How Can You Tell If Your Vehicle’s Tires Need To Be Replaced?

How Can You Tell If Your Vehicle's Tires Need To Be Replaced?

1. Check The Wear Indicators

Modern tires come equipped with wear indicators. These small pieces of rubber stick out from between the tread. If any of the wear indicators are missing, it may be a sign that your tires need to be replaced.

Another thing to look at is the condition of the tread. The tread is located on the portion of the tire that contacts the surface of the road. The grooves in the tread funnel any water on the roadway away from the tires so that they make better contact with the surface, leading to better traction. If the tread is worn out, the grooves may not be deep enough to effectively move the water, increasing the likelihood of accidents. To prevent any problems, you should replace tires that have worn out tread right away.

2. Make Sure The Tread Is Worn Evenly

Unevenly worn tread is usually a sign of improperly aligned tires. In cases like these, certain parts of the tires contact the road more than others, causing them to wear out more quickly. Tires with uneven wear can create a lot of extra noise when driving down the road. They also may make the vehicle feel like it is shaking when you are driving it.

3. Regularly Check The Tire Pressure

The air pressure inside of the tires should remain relatively consistent as long as there are no leaks. Periodically check the tire pressure to make sure that it is not falling. If you notice any changes in the pressure, it could be a sign that the tire has a leak and needs to be replaced.

4. Bulging Or Signs Of Bubbles

Tires sometimes develop weak spots, which can result in bulging or bubbling. If you keep driving on a tire that has bulges, there is a high likelihood that you will experience a blowout, which can be quite dangerous. Any tires with bubbles or bulges should be replaced right away.

Leahy’s Towing has the tools to help you with your tire and towing needs. Reach out to us with a call to find out more before you next need a tow.

Four Tips To Reduce The Cost Of Towing Services

Four Tips To Reduce The Cost Of Towing Services

1. See If Your Credit Card Company Offers Roadside Assistance

Today, a lot of credit card companies provide roadside assistance services as a special perk for their customers. Depending on the terms of your credit card, you may have this service available, which could save you a lot of money on the cost of towing.

2. Add Towing Services To Your Insurance Policy

When purchasing car insurance, consider adding towing or roadside assistance to your package. Usually, the cost of adding these extra services is relatively low. Try checking with your insurance company to see how much it would cost for the type of vehicle you have and the city where you are located.

3. Do Research Ahead Of Time

The best time to research towing companies is before you need their services. Instead of being forced to choose a towing company at random, do some research ahead of time to figure out which companies in your area offer the best rates. Then, keep the phone number for your preferred towing service in your glove box so that you always have it available if you break down.

4. Become An Auto Club Member

Joining an auto club gives you access to a lot of different benefits. These benefits usually include coverage for breakdown services. Although most clubs like these do have membership fees, the cost of joining is usually lower than what you would pay to have your vehicle towed. For many people, it is a worthwhile investment since it means that they have emergency services available if they need them.

AAA is one of the best-known auto clubs that provides towing for its members. The cost can vary quite a bit, however, based on your location.

Joining an auto club usually costs anywhere from about $50-$100 per year. When you consider how much cheaper that is than the cost of towing, your membership fees could easily pay for themselves if your vehicle breaks down.

If you have a breakdown or need a tow before you implement any of these, try Leahy’s Towing. They are a professional towing service that is only a call away.

6 Important Items To Carry In Your Vehicle’s Emergency Kit

Important Items To Carry In Your Vehicle's Emergency Kit

Important Items To Carry In Your Vehicle’s Emergency Kit

1. First aid box

The first aid kit is useful when the driver, other car occupants, or a pedestrian is injured. A useful first aid kit should have various types of band-aids, an antiseptic, ointment, antiseptic wipes, aspirin, gauze, gloves, pads, adhesive tape, and cotton balls. Besides these items, the owner should also add any other extra items that are specific to them or their close friends or family.

2. Fire extinguisher

A fire extinguisher is very crucial for an emergency kit, however, most retail kits still omit them. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) gives class “B” or “C” ratings to extinguishers. Class B extinguishers can be used specifically against class B fires like those caused by flammable substances such as kerosene, gasoline, and diesel fuel.

3. Completely charged mobile phone

This basic gadget can dictate if you have to spend the night in your car after a breakdown or if you can receive instant help. A mobile phone, however, is only useful where the breakdown area has sufficient network coverage.

4. Flashlight

This tool is will assist you during the night and in misty conditions. It will be more useful, if it is waterproof, and if you have carried some spare batteries.

5. Warning triangles

In case your car breakdowns on a busy road, it is recommended that the driver warns oncoming traffic on the condition of their car. They should set their warning triangles and turn on the hazard signals of their vehicle.

6. Tire gauge

The tire gauge assists you to measure the air pressure of the spare tire. Every vehicle must have a spare tire that is properly inflated. Most people ignore checking the spare tires’ pressure and thus don’t realize that their spare tire has low pressure.

Let Leahy’s Towing help you with your roadside emergencies, we will tow your vehicle to safety. Contact us as soon as you need a professional service.

5 Tips For Driving Safely In The Rain

5 Tips For Driving Safely In The Rain

5 Tips For Driving Safely In The Rain

1. Slow down

The first thing that you need to remember to do when it is raining out is to watch the road conditions carefully. Rain makes roads wet, and that can ultimately lead to roads that are slick and unsafe. If you are driving in these road conditions, you should reduce your speed.

2. Use the right lights

Another big problem when trying to drive in the rain is visibility. So if you are driving in wet weather, we recommend that you play around with different lights in your car. Using your fog lights will provide you with the best visibility in some conditions, while you might want to use your high beams in other conditions to see the road and coming surroundings as clearly as you can.

3. Make wide turns as slowly as you can

As you are approaching and performing a turn, you should slow down. That will reduce the risk of your vehicle sliding as you are turning.

4. Windshield wipers and rain repellent

If you are getting ready to drive in the rain, prepare your vehicle ahead of time. If a rain-repellent is used on your windshield that can help to eliminate the rain from view. It is also important that your windshield wiper fluid is full in order to clear away any dirt that wet road conditions might cause.

5. Know when it is time to pull over

Although driving in a regular rainstorm might not be very had for you to do, it can be if there is a violent storm taking place. If you think that your visibility or the road conditions are too poor, you should pull over to the side of the road. That can prevent a possible accident just by knowing when you should pull over when it is raining. And should an accident happen or you require towing services, Leahy’s Towing is just a call away.

4 Reasons Why Your Car Might Get Towed Away

4 Reasons Why Your Car Might Get Towed Away Without You Providing Authorization

4 Reasons Why Your Car Might Get Towed Away

1) Parking Illegally: If you park your vehicle without a proper permit in an ambulance parking space, a handicap spot, in front of a fire hydrant, or other tow-away places, then your vehicle can get towed away legally even without you providing authorization. Many major cities are having trouble offering sufficient parking space for local citizens. Those living in big places like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York are already frustratingly familiar with the arduous and time-consuming task that is hunting for any parking spot.

2) Expired Registration: Never wait for your vehicle’s registration to expire. Otherwise, you might be paying a visit to your local impound station in the near future. When local authorities like law enforcement and DMV personnel discover that your car registration is expired, they might have the legal right to tow your vehicle, again, without you providing permission. Before you can retrieve your vehicle, you might have to offer proof of your renewed registration.

3) Roadway Or Walkway Obstruction: If you park your vehicle in a way that blocks the entrance or driveway to a home or business, and then you come back out and can’t find your car in that same parking spot, you can probably safely assume it was towed away because you blocked traffic.

4) Unlicensed Driving: If you are stopped by a police cruiser and they discover that you either don’t have a driver’s license or it expired, then they’re probably going to have a tow truck report to that spot. It’s illegal to drive unless you have a valid license, and even having an expired license won’t count.

5) Disabled Vehicle: If police pull you over and they think your car isn’t currently in a safe condition for driving, then they can have it towed right then and there.

Need a reliable towing service? There is no time like now to contact your friendly towers at Leahy’s Towing.

The Advantages Of Rollback Tow Trucks

The Advantages Of Rollback Tow Trucks

Like other industries, the world of towing has changed and evolved over the years. Decades ago, towing a vehicle typically involved asking a family member or friend for help, using a rope and a pickup truck to tow your vehicle on your own. Eventually, professional tow trucks came into service. With these trucks, a hook is usually attached to the front of your vehicle, raising the front wheels off the ground so that it can be safely towed behind. Today, rollback tow trucks are one of the most popular options. These trucks minimize the risk of damage by carrying your vehicle on a flatbed trailer rather than pulling it behind.

One of the primary problems with traditional tow trucks is that they frequently damage the vehicles that they are towing. As the tow truck swerves to avoid potholes or other obstacles in the road, the hook or chain attached to the other vehicle often winds up causing damage to the frame or paint.

Rollback tow trucks solve this problem by carrying vehicles on a flat stage rather than towing them behind. The stage itself angles down to the ground using hydraulics, creating a ramp for the vehicle. The car is then pulled up onto the stage and the surface levels out again. After the vehicle is loaded, the tow truck driver can safely haul it wherever it needs to go without doing any damage in the process.

Rollback tow trucks are beneficial when towing vehicles on freeways or expressways. It is much easier for the tow truck driver to move through traffic when the vehicle is loaded on the back of their truck rather than being towed behind. This type of towing allows them to move at the same speed as the flow of traffic, reducing the likelihood of accidents.

Cars that are towed this way can be moved safely to their final destination without sustaining any damage along the way. Once the vehicle reaches the place where it is being towed, the driver simply has to angle the stage back down to the ground to remove the car from the back of the truck. This is easy to do, even in areas where there is not a lot of room to maneuver.

Rollback trucks also work well for situations where the back wheels of the vehicle were damaged in an accident. Cars in this condition can’t be towed by standard tow trucks since they need working back wheels in order to be pulled along behind.

If you have a vehicle that needs to be towed, you will want to call the community Leahy’s Towing service our rollback tow trucks is an excellent solution.

When To Take Precaution And Pull Over

When To Take Precaution And Pull Over

If you drive on a daily basis, you’ll know that car issues happen when you least expect it. You also know how frustrating these situations can get, seeing as not everyone is blessed with mechanical skills. For the most part, your car will give trouble while on the road. And when it does, the wisest thing you can do is pull over. Get to a safe spot. Then assess the problem as best you can. If necessary or in doubt, call a towing service. But what are the warning signs to pull over? Here are some of the common automotive problems that tell you something is wrong.

Noises You Do Not Usually Hear

It is recommended to get used to what your car should sound like. If the vehicle is in good condition, take note of this sound when you are on the open road. Because the moment you start hearing strange or loud sounds, it’s the moment you should practice caution. If you are lucky, it is just some debris caught underneath the vehicle. But there is no point in taking risks. There could be something seriously wrong with the engine.

You Notice A Change In Control

It can be unnerving to notice you don’t have full control of the car. Or, it feels like the wheel is buckling, and you can’t keep steering straight. This is a scenario that definitely calls for gradually slowing down, and safely stopping at the side of the road. Chances are a tire can be damaged and needs replacement. However, anything is possible.

Smoke Or Steam

The last thing you want to see is smoke or steam exuding from the underneath the hood. If steam escapes the hood, it could mean the car is running hot. As for smoke coming out of the engine, it could be a fire. Either way, you need to stop the car as quickly as possible and assess the problem.

Pay Attention To Emergency Lights

It is with good reason that cars have warning lights. For example, when the oil or temperature light comes on, it means something needs to be checked. Of course, it could be a small issue like you need to top up the oil. Or it could point to a much bigger problem. Just do not make the mistake of ignoring these lights. If you do, you risk damaging the engine more than it already might be.

The same goes for the engine warning light. In fact, there shouldn’t be any warning lights flashing while you drive. Otherwise, you take a risk that simply isn’t necessary. Because all you need to do is pull over and call a towing service when you can’t handle the problem by yourself.

What Vehicles Require Heavy-Duty Towing?

What Vehicles Require Heavy-Duty Towing?

With a full fleet of heavy-duty equipment at our disposal, Leahy’s Towing is well prepared to take on the heaviest vehicles in the most complex situations. With our state-of-the-art equipment and experienced technicians, there is no sized vehicle to large or any situation too complex for our prompt solutions.

Our heavy-duty tow trucks feature under reach and wheel lifting capacity to ensure that the vehicle is delivered to a new location in the exact same conditions we found it.

Some vehicles are small and can be removed easily, for those larger and heavier vehicles it will be essential to call in the services of special heavy-duty equipment meant for this sort of task. Following is a simple guide to the types of vehicles that require more than your average towing service:

You will need heavy-duty towing assistance with these types of vehicles:

Big Trucks

Due to the considerable weight, bobtails, garbage trucks and semi-trucks will always need heavy duty service. Because of their advanced under reach and wheel lift technology, heavy-duty tow trucks can ensure that these vehicles are transported safely. For larger issues, there are even tow-trucks that allow several large vehicles to be transported at one time.

Busses

Not only are busses extremely heavy, but their long dimensions can make them harder to manage. For these vehicles, special towing solutions have been designed to reduce damage by skirting and ground grinding. This is the advantage of the extended wheel lift system of heavy duty tow trucks.

Motorhomes

Motorhome also come in some large and heavy presentations and are also especially delicate. These are important considerations when transporting the motorhome and requires wheel lift technology to ensure that it will arrive at its destination with no further damage.

Semi Tractor Trailers

All types of tractor trailers will require a proper heavy-duty tow-truck to move properly and safely. When being transported, these large vehicles are connected to their tow vehicle through a series of advanced hook up systems. Such measures are an absolute necessity given the immense size and dimensions of these vehicles makes their transportation from place to place a very dangerous undertaking.

Because a semi-truck is often the livelihood of its owner and operator, no chances should be taken. It is imperative to call a reliable and professional heavy-duty towing company for assistance in this effort. This way you will have the peace of mind in knowing that your semi-tractor will not see any damage on its way to wherever it needs to go.

Do you need heavy-duty towing? Leahy’s Towing is here for you. Call us for a quotation.

What To Do When You’re Suddenly Out Of Gas

What To Do When You're Suddenly Out Of Gas

Nothing can be quite so disconcerting as being on your way to work or another location, and suddenly, you realize you’ve run out of gas, right there in the middle of the road. This can quickly send your day south. When this happens, you’re going to have to have an emergency plan. You may wish to consider a towing service if you’re in the city so that you can get out of the middle of the road and on your way to work. It really helps to always plan ahead so that you won’t be caught in such a situation.

Towing And Refueling Services

If you’ve ever been stuck in the middle of the road and out of gas, you can call a reliable towing service in the city. Mobile technicians can quickly reach you and help you out as soon as you’ve called. You’ll have the peace of mind that help is on the way. Towing services in the city can offer you tow services as well as refueling services.

Pull Over

If you’re suddenly losing power, you should also pull your car over to the side of the road on to the shoulder. It will be much safer there than to be in the middle of the highway. Try not to panic. Stay calm. Turn on the hazard lights and call the tow company.

Find A Gas Station Nearby

Thanks to Google Maps and your GPS you’ll be able to find nearby gas stations. If for any reason you can’t reach a tow truck in the Harrisburg area, you can then go to one of the nearby gas stations and pick up a gas container and refuel your car.

Ask A Friend

You can’t have too many friends. If you’re unable to reach a tow service, you could also call a friend to come and help you out by bringing you some fuel or taking you to reach fuel safely.

Keep a Leahy’s Towing contact close to you at all times for when you need a towing service to call.

What to do When Waiting For a Tow Truck

WHAT TO DO WHEN WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK

I know that roadside breakdowns are unexpected and it is good to always prepare for them as they are part of driving a vehicle. One of the best ways to be prepared is to know the safety essentials of waiting for a tow truck. This article is going to help you know what you are expected to do while waiting for a tow truck.

What to Do When Waiting For a Tow Truck

Stay Safe

If you are involved in an accident, check if you and your passengers are safe. If you or your passengers have been injured, call emergency services as soon as you can.

Get To a Safe Distance

If your car breaks down on the road, check if it is blocking any lanes of the highway. If it is obstructing traffic, turn on your flashers and try as much as possible to move your car away from traffic. This is why it is good to always have an emergency kit in your car with cones and flares.

If you have them, set them up around your vehicle to protect your vehicle from further damage and to protect you and your passengers from being hit by passing cars. This is because cones and flares tell other motorists that your vehicle is disabled.

Remove Your Valuable Possessions from the Vehicle

While waiting for a tow truck, remove your valuable possessions from your vehicle as the tow truck team will tow your vehicle as soon as they arrive. Gathering your possessions before the tow truck arrives will make it easy for the team to tow your vehicle. Need a towing team? You can get in contact with us.

Some of the possessions you should remove from your vehicle include keys, phone, bag, wallet, and electronics. Remove anything that you may need or those items that you have been traveling with.