The brake rotor, or disc, is attached to your wheel. The brake pads rub on the rotor to slow your vehicle.

Rotors can warp, crack or become misaligned. They can also be damaged by worn out brake pads that scratch grooves into the surface. These conditions result in less contact surface for the brake pads, leaving you with reduced braking power.

Over time and miles, rotors can also wear down below safe specifications. It is essential for St. Charles drivers to know that simply replacing brake pads on a wheel with a bad rotor will not solve the problem. Depending on their condition, rotors may be resurfaced or replaced.

Brake noise or a pulsation in the brake pedal are signs of potential brake issues that should be addressed right away. If you have any brake concerns, please have your Professional Sparks Tire & Auto tech carry out a thorough analysis.

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Sparks Tire & Auto
636-946-5900
1665 Scherer Parkway
St. Charles, Missouri 63303

There are several vital factors that go into how often St. Charles motorists should replace their wiper blades. Of course, the more you use your wipers, the faster the blades will wear out – especially if you use them on an icy windshield. Whether it’s a lot of bugs and road grime from Missouri freeway  driving or lots of wet weather – your blades get a work out and start to wear.

But your wiper blades break down even when they aren’t used frequently. They are damaged by sunlight and temperature changes as well. The rubber in the blades can dry out and crack and eventually fall apart. Check your wipers: If they’re not doing their important job, have them replaced.

Talk to your Sparks Tire & Auto tech about how you drive – we can advise you on the prime blades for your needs.

Give us a call

Sparks Tire & Auto
636-946-5900
1665 Scherer Parkway
St. Charles, Missouri 63303

Diesel engines have been used extensively in Europe and Asia for many years. They haven’t been as common in St. Louis because of the high sulfur content in our diesel fuel. But the government is now mandating lower sulfur content and, as a result, we are going to see more St. Charles motorists driving diesel-fueled vehicles on the road, especially in passenger cars and SUV’s.

Diesels are popular in St. Charles because they get better MPG than gas-powered engines. They also last longer. Modern diesel engines are quiet and powerful. And if you associate diesel engines with black smoke, then you’re not up with the times. That smoke is a thing of the past.

Diesels don’t produce any more pollutants than gasoline engines. The pollution standards for diesel-powered vehicles are as strict in Missouri as for other vehicles.

Also, diesel engines can run on bio-diesel fuels as well as fossil fuels. Diesel fuel can be produced from vegetable oil or from cellulosic waste like wood chips and sawdust. In St. Louis, we may soon see bio-diesel produced from algae. These fuel sources will lessen St. Charles car owners’ dependence on fossil fuels and may even become truly renewable and sustainable.

Diesel-powered vehicles perform as well as other passenger vehicles, also. Most St. Louis people don’t notice a difference in driving one or the other. If you haul heavy loads or tow a trailer in St. Peters, however, the diesel is a definite improvement.

So, you may be asking, if diesels are so great, why don’t all St. Louis car owners drive them? Surely there are disadvantages you haven’t told me about. That’s true. Diesel engines are heavier than gas engines, and they cost more in Missouri. The better MPG of the diesel engine is partially offset by the higher purchase price.

Because of higher fuel prices, diesel engines used to be more pricey to drive in St. Louis. But now, with higher volatility in the prices of both gasoline and diesel fuel in Missouri, that cost difference is less definitive. Whether a diesel or gas engine is more expensive for St. Charles drivers depends now on the current price of fuel in Missouri and how many miles you drive.

Consider also that diesel-powered vehicles have a high resale value in the St. Louis area, and the costs of owning and operating a diesel vs. a gas-powered vehicle in Missouri becomes a real toss-up.

Preventive auto maintenance for diesel vehicles has also become similar to that of gas-fueled vehicles in recent years. The major difference is that diesels require cleaner fuel, air and oil, so their filters are more expensive in St. Charles than those for gasoline engines. The engine air filter must be changed more frequently as well.

The costs for car care and repairs in St. Charles are similar. Wait, you may be thinking, but you just told me that filters are more pricey and have to be changed more regularly. True, but that is offset by the fact that diesel engines have a much longer lifetime than gasoline engines. So if you are the type of owner who prefers to hang on to a vehicle for a long time, you will be more than rewarded with a diesel engine.

So if you have been looking for Sparks Tire & Auto auto advice on whether to switch to a diesel vehicle or stay with a gas-powered one, then we hope this helps. The answer as to which type of vehicle is better is that it depends on the St. Charles driver and their driving habits. Now that you know the facts, you can make an informed choice based on your own priorities and needs.

Repair or Replace? That’s a question St. Charles drivers ask when they have tire damage. Some punctures cannot be repaired because of their size or location. Punctures larger than a quarter of an inch are considered too large to be safely repaired. Punctures in the sidewall or near the shoulders may not be able to be repaired. And sometimes there is internal damage revealed on inspection that indicates the tire should not be repaired.

Run flat tires should not be corrected. Repairing high performance tires may make them unsuitable for motorsports. Your Professional Sparks Tire & Auto service advisor can review your damaged tire and tell you if it can be safely fixed or if it should be replaced – and then help you get back on the road.

Give us a call

Sparks Tire & Auto
636-946-5900
1665 Scherer Parkway
St. Charles, Missouri 63303

One thing all St. Charles car owners can do to extend the life of their battery is to keep it clean. A greasy, dirty battery holds in damaging heat. Same goes for removing corrosion from the terminals. Sparks Tire & Auto can help maintain your battery.

Allowing your battery to be deeply depleted – like from using your headlights when the engine is off – is very detrimental to your battery. Most automotive batteries can only take that about 10 times before they are ruined.

Also, making sure you have a full charge every month or so extends battery life. Either an extended drive at freeway speeds or using a battery charger will preserve your battery’s ability to hold a full charge.

Give us a call

Sparks Tire & Auto
636-946-5900
1665 Scherer Parkway
St. Charles, Missouri 63303