We had fun this week working on a customer's 1957 Bel-Air 210. It's not everyday you see a classic car as sweet as this one.  

And the fun wasn't done there. We also had the pleasure of working on a nice (and newer) Mercedes. You never know what you'll see on the rack at Laker Tire!

Whether your vehicle is vintage or new, you can trust our ASE Certified Master Technicians to treat it like its our own.

Whether you have a fleet of medium duty trucks near Indian Lake, or your own personal truck, you can count on the auto techs at Laker Tire & Service to properly maintain your trucks and keep them running efficiently.

We are far more interested in keeping your vehicles from breaking down then fixing broken down vehicles because we know you depend on them.

We want you to fully understand what service or repairs need to be done and to feel confident that we are giving you the best service possible.

Being without a service vehicle can interrupt your schedule and cause you stress. If you just need a quick oil change, new specialized tires, or something more, you can count on us to do the job right the first time. We're Indian Lake's complete medium duty truck repair facility! Call us today at (937) 842-5000 to schedule an appointment!

We carry all the best brand name tires for ALL purposes, including high-performance, winter handling models and tires like these 54-inch run-flat, military-grade truck tires. This customer picked up this incredible vehicle at a military surplus store, but it was in need of new tires. These wheels can withstand gunfire from a 50-caliber machine gun and keep on rolling!

Laker Tire & Service specializes in the unique and interesting jobs that other mechanics and tire shops won't touch, so we were happy to help.  If you've got a project like this, give us a call and get on our schedule today!

You can trust Laker Tire & Service with your classic or vintage car. All of our service is performed and verified by an ASE Certified Master Technician. Don't trust your vintage vehicle to anyone but the best! This week, we had the pleasure of working on this beauty, a 1967 Pontiac Firebird. 

This classic car has been well taken care of by its owner, but it was time for a laundry list of services and upgrades.  We are in the process of repairing leaks and rebuilding the motor, as well as replacing bearings, seals and rings. Also, we converted the front drum brakes to power disc brakes while replacing brake lines, shocks, front coil springs, repairing the exhaust manifold, restoring the intakes, and rebuilding the carburetor. We'll also replace the tires and wheels.  

This Firebird will roll out of here feeling and looking brand new!  If you have a classic or vintage car that you'd like the best in the business to take a look at, give us a call or stop in today to see what we can do for you!

Each day, we have 1 or 2 unscheduled flat repairs come into our shop. Normally, customers are happy to have their tire repaired properly, which is a permanent repair completed by de-mounting the tire and repairing it from the inside. This is called a uni-seal repair and maintains the manufacturers tire performance and warranty.

Occasionally, we have a customer that insists on a plug repair, which we refuse to perform for safety, performance and, of course, insurance liability reasons. I had a customer walk out recently because we would not perform a plug repair on his tire. The next hour a customer came in that had been to a competitor's shop who TRIED to repair their tire using not only 1 string plug, but 6! The tire was seeping after the first plug so they installed more plugs trying to stop the leak. What they actually did was stretch the repair hole which tore as the tire flexed ruining the tire and creating an unsafe condition.

Photos of the improper plug repair showing the 6 plugs and torn tire wall are above. We had to replace the tire at that point, which could have been saved had the proper repair been completed.

The bottom line – Come to Laker Tire & Service LLC for a proper and safe flat tire repair.

This question is answered best with an internal memo from the engineers of Honda:
Surf any automobile tire-related website these days, and you’ll likely see something mentioned about nitrogen inflation. It’s becoming a hot topic. We’ve gotten a number of inquiries lately concerning American Honda’s position on this practice. When it comes to inflating automobile tires, it’s our position that ordinary, dry-compressed air — which is about 80% nitrogen already — is the best choice. That’s because it’s more readily available, and the benefits of using nitrogen simply don’t appear to outweigh those of using compressed air. The practice of inflating tires with nitrogen really isn’t anything new; it’s been around a long time. It’s been commonly used on aerospace vehicles, commercial and military aircraft, military vehicles, race cars, and even heavy off-road construction equipment. Here’s why:

• To meet rigid safety and performance specs, the required tire inflation pressures are often very high, especially in the aerospace industry. The tire inflation pressure for NASA’s space shuttle, for instance, is a whopping 315 psi!
• Nitrogen is an inert gas; it doesn’t combust or oxidize.
• The process used to compress nitrogen excludes water vapor. Water vapor can expand if the temperature climbs above 212 degrees Farenheit
  

Tires inflated with nitrogen leak more slowly over time than those inflated with compressed air. Automobile tires, on the other hand, are subjected to an entirely different set of conditions. Here’s why inflating tires with nitrogen offers no real advantages:
When a tire is mounted on a rim the inside of the tire is full of ambient air, typically which has a high level of moisture or humidity in Ohio and the Midwest areas. Moisture is the big problem. You would need to vacuum out the ambient air and nitrogen fill the mounted tire, bleed out the mixed air and fill it again with nitrogen to have a proper nitrogen inflated tire.

• Although tires inflated with nitrogen leak slower over time than those inflated with compressed air, they still leak and need to be re-inflated periodically to maintain pressure. If you can’t find a place that offers nitrogen inflation — and there aren’t yet all that many places that do — your only option left is to re-inflate with compressed air. Doing that drops the nitrogen purity.
  
• Nitrogen offers no better protection against road hazards such as cuts and punctures. So no matter what you inflate the tire with, you still need to check the condition and pressure of the tires at least once a month as recommended in the owner’s manual.
• Tires that are inflated with compressed air and properly maintained offer the same fuel economy, tread wear, and ride comfort as those inflated with nitrogen.
  

Nitrogen for automobile tires is produced by nitrogen generators, which typically get about 95% purity. But to actually get that level of purity into an automobile tire, you would have to deflate and inflate that tire with nitrogen several times. If you’re not careful doing this repeated deflation and inflation process, the purity level winds up being closer to 90%. When compared with normal compressed air, which is about 80% nitrogen to begin with, you may start to wonder if there is any benefit at all. Because of this, those claims of less pressure loss with nitrogen aren’t valid.
 
So here’s the bottom line: Nitrogen is an ideal gas for inflating tires in aircraft, military vehicles, race cars, and heavy off-road equipment, but when it comes to automobile tires, it offers no apparent advantages over ordinary, dry-compressed air. Our advice to you: Just stick with the air you breathe!

Customers ask us all the time at Laker Tire & Service, LLC why their tires lose air pressure. The series of photos below show what a corroded aluminum rim looks like and the steps to correct and slow down the condition that causes corrosion and leaky rims.

Sometimes, customers come into our shop after having tires installed by another shop or a big box store, and the other place did not correct their rims to avoid the hassle. Many times, a customer will tell us they've had their vehicle back to the competitor's shop 2 or 3 times to correct a wheel vibration, and the problems still aren't fixed.

Here at Laker Tire & Service, LLC, we always pull the wheels and grind the mounting plates. Typically, the vibration stops immediately after taking this very necessary step that the big box stores often skip. (The top 3 photos below are the "BEFORE" photos.  The bottom 4 photos show the "AFTER" results after Laker Tire & Service, LLC took care of the problem the RIGHT WAY the FIRST TIME.

Question: How important is wheel alignment?
Answer: Think of it this way.  Research indicates that the average vehicle is driven about 12,000 miles per year.  A car with a toe angle misadjustment of 0.34 degrees (only 0.17 inches) out of specification will drag the tires sideways for more than 68 miles by the end of the year!

Question: What are the "symptons" of a vehicle with incorrect alignment?
Answer:  Have your vehicle checked if you notice:
- Excessive or uneven tire wear
- The vehicle pulls to the left or right
- Feeling of looseness or wandering
- Steering wheel vibration or shimmy
- Steering wheel is not centered when the vehicle is moving straight ahead

Question: How often should I have my vehicle aligned?
Answer: Follow the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation noted in your owner's manual.  As a general rule, have your wheel alignment checked every 10,000 miles or at least once a year.

Question:  Why Total Alignment?
Answer:  Many reasons including:
1. Reduced Tire Wear
2. Better Gas Mileage
3. Improved Handling
4. Safer Driving

Over the years, a properly alignment can add thousands of miles to tire life, while minimizing resistance, leading to increased savings at the pump.

Here's what we do at Laker Tire & Service when you need an alignment:

Maintain Your Vehicle

While you always want to make sure your car is properly maintained, it's extremely important to make sure you check some of your car's components before winter. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends that you check the following areas on your vehicle:

• Battery

• Tire tread

• Windshield wipers

• Anti-freeze

• No-freeze fluid for the washer reservoir

Plan For Your Route And Possible Route Alternatives

Knowing your route in advance will obviously help you get to your intended destination, but in snowy conditions, some roads may be closed or blocked. Researching alternative routes will allow you to have a backup plan in case you can't use your initial route.

Be Prepared To Slow Down And Increase Following And Stopping Distance

It's difficult to control and stop a vehicle on slick roadways. By slowing down and increasing your following and stopping distances, you can help to avoid collisions by giving yourself time to stop for the cars and trucks ahead of you.

Have Supplies To Help You In Case You Get Stuck

You should stock your vehicle with a variety of supplies to help you in the event you get stuck or stalled during hazardous conditions. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends that you keep the following items in your vehicle:

• Snow shovel, broom and ice scraper

• Sand, kitty litter or another abrasive material just in case your vehicle gets stuck in the snow

• Jumper cables, flashlight and warning devices such as flares and markers

• Blankets to keep warm

• A cell phone with charger

• Water, food and any necessary medicine

Taking these steps can help reduce your risk of getting into an accident or stranded on the road.