Our next National Park destination guide is for the Badlands in South Dakota, open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, so there’s always something to see and do.  Renowned for its diverse ecosystems teeming with wildlife, rugged beauty featuring landscapes with unique geological formations and breathtaking terrain, and rich history, it’s a top notch spot.  The best times to visit for a quiet excursion would be Autumn followed by Spring (although, prepare for those April showers!) with Summer being hands-down the busiest time. Now that you’ve got your calendar dates set, we’ll work on our itinerary to explore just a fraction of this park’s whopping 244,000 acres of parklands.

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We love highlighting destinations in our home turf, the good ol’ US of A, and especially if we can give you some ideas less than a day’s drive away from the Chicago area!  On today’s travel bucket list, we’re hitting the stunning Voyageurs National Park!

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We’re back with another fun Classic Travel Guide! And what could be more classic than spending a warm spring day out in the boat, enjoying the pristine waters and sunshine, and casting a line for the catch of the day.  While you’re waiting for Summer Vacation season to roll in, let’s make the most of the ice melt and snow thaws, so get out your best bait and tackle and let’s hit the road.

Today, we’re sharing four of our personal picks for great Midwest Fishing destinations! Got a spot that’s not on our list? Or perhaps have a hot tip for netting the biggest fish? We’d love to hear from you! Drop us a line in the comments and share your thoughts with our readers and social media friends.

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While we all do our best to avoid collisions and accidents, sometimes life has other plans. If you’ve been involved in a car accident or collision, even with wildlife, you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed and stressed, struggling to organize your thoughts.  While it’s certainly not the easiest to think on your feet in the moment, you’ll certainly be better prepared with a rehearsed emergency preparedness plan!

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We’re back with another Gearhead Guru Guide, this time in honor of National Car Care Month.  We thought it would be a “wheely” good time to share our wealth of knowledge with you all on how to care for your car by selecting the most vital component of the vehicle’s safety and stability: the tires! It’s always a great idea to be thinking about your vehicle’s tires no matter the season, so here’s some tips to get you started.

Learn the different types of tires:

Check with your mechanic or trusted tire installation technician to find the best tires that match your vehicle’s recommended size/type, your driving style and average mileage, local/seasonal weather hazards, and your budget. Here’s a little more information on the types of tires available, and things to consider when selecting the right option for your needs:

• All-Terrain Tires – designed for both street and off-road driving, focusing on toughness and durability and strong off-road features for dirt/mud/ice/etc.
• Performance Tires – designed for energetic drivers who focus on a more sporty driving style, available for all-season and summer-only options, and focus on features like dry or wet traction
• Touring Tires – designed for day to day driving, can be used on a broad range of vehicles, available for all-season and summer-only options
• Winter/Snow Tires – designed for maximum grip and traction in winter weather conditions, optimal for cold weather use and not made for warm-weather driving

Bonus Tidbit: Donut or Spare Tires – designed for very short term use of no more than 50-70 miles, and are intended only for short term emergency use until you can replace your worn/damaged tire with new ones or get them repaired; these are also not designed to be driven at high speeds and it’s recommended at a max of 50 MPH or below for safety

Here’s a great breakdown of tire types with visuals and lengthy descriptions:

Remember, regardless of the tires you should be regularly checking tire air pressure and keeping an eye on the wear-and-tear and tread depth, along with knowing how to gauge when it’s time to swap out to a different type of tire for the season or a change in driving habits.

Here’s some great tips to keep your tires in tip-top shape:

To ensure you have maximum stopping power, you should be regularly testing tread depth. Adequate tread depth will allow your vehicle to grip the road and maintain safe control, and may mean the difference between safely coming to a stop or skidding out.  Tread depth is a vertical measurement between the top of the tread rubber and the bottom of the tire’s deepest grooves, which on average for most vehicles in the US is 10/32” or 11/32”.  Check your tread depth using “The Quarter Test” – scan your tire and find the area that has the lowest tread depth, then place the quarter head first into the tire tread. If you can see all of Mr. Washington’s noggin, your tire tread is at or below 4/32” and that means you’re in need of new tires! When vehicles reach 4/32 inch tread depth, it’s time to change and replace your tires, as this increases the chances of hydroplaning and inefficient stopping power to prevent accidents. 

You should be having your tires rotated regularly to ensure even tread wear. In general, it’s recommended to rotate your tires with each oil change or at minimum every other oil change, which on average is about every 3,000 to 7,000 miles.  Your driving style, driving habits, and road conditions all affect wear and tear on the tires, and by rotating you’re extending the life of your tires and ensuring even wear.   At each oil change, your mechanic will also inspect the condition of your tires and let you know if they notice uneven wear and tear, as this may be an alignment issue.

You’ll want to balance your wheels every 15,000 miles and perform a realignment to ensure you prevent excessive wear or damage. 

Always make sure your tires are properly inflated to pressure, especially when the temperature fluctuates at least 10 degrees up or down. Performing a monthly inspection of your tires air pressure using a tire pressure gauge may help you notice leaks or wear and save you from a flat tire. It’s best to check the vehicle’s tire air pressure in the morning, before you take it out for a drive.  Your vehicle will have a sticker on the inside of your driver-side door with the posted air pressure requirements for your tires.   Underinflated tires wear unevenly and may be at increased risk for punctures and flats, or even come unseated from the wheel.

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When you’re shopping for a car, the process can seem overwhelming and intimidating, but we’d like to remedy that.  Today, we’re going to help you learn the best ways to maximize your test drive experience, and help take some of the guesswork out of the car buying process.  We’ll be covering the ins and outs of a test drive, and what you should pay attention to before you sign that lease or contract.

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Today is National Road Map Day, and we thought that it would be the perfect opportunity to help our fellow road trip enthusiasts build their skills.  Learn the ins-and-outs to reading a road map properly, so you can navigate to “parts unknown” and live out your off-road adventure dreams.  Although modern smartphones can do a world of tasks, sometimes bad reception means our GPS apps don’t load quickly, and a paper map may be necessary. Enjoy our helpful tips and tricks and a veritable “what’s-what” of map iconography, so you can be safe no matter where you’re going. 

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As we’re sure you know by now, April is National Car Care Month! We’ll be helping our readers learn more about proper car maintenance through a series of helpful tips, tricks, and tasks shared on our social media accounts and blogs.  You’ll learn all sorts of valuable advice to keep your car in tip top shape for years to come, so be sure you’re following us so you don’t miss a single tidbit of knowledge. To get the ball rolling today, we’re sharing our car care tips to help maintain your vehicle’s transmission!  And be sure to check out our social media feed for ongoing tips, tricks, and hacks to keep your car fresh, clean, and functioning.

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Today we’re getting ready for our first big road trip of the Spring season, and we’re headed to Cascade River State Park in Minnesota.  Named for the beautiful river that cascades through the park in a series of waterfalls and into the gorge, this geological state park is a must-see. There’s plenty of outdoor fun to be had for all ages and all interests, and we’re sure you’re going to have a memorable experience!  So what are you waiting for?  It’s time to hit the road to adventure in your new car from Classic Auto Group of Waukegan!

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We’ve bid a fond farewell to winter and a hearty welcome to Spring! This month’s community calendar is all about getting outdoors and enjoying the sunshine, and spending quality time with loved ones after being cooped up from the cold. We’ve got egg hunts and Earth Day activities, paint nights and trivia events, and plenty of shopping to be had at local, sustainable fairs.  Check it out on today’s blog!

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