Winnipeg and Thompson Auto Repair

  What is a wheel alignment and why do I need it? This is a common question and thought of many vehicle owners. A wheel alignment is not an item that you can hold in your hands or physically see. But it is something that you can feel when driving your vehicle. When your alignment is off, sometimes it can result in a very strange and noticeable negative behaviour of your vehicle. This is especially true at higher speeds and can create a dangerous situation. With today’s complex suspension systems, expensive tires, and the ever-growing number of potholes on our Manitoba roads, having your vehicle’s alignment in proper specification is critical. Not all alignments are done the same. When having your alignment completed, it is very important that the castor, camber, and toe angles are all measured an adjusted to the proper settings as per your specific vehicle. Some vehicles even have adjustable settings in the rear in addition to the front. Many people will ignore the ... read more

As we approach the warmer weather and look forward to a wonderful Manitoba summer, one thing to consider is when you should remove your winter tires from your vehicle, if you use them. The main rule of thumb has always been once we reach a consistent day time temperature of +7 degrees Celsius, your winter tires can now be safely removed to install your all season or all weather tires. Here in Manitoba, we often experience some late season snow fall in March, April and even sometimes in May! Our recommendation is to consider both the daytime temperature highs as well as the upcoming forecast for snowfalls. You don’t want to end up removing your tires and then have a large snowfall a few days later! The reason it is critical to remove your winter tires is due to the fact that winter tires will wear out much quicker when they get hot. This can come from warm outside temperatures, or from long highway road trips on dry roads. This will reduce the life of your tires and could end u ... read more