutting down U.S. manufacturing to clean and disinfect automotive plants, including Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant in Hegewisch and the Chicago Stamping Plant in Chicago Heights.
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Tires For Chicago’s Icy Slip and SlideChicago is essentially a slip and slide right now with all of this snow coming down (see below for Chicago’s weather forecast). Of course with snow comes auto accidents. It’s by no accident that we happen to be the authority on this, so we want to cover one major component of preventing accidents due to weather conditions, TIRES. With our shop seeing an increase in collision repair with all of the recent snow and ice, we want to talk a little bit about tires for those that want to make sure they have the best grip possible no matter what curveball the Chicago forecast throws at us. Driving In Chicago Winter ConditionsSome of the most difficult and dangerous driving conditions that can be encountered here in Chicago are created by inclement winter weather. While for millions of Americans, slick winter roads are an annual reality, the unique nature of the conditions should not be forgotten or overlooked. Snow-, ice-, and slush-covered roads are not “normal.” They require a tire engineering solution to pose a unique traction challenge. Specialized, specifically-engineered tires are a must for proper vehicle performance in winter conditions, like other extreme driving environments, such as motorsport tires for the race track or mud-terrain tires for severe off-road terrain. Specific tire treads are made for a reason. When shopping for tires, the mountain/snowflake symbol has been the marker of tires specializing in winter traction for many years. On the sidewall of tires that meet certain winter traction criteria, you will find this symbol stamped. This is how it looks: However, while the symbol used to be associated only with specifically engineered winter tires, the symbol now qualifies for more types of tires than ever. Tire manufacturers have made a real effort to tackle the winter traction problem head on, and provide a variety of tires for Chicago drivers of cars, trucks, and SUVs that will more effectively meet the winter driving challenge. (The “all-season tires” have not always provided sufficient winter traction, despite the apparent implications of the name.) There has been some confusion over the widespread implementation of the symbol of the mountain/snowflake, which created an obvious equalization of different types of tires that when Old Man Winter really comes knocking, are not really equal. So let’s answer some significant questions, set the record straight, and get you equipped for your vehicle and circumstances to make the right tire choice. What does the symbol for the mountain/snowflake actually mean?The mountain/snowflake is the product of a United States joint effort. To establish a meaningful winter time traction baseline, the Tire Manufacturers Association and the Rubber Association of Canada. The mountain/snowflake fundamentally signifies advanced traction on packed snow. In snow testing conditions, tires that qualify for the symbol must exhibit significantly superior traction compared to a reference tire. What exactly does that mean? In particular, longitudinal, or straight ahead traction, not traction capabilities for cornering or dynamic handling. Most winter driving situations are not limited to just straight line traction on packed snow, so you can see how the various challenges you can face in extreme weather do not really capture this. In all winter road conditions, the mountain/snowflake traction criteria are meaningful, but not necessarily a guarantee of strong traction. It’s the highest qualification for winter traction yet to be developed, but it’s arguably limited. What are tires for snow?Rarely, if ever, do tire manufacturers refer to any tire as a snow tire. This is a classification of tires that has gained momentum in tire shops and water coolers around the office. (You’re also talking about tires in your water cooler, right?) Because the only tires qualifying for the mountain/snowflake symbol have been full-fledged winter tires for many years, winter and snow tires have become synonymous. It is necessary to draw a distinction today. Mountain/snowflake (“snow tires”) qualifying tires are not necessarily true winter tires. What are tires for winter?Because motorsport tires are for race tracks, winter tires are for winter road conditions, and mud-terrain tires are for extreme off-road environments. They are the specialized, specifically-engineered solution to the driving challenges Chicago winter conditions present. Of course, that means snow, but also ice, slush, freezing wet winter roads, dry sub zero winter roads, and all that’s in between. The overall output of true winter tires far exceeds the criteria for snow traction represented by the mountain/snowflake. And so, while the symbolization of winter tires and other types of tires on the tire sidewalls may be the same, the performance capabilities of all-round winter time are not necessarily equal with mountain/snowflake credentials, all-weather and all-terrain tires Outside of winter tires, all-weather tires and select all-terrain tires have most commonly qualified for the mountain/snowflake symbol. All-weather tires are a newer category of tires and represent a comprehensive effort to develop a tire that is appropriate for the full range of road conditions throughout the year, including variable winter conditions. Examples are the Toyo Celsius and the Celsius CUV. “Variable-conditions tires,” Toyo calls them. Early testing information on all-weather tires suggests that in variable winter conditions, many will deliver near-winter tire performance. These tires are, without a doubt, the closest to true, year-round, four-season tires yet. Generally, all-terrain tires with the qualification of mountain/snowflake are a different breed. The loose sediment traction characteristic of many of these tires, straight ahead, lends itself to achieving the above snow traction criteria. While in other circumstances, some all-terrain tires may also deliver outstanding winter traction, note again that the mountain/snowflake symbol alone is not a guarantee of diverse traction and performance for wintertime. When do I change tires for snow?The question of when to switch over to snow tires depends very much on the variations in weather that Chicago tends to have. Some years we experience a winter beginning much earlier and much later than others. It’s time to switch to snow tires when you check the long-term weather forecast and start seeing temperatures consistently around or below 40 ° Fahrenheit, and/or the opportunity for winter precipitation. In Chicago, a shift to snow tires often occurs around mid-November, and then in mid-March, depending on how long Old Man Winter hangs around. Winter storms can hit as early as October and as late as April or May. A bit of friendly advice from those with ample (maybe too much) experience in the tire shop: before the real winter weather hits, you’ll have better luck beating the crowds, and drivers learn their tires are no longer fit for duty. Be sure to store your tires properly for maximum tire life when snow tires are disassembled. Nothing is worse than a set of tires dedicated to winter being dry rotted by improperly storing them. Final VerdictWinter tires and snow tires are not the same, and it is necessary to draw a distinction, especially these days. In making an informed decision on tires, it is very important to understand the difference. Do you need further assistance to decide which type of tire is right for you? Call our professionals by clicking the call button below or by calling (312) 835-9747. from https://chicagoautohaus.com/picking-proper-tires-for-chicago-winter/ How the pandemic is changing how many do businessThe ongoing Coronavirus pandemic is having adverse effects on almost every industry in the world, including the automotive industry. Many things have been forced to be changed in terms of how we conduct business and how we go about our daily lives. The auto sales industry is no exception. Up until now, it has remained largely untouched in how they meet with customers and sell cars from large lots. However, due to new safety standards, they may be forced to rethink how to reach and sell to potential customers. The new 2020 Porsche Taycan 4S has finally reached dealers lots. The new model of electric vehicle has an EPA estimated range of 203 miles. One of the best features of this new model is that the range stays relatively the same whether you are driving in cold climates or warm, unlike many other electric vehicles. Most electric vehicle models can have their ranges vary about 30 miles depending on the weather. For more tips on car maintenance, visit Chicago Autohaus.
Summary: Many things have been forced to be changed in terms of how we conduct business and how we go about our daily lives. The auto sales industry is no exception. Up until now, it has remained largely untouched in how they meet with customers and sell cars from large lots.
Summary: The new 2020 Porsche Taycan 4S has finally reached dealers lots. The new model of electric vehicle has an EPA estimated range of 203 miles. One of the best features of this new model is that the range stays relatively the same whether you are driving in cold climates or warm. from https://chicagoautohaus.com/ongoing-pandemic-having-effect-on-auto-industry/ What you can and cannot do during a lockdownWith the continued spread of the Coronavirus, many industries have been affected in terms of how they conduct business. Many car owners wonder if they are allowed to conduct routine or even essential vehicle maintenance during a shelter-in-place order. There are a number of businesses that are deemed essential and will remain open to the public. Residents are allowed to leave their homes to conduct or purchase necessary things that are essential to the health and safety of their homes and families and keep their homes and lives in working order. Car maintenance may be one of those things as it is a safety and transportation issue. Detroit’s three automakers and Honda are shutting down multiple plants including some in the Chicago area for weeks amid the Coronavirus outbreak. The Ford assembly plant in Hegewisch and the Chicago Stamping Plant in Chicago Heights will both be closed down to sanitize the facilities and will remain closed at least until the end of the month. These are some of the latest businesses to close among many other businesses in multiple industries across the country. For more info on car maintenance, visit Chicago Autohaus.
Summary: With the continued spread of the Coronavirus, many industries have been affected in terms of how they conduct business. Many car owners wonder if they are allowed to conduct routine or even essential vehicle maintenance during a shelter-in-place order. There are a number of businesses that are deemed essential and will remain open to the public.
Summary: Detroit’s three automakers and Honda are shutting down multiple plants including some in the Chicago area for weeks amid the Coronavirus outbreak. The Ford assembly plant in Hegewisch and the Chicago Stamping Plant in Chicago Heights will both be closed down.
from https://chicagoautohaus.com/car-maintenance-during-coronavirus-epidemic/ Thousands of owners effectedToyota was forced to recall over a million more vehicles in addition to those models they previously included in the statement. The recall went into effect in January after a possible fault in the fuel pumps could cause engines to stall. It added even more vehicles to the possible list of faulty pumps bringing the total to 1.8 million earlier this month. Engine stalling is known to cause the risk of crash to increase, although Toyota is not saying if any have happened because of this. Ford introduced a line up of new electric vehicles last year and now they will begin rolling out the third fully-electric vehicle in their arsenal. Ford will begin selling an all-electric Transit cargo van beginning in 2022. The automaker also said it will produce an electric sport utility car and an all-electric F-150 pick up truck. They join the growing trend of automakers that are committed to reducing their carbon footprint in the coming years by making fully-electric vehicles more diverse and accessible. For information on car maintenance, visit Chicago Autohaus.
Summary: Toyota was forced to recall over a million more vehicles in addition to those models they previously included in the statement. The recall went into effect in January after a possible fault in the fuel pumps could cause engines to stall.
Summary: Ford introduced a line up of new electric vehicles last year and now they will begin rolling out the third fully-electric vehicle in their arsenal. Ford will begin selling an all-electric Transit cargo van beginning in 2022. from https://chicagoautohaus.com/toyota-adds-more-vehicles-to-their-recall/ Automakers showed off their bestThe 2020 Chicago Auto Show has wrapped up and people are buzzing about what they viewed while attending the show. Around 1,000 vehicles were on display throughout the two week-show for car enthusiasts to enjoy. There were some cars that got a lot of people talking. Some of those included the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, 2020 Ford GT, and the Jeep Gladiator Mojave. Each one of these cars were innovative in their own right and caused a lot of buzz and excitement. The Japanese brand, Nissan, faced possible auto-part shortages in their U.S. and European market thanks to the Coronavirus outbreak. They produce more than 800 auto-parts in Hubei, the epicenter of the outbreak. The shortage could lead to a significant slow down or even a suspension of the output of Nissan cars. It’s estimated that the disease could cut vehicle output by about 1.7million units. For information on car upkeep, visit Chicago Autohaus.
Summary: The 2020 Chicago Auto Show has wrapped up and people are buzzing about what they viewed while attending the show. Around 1,000 vehicles were on display throughout the two week-show.
Summary: The Japanese brand, Nissan, faced possible auto-part shortages in their U.S. and European market thanks to the Coronavirus outbreak. They produce more than 800 auto-parts in Hubei, the epicenter of the outbreak.
from https://chicagoautohaus.com/2020-chicago-auto-show-wraps-up/ How you might be affectedFord is being forced to recall certain locally made vehicles that could have a default. The vehicles being recalled could experience fractured rear suspension to links that could make the likelihood of an accident much higher. The recall is for select Ford Taurus Police Interceptor Sedans and Ford Taurus SHO vehicles that were made in the Chicago Assembly Plant in Hegewisch. Only vehicles made between 2013 and 2018 are expected to be recalled. The recall will affect around 211,000 vehicles in North America, 15,000 in Canada and about 1,400 in Mexico. The 2020 Chicago Auto Show has plenty of interesting unveilings and surprises for attendees. Today is the last day for the public to come and view what the auto industry will have to offer in 2020. Dodge unveiled three new colors for the Dodge Challenger in Chicago. The new colors that were shown to the public include Frostbite, Sinamon Stick and Gold Rush. This was for the 50th anniversary for the vehicle. Gold Rush is the only color that will be exclusive to the 2020 50th Anniversary Challenger package. All of the other colors will be available with other packages. For information on car services, visit Chicago Autohaus.
Summary: Ford is being forced to recall certain locally made vehicles that could have a default. The vehicles being recalled could experience fractured rear suspension to links that could make the likelihood of an accident much higher.
Summary: Dodge unveiled three new colors for the Dodge Challenger in Chicago. The new colors that were shown to the public include Frostbite, Sinamon Stick and Gold Rush. from https://chicagoautohaus.com/another-vehicle-recall-2/ How they are becoming the cars of the futureElectric vehicles are quickly securing their place in the auto industry as a top contender amongst other, more popular vehicles. Many see the EV industry as the way of the future and something that should be accessible to all people. One of those people is Cody Thacker, who works for Audi as the head of their EV initiative. He made his case for more eco-friendly cars at the Chicago Auto Show this year. He did acknowledge that the industry has some challenges ahead such as price point and access to more public charging stations. Another automotive industry giant made a big debut at the 2020 Auto Show in Chicago. Jeep unveiled its desert-focused Gladiator Mojave which is their new vehicle that is baja-ready and certified “desert rated.” Perhaps the biggest change to the vehicle is the internal bypass shock absorbers that can accommodate more airtime and smaller bumps taken at higher rates of speed that often come along with sand driving. For more information on proper upkeep of your vehicle, visit Chicago Autohaus.
Summary: Cody Thacker, who works for Audi as the head of their EV initiative, made his case for more eco-friendly cars at the Chicago Auto Show this year. He recognized some challenges the industry faces.
Summary: Jeep unveiled its desert-focused Gladiator Mojave which is their new vehicle that is baja-ready and certified “desert rated.” The vehicle was debuted at the 2020 Auto Show in Chicago. from https://chicagoautohaus.com/electric-vehicles-secured-their-place-at-auto-show/ The top choices for 2020Electric vehicles are quickly becoming common place in the auto industry. A few years ago, your options may have been very limited if this was the route you wanted to take when purchasing a vehicle. However, in 2020 there are plenty of auto makers that have joined the trend of producing more eco-friendly options. There are, of course, some obvious front runners, as there is with any product. Each vehicle that is one of the top choices for electric vehicles has a range of at least 200 miles before needing to be recharged. Throughout history, there have been numerous vehicles produced that did not resonate with the public. Funky designs and weird features placed some of these vehicles on USA Today’s list of the weirdest vehicles that have been produced throughout the history of car production. Not all of these vehicles have resonated with the public and have since been discontinued. For tips on vehicle upkeep, visit Chicago Autohaus.
Summary: Electric vehicles are quickly becoming common place in the auto industry. A few years ago, your options may have been very limited if this was the route you wanted to take when purchasing a vehicle. However, in 2020 there are plenty of auto makers that have joined the trend.
Summary: Throughout history, there have been numerous vehicles produced that did not resonate with the public. Funky designs and weird features placed some of these vehicles on USA Today’s list of the weirdest vehicles.
from https://chicagoautohaus.com/electric-vehicles-that-you-should-know-about/ The future of automotive is closer than we thinkGM and Cruise LLC had plans to unveil the first vehicle designed to drive without a driver on Tuesday. Cruise LLC is the autonomous-car startup that is majority owned by General Motors. The vehicle is designed to be electric and roomier than other traditional cars. There will be no steering wheel or pedals that are essential in normal vehicles. GM and other investors have given a significant amount of money to this project, raising Cruise’s expected value to $19 billion. Even though it will be a long time until humans colonize the moon or Mars, some vehicle manufacturers are looking ahead to the future and designing concept vehicles for (literally) out of this world terrain. Lexus has been coming up with ideas for futuristic cruisers that could be used on the lunar surface. The ideas are just that, ideas. There are no actual designs out there that are being built, it was simply for a project that asked designers and architects to conceptualize how humans might eventually get around on the moon. For information on vehicle service, visit Chicago Autohaus.
Summary: GM and Cruise LLC had plans to unveil the first vehicle designed to drive without a driver on Tuesday. There will be no steering wheel or pedals that are essential in normal vehicles.
Summary: Lexus has been coming up with ideas for futuristic cruisers that could be used on the lunar surface. Although no cars are actually being designed at this point, designers and architects were asked to conceptualize how humans will navigate the lunar surface.
from https://chicagoautohaus.com/autonomous-vehicles-and-lunar-cruisers/ |
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Autohaus is Chicago’s premier collision center, auto repair and customization shop located in Chicago’s Lincoln Park/Bucktown area. We are conveniently located to serve Chicago’s Gold Coast & North Side as well as the outlying Chicagoland area. Our full service auto repair shop prides itself on giving our clients the highest quality work and the absolute best in customer service. Archives
June 2017
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