NC Winters - Wet Roads and Traveling!

NC Winters are not like then winters up north - thank goodness! - but they do bring some challenges, notably a lot of rain and travel during the holiday season! 

Have you checked your titres lately to see how much tread you have left? Good tires are essential for safety on wet roads, and it does snow occasionally down here. Money can be tight, but this is not the time of year to ignore your tires until you have a flat!

Check Your Tires from Edge to Edge

Look at each tire from the inside edge to the outside edge; check to make sure the shoulders still have plenty of depth in them and that the tread is deep all the way across. All modern tires will have small wear bars in between the treads - when the tread gets down to these wear bars it is time to think about getting new tires.

As you can see this tire has very even wear across the surface, but it is getting very close to the wear bars.

This tire is worn down on the shoulder; this usually happens because the vehicle is out of alignment or the tires were never rotated.

This is the other side of the tire pictured above - you can see it still ha decent tread left.

If your tire is showing signs of wear on the edge like the one above it is time to replace it; tires can also wear out in the middle of the tread; this is usually because the tires were over inflated.

You can get excellent quality used tires, but any used tire is going to have a higher chance of failure than a new tire, but sometimes used tires are all that are affordable, and most used tires will give excellent service. The one pictured below is a perfect example of a good used tire that will last for many many more miles.

Whether new or used, if you see your tires getting slick or wearing down at the edges this is a great time of year to think about changing them out - balding tires are bad in the rain and even worse in the snow, and the last thing you need as you are driving to your holiday destinations is a flat tire!


For the used tires Lincoln County NC drivers need, and for the best deals on used and new tires in Lincolnton go to Waycaster Tire & Auto on 902 E Main St!

NC Registration Fees And The Grace Period

The Grace Period

As many people know, in NC there is a 15 day grace period for registering your vehicle after your registration/tag have expired - this has come in very handy for me a number of times!

The grace period is still there, but starting in July of this year, the NC Legislature and Governor McCrory signed into law the 'Grace Period Late Fee' (I actually just made that name up, but it does have a certain ring to it).

The Grace Period Late Fee

Now, if you go into the grace period, even by a day, there will be an additional $15.00 late fee applied to the normal cost of renewing your tag and registration, which is normally $25 for most vehicles. This is not a lot, but sometimes budgets are tight, so if you are coming up on your actual renewal date for your vehicle be sure to get it done before the actual expiration! 

If you don't, you will be helping NC get its budget under control, but you will also be giving away an extra $15 bucks.

As always, if you need used or new tires in Lincolnton, oil changes, brake jobs and more! Waycaster Tire & Auto will also soon be doing NC Vehicle Inspections in Lincolnton for just $25 for OBD inspections (not all vehicles require emissions inspections).

To avoid the $15 late fee, get your registration renewed BEFORE the actual expiration date!

NC Registration Fees And The Grace Period

The Grace Period

As many people know, in NC there is a 15 day grace period for registering your vehicle after your registration/tag have expired - this has come in very handy for me a number of times!

The grace period is still there, but starting in July of this year, the NC Legislature and Governor McCrory signed into law the 'Grace Period Late Fee' (I actually just made that name up, but it does have a certain ring to it).

The Grace Period Late Fee

Now, if you go into the grace period, even by a day, there will be an additional $15.00 late fee applied to the normal cost of renewing your tag and registration, which is normally $25 for most vehicles. This is not a lot, but sometimes budgets are tight, so if you are coming up on your actual renewal date for your vehicle be sure to get it done before the actual expiration! 

If you don't, you will be helping NC get its budget under control, but you will also be giving away an extra $15 bucks.

As always, if you need used or new tires in Lincolnton, oil changes, brake jobs and more! Waycaster Tire & Auto will also soon be doing NC Vehicle Inspections in Lincolnton for just $25 for OBD inspections (not all vehicles require emissions inspections).

To avoid the $15 late fee, get your registration renewed BEFORE the actual expiration date!

Summertime Maintenance on Cars

Waycaster Tire & Auto Announces New Services

Waycaster Tire & Auto are now supplying several new services to help you keep your car running smooth! They have long been known as one of the best source for new and used tires in  Lincolnton NC, but they now have the ability to perform many items of car maintenance in Lincolnton NC!

to kick off these new services, they currently have some great Summer Specials going on! These include

• 5 Quart Basic Oil Change - just $24.95
• Front Disk Brake Job - just $44.95 (does not include parts)
• Motorcycle Fluid Changes (call for pricing)
• used and New Tire Specials

For the oil change, Waycaster Tire & Auto will supply 5 quarts of high quality synthetic blend oil in the proper weight plus a high quality oil filter. The Basic Oil Change includes a fluid check and a top up of window washing fluid as well!

Not sure if you need an oil change? Waycaster Tire & Auto can check your oil levels and oil quality to see if you need an oil change!

Motorcycle fluid changes and repairs are also available - call 704-748-9500 to find rates and more information on motorcycle oil changes and other motorcycle repairs!

If you need an oil change in Lincolnton or new or used tires in Lincolnton NC, call or come by Waycaster Tire & Auto today!

The Thin Tire Blues

Does Uneven Tire Wear Have You Down?

There is something more than just disappointing about realizing that one or two of your tires are wearing out at different rates. The two main causes of uneven wear are either tires and wheels which are out of balance or wheels (especially on the front axle) which are not properly aligned.

Most tire shops are very careful when it comes to balancing your tires and wheels after the installation of a new or used tire on your wheel, but the balancing weights can occasionally come off, throwing the wheel out of balance.

Inspect your Tires Weekly

It does not take long - simply do a quick walk-around the vehicle once a week and check the wheels and tires; make sure the tires are properly inflated as an under-inflated tire can also cause unnatural tread wear and reduce the miles per gallon you will get out of your vehicle!

When you notice uneven wear, take your car in to get the balance and alignment checked, and every time you change oil in your car get in the habit of rotating your tires - this will also help keep your tread-wear even as long as all the other things mentioned above are in good shape!

Waycaster Tire & Auto Is Here For You

Waycaster Tire & Auto has a large selection of quality used tires and can order nearly any size new tire and have it ready to install within two days - and they have a low price guarantee that will ensure you are getting the best deal on tires in Lincolnton!

To make sure you keep your tires as long as possible, check the tires weekly, make sure they have enough pressure and periodically check your balance and alignment if it seems as though your tires are experiencing uneven wear - and drive safe this summer!