Tires are a crucial vehicle component, ensuring safety, performance, and comfort. However, they are prone to wear and tear, punctures, and other damage. Understanding the types of damage can help determine whether a tire needs repair or replacement. Come to Ace Body and Motor in Des Moines, IA, to learn more.

Types of Tire Damage

Small punctures from nails or screws can often be repaired if they are located in the tread area and are not too large. However, punctures near the sidewall or larger punctures may require replacement. Cuts and gashes can weaken the tire’s structure and compromise its integrity. Small cuts can sometimes be repaired, but larger ones often necessitate replacement. Tires with worn treads can affect traction and safety. While some tread wear is normal, excessive wear indicates the need for replacement. These occur when the tire’s inner lining is damaged, causing air to seep into the outer layers. Bulges and blisters are signs of internal damage and require immediate replacement.

Determining whether a tire needs repair or replacement depends on the extent and type of damage. Small punctures in the tread area that are less than 1/4 inch in diameter, usually, can be repaired using a patch or plug. However, a professional should do repairs to ensure safety. Damage to the sidewall, large punctures, cuts, and too extensive gashes cannot be repaired and require replacement. Additionally, a tire should be replaced if it has reached the end of its tread life. It’s safer to replace a damaged tire when in doubt than to risk driving on a compromised one. Tires play a wildly important role in vehicle safety. Driving on damaged tires can lead to accidents. Regular inspection and maintenance of tires are essential for safe driving. Understanding the types of tire damage and knowing when to repair or replace a tire can not only help ensure the longevity, but also the performance, of your vehicle. When in doubt, consult a professional tire technician to assess the damage and determine the best course of action. Remember, safety should always be the top priority when it comes to tire maintenance.

Bring Your Tires to Us!

Ace Body & Motor in Des Moines, Iowa, offers comprehensive tire services to ensure your safety and vehicle performance. Our ASE Certified technicians inspect tires for all makes and models, checking air pressure and tread wear. We repair minor damages like nail punctures, following strict safety criteria. If your tires are worn, we can recommend and install new ones suited to your vehicle and budget. Visit us or call (515) 243-7133 for expert tire service today!

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All About Smart Cars

Smart cars (Smart Fortwo) are amongst the smallest cars ever sold in North America. The gas-powered ones are one of the best engineered, most trouble free and economical vehicles made. They are also surprisingly safe and fun to drive. I have owned several smart cars for over 10 years now and we have 6 smart loaner vehicles. We have lots of smart car customers that are very happy to have found someone that loves them as much as they do and that loves to work on them as well. People tell us all the time that we can’t find anyone willing to work on their little Smarties. We are that place and we love to make your smart car better than ever!

Smart Car Rally

September of 2022, we had our first smart car rally. Everyone had a blast! It was such a huge hit that we decided to have it our smart car rally annually. We had smart car cookies, smart car t-shirts, a smart car cruise, lunch, smart car trivia, and several prizes. We plan on having our second smart car rally in mid-late September.

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Understanding what road conditions can do to your tires

While most drivers understand that the condition of their tires can affect their driving experience, not everyone considers how the condition of the road impacts that same drive.

4 Types of Detrimental Road Conditions

Debris: whether due to nearby construction or other issues, items that have fallen out of the back of trucks, trailers, or natural debris from storms can create issues when you drive. It isn’t enough to change how you drive to avoid as much of the debris as possible. Even the most cautious driver can run over a small item, like a nail, causing a puncture in the tire itself. This includes off-road travel, which should be done cautiously if your vehicle is not equipped with the proper tires.

Damaged Roads: When you drive into an area known for flooding, you run into a number of possible issues. Debris beneath low flooding can cause tire punctures, and heavy rains can erode roads quickly, leaving drivers to maneuver through broken parts of the road or along deteriorated edges. This can damage not only your tires, but also the internal structure and associated parts of the suspension or chassis.

Potholes: this seems like a pretty obvious problem, but we all know that sometimes you can encounter an unexpected pothole when making a turn onto another road or into a parking lot. Avoiding them cannot always be done, and the impact, depending on the size of the pothole, can also cause structural damage to both your tire and the internal structure.

Rainy Weather: different from flooding, rainy weather can reduce the amount of traction between your tires and the road. Even the best and newest tires can be impacted if the vehicle is moving too quickly or the driver hits the brakes too hard. This can create the ideal conditions for hydroplaning or unexpected skidding, especially if there is any leftover oil from an older accident or vehicle incident.

Need Tire Repair?

The knowledgeable staff at Ace Body and Motor in Des Moines, IA, is here to help! Whether you need a repair for a damaged tire, a realignment, or an all-new set of tires to meet your needs and driving patterns, our trained team can help you get back on the road safely today!

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Braking Basics: Everything You Should Know

Your car’s brakes are some of its most important safety components. Without a properly working braking system, you wouldn’t be able to effectively slow down or stop your vehicle. However, many Des Moines, Iowa drivers don’t fully understand how the braking system works. The brake repair experts at Ace Body and Motor are here to explain the basics of car brakes.

How Do Brakes Work?

An automotive braking system relies on each of its components to function properly. When you press your foot down on the brake pedal, it automatically activates the cylinder. This part delivers the brake fluid to the calipers, which in turn engages the brake pads. These pads apply pressure to the brake rotors, creating the power needed to make your car stop. As you can see, all of these parts are connected and work together to make your vehicle come to a stop.

When Should I Have My Brakes Inspected?

In order to stay safe when you’re behind the wheel, you need to ensure that your car’s braking system is optimally working. This is why staying on top of routine brake inspections and repairs is so important.

You should be having your brakes thoroughly inspected at least once a year. At Ace Body and Motor in Des Moines, Iowa, we can thoroughly inspect your brakes and repair any potential issues before they become dangerous problems.

Symptoms of Bad Brakes

If you notice any of these symptoms, schedule a brake repair appointment right away:

• An illuminated brake light on your dashboard
• Grinding or squealing noises when you apply pressure to the brake pedal
• Vibrating or wobbling while braking
• A brake fluid leakage
• Burning smells when braking

If you experience any of these symptoms, take your car to a local repair shop now.

Expert Brake Repair in Des Moines

If you’re in need of brake repair services, contact the team at Ace Body and Motor in Des Moines, Iowa right away. Our experts can quickly diagnose and repair the problem. Contact us today by calling (515) 243-7133 to schedule your appointment. We look forward to servicing your car!

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For a vehicle owner, brakes are one of the most essential parts of the vehicle pertaining to driver safety. A driver has no control over who else is driving or using the road and may have to bring their car to a halt immediately if any other vehicle, person, or animal is likely to collide with it. This means it is critical to undergo routine brake repair to ensure that the brakes in your car, truck, or SUV, are in perfect condition so that the vehicle can be halted when you need it to.

Your vehicle’s brakes are imperative to your safety. If you need brake brake repair in Des Moines, Iowa, contact Ace Body & Motor today and schedule an appointment with one of our professionally trained and certified brake service technicians. How do you know know it’s time to have your brakes serviced? Let’s take a closer look at some of the common signs you can look for when determining if your brakes need service.

Grinding or Screeching Noises

One of the most common indications that the brakes are malfunctioning is that the vehicle is making a screeching sound. This is mainly because a small metal piece attached to the brake pad of the brake is hitting against the rotors. This is widely used to indicate that there is a problem with the brakes. So, while in a few cases, the sound may be due to other sources, it is advisable to confirm the sound’s source, halting the vehicle again. In other cases, a squealing sound may also be heard. In these cases, the brakes are worn out and require repairs.

Vibration Coming from Steering Wheel

In some cases, the vehicle will vibrate when the brakes are applied. This is because the brake rotors are warped. In other cases, when pressure is applied to the brake pedal, it will become limp and fall on the floor because the brake pedal is soft. This could be because air or water has entered the braking system. It is also essential to ensure that the braking system has the right amount of brake fluid so that it can be halted quickly. If there is a leakage of brake fluid due to a hole or tear in any part, the leaked fluid will accumulate below the main brake cylinder or beside a tire.

Unresponsive Brakes

Another accurate indicator that there is a problem with the brakes is when the vehicle takes a long time to come to a complete halt after the brakes are applied. This is because the brake pads are worn out. Examining the brakes will also indicate that the brake pads are thinner than usual and have to be replaced. In some cases, the vehicle may be pulling to one side when brakes are applied. This is because the brake lining is wearing out unevenly. Another reason could be contamination of the brake fluid or malfunctioning of the calipers. This is risky for the vehicle owner since he does not have control over the vehicle and should be rectified immediately.

Schedule Your Brake Repair Today

Brake repair is one of the car maintenance issues that no auto owner should ignore. Depending on your vehicle type and driving habits, most brakes should be serviced every 20,000 miles. If they’re not regularly inspected and repaired, it could cause them not to work correctly.

If you are starting to notice any of the signs mentioned above that your car need brake repair, bring your vehicle into Ace Body & Motor today for quick, easy, and affordable brake service. We’re conveniently located in Des Moines, Iowa, for our neighbors and customers in the nearby and surrounding communities.

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Flat tires are a fact of life that everyone has to deal with now and then, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to make sure you handle a flat as safely and efficiently as possible. One of the first questions to ask yourself when considering a damaged tire can be whether you are going to repair it or replace it. Different types of tire service can come with distinct advantages that can make some options better for your situation than others. Use these tips from the pros at Ace Body and Motor in Des Moines, Iowa, to help you get started.

Should You Repair?

Small punctures and minor damages on a tire can often be repaired to leave you with a good, functioning tire for much less money than it would cost for a replacement. If the damage that has occurred is limited, a tire service may be able to offer repairs. You can also look into some DIY options for fixing tires. Still, these are often temporary fixes that shouldn’t be relied upon for an extended period of time. To restore your tires to their highest level of safety for optimal control, visit a professional!

Should You Replace?

If you’re driving on a spare tire, you should replace it with a higher quality option as soon as possible. Alternatively, if one of your tires has taken serious damage that would be impossible to repair, you might be forced into finding a replacement. Where extensive damage is concerned, the safest option for tire service is often to buy a whole new tire. Our team can help you find the right fit for your car!

Are Your Tires in Good Shape?

As the point of connection between your vehicle and the road, tires can be one of the most critical parts of your car to keep it safe and healthy. If you don’t feel qualified to repair your tires yourself, a good tire service shop can be the next best resource. Safety should always be your first priority, and if the tire has taken a lot of damage, a full tire replacement may be the best route to take. Ace Body and Motor in Des Moines, Iowa, can provide fitting service for your tire needs.

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