Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta Advice on Buying New Tires
December 26, 2021
Today's tires and wheels offer a lot of options for every Sparta driver's style, habits and driving conditions.Tires are designed for high-performance in winter or summer and even come in a long-wearing variety for all Illinois seasons.Sparta off-roaders should be excited about the options avail... More
Treat Your Vehicle to Good Tires at Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta
May 30, 2021
When we shop for shoes, most of us know that we can get two pairs of cheap shoes or one good pair for about the same price. And since the two cheap pairs wear out in about the same time as the good pair, there really is no difference in cost. If you like having a closet full of shoes to match yo... More
Below 45 Degrees in Sparta: Consider Winter Tires
May 9, 2021
Remember snow tires? They were basically just regular tires with big, knobby lugs to get them through deep snow. They were loud and rode hard, and Sparta drivers couldn't wait to get them off the car. Then along came television advertisements for all-season radials. Illinois drivers ran out and ... More
The Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta Guide to Tire Specs
January 17, 2021
You know you need new tires, but you're not sure what type. You look at a tire to get the size: 225, 50, R, 16, 92, H. All the way to the Sparta service center you keep repeating it over and over. You even say it over in your mind while waiting in line. Then you get to the counter and the manage... More
Tire Tread Depth for Sparta, Illinois Drivers
July 19, 2020
Driving on bald tires is like playing roulette. Though you may be fine today, eventually your luck is going to run out.The Feds don't have any laws for tread depth, but 42 of the states, and all of Canada, do have regulations. They consider 2/32 of an inch to be the minimum legal tread depth. Tw... More
The Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta Guide to Custom Wheels
January 5, 2020
If you're interested in customizing the wheels and tires on your vehicle, there are a few things you should know first.Most importantly, the wheels you buy need to fit your vehicle. Not all wheels are created equal. Too many Sparta drivers have bought a set of wheels that caught their eye, then,... More
Fuel Saving Tip: Tire Pressure Saves Fuel in Sparta
October 6, 2019
Underinflated tires waste gas for lots of folks in the Sparta area. Think how hard it is to walk in sand you just have to work harder because of the resistance. When your tires don't have enough air in them, their rolling resistance is dramatically increased and it simply takes more gas to get f... More
Tire Rotation and Balancing at Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta in Sparta
September 15, 2019
Tires do a lot of work for Sparta drivers. They transfer engine power and braking forces to the road; they handle steering control; and they cushion all those bumps and jolts while driving around Sparta. They also support the entire weight of the vehicle, including you and your passengers. With ... More
Winter Tires
September 1, 2019
What type of technology do you use? Do you prefer an 8-track tape or an iPod? When it comes to winter tires, much of Sparta driver's perception dates back to when 8-track was the best way to listen to the Bee Gees.Twenty years ago in Illinois, winter tires differed from highway tires only in thei... More
Automotive Tips from Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta: Tire Replacement Overview
August 25, 2019
Tires are an expensive purchase, so knowing when tires should be replaced is important for Sparta drivers. Tires will just wear out with normal use. The depth of the tread on your tire determines how well it will stop, start and steer especially in wet conditions. 4/32th of an inch (3.2 mm) of t... More