Pat O'Brien Chevrolet's Blog

2012-03-11T21:05:00.001-04:00

Five Good Things About High Gas Prices http://ow.ly/9zcPV

2012-03-11T17:25:00.001-04:00

Toyota at ot again: Recalls over 681,000 vehicles in US, is your vehicle on the list? http://ow.ly/9yQqF

2012-03-11T14:25:00.001-04:00

This lake swallowed 36 cars in one weekend. Here's why... http://ow.ly/9yPhn

2012-03-10T19:55:00.001-05:00

Are these the 10 Best Car Video Game screenshots? http://ow.ly/9xxh3

2012-03-10T14:05:00.001-05:00

Chevy midsize style & performance introduced to more than 70 countries this year http://ow.ly/9yM4W

2012-03-09T20:15:00.001-05:00

Chevy Volt Owner Uses Naughty Word In New GM Ad http://ow.ly/9zcto

2012-03-09T18:40:00.001-05:00

It Gives You Wings: Red Bull Capsule Ready for Record-Breaking Skydive! http://ow.ly/9yOLy

2012-03-09T16:15:00.001-05:00

Here's the quickest Camaro ever offered by Chevrolet http://ow.ly/9yNuv

2012-03-09T12:26:00.001-05:00

Bad Karma: $107,850 car broken before it could even be checked-in and driven. http://ow.ly/9yMRo

2012-03-08T20:25:00.001-05:00

What would you do if a car was following you? http://ow.ly/9xxK1

2012-03-08T16:45:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow’s Engineers Test the Waters http://ow.ly/9xv0w

2012-03-08T13:56:00.001-05:00

How safe is your child's school? http://ow.ly/9xoNo

The O'Brien Bridge - March 2012

2012-03-07T12:47:00.001-05:00

2012-03-07T09:19:00.001-05:00

Does this 'spark' your interest? http://ow.ly/9vrmu

2012-03-06T20:30:00.001-05:00

Clip of the week: Dodge Ram Pulls Down Bank Awning, Free Checking Privileges Revoked http://ow.ly/9u9Gy

2012-03-06T15:55:00.001-05:00

Ohio rolling out self-service E-Check kiosks so drivers can do emissions testing on their own time http://ow.ly/9u5ZJ

2012-03-06T12:15:00.001-05:00

Chevrolet Dealers Earn Top Spot in Customer Experience Ratings http://ow.ly/9u5wl

2012-03-06T10:40:00.001-05:00

Driving and Facebooking or texting is not safe! http://ow.ly/9t2XD

2012-03-06T08:20:00.001-05:00

2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1: First Drive http://ow.ly/9t1PL

2012-03-05T20:05:00.001-05:00

Does 64 MPG sound good? http://ow.ly/9sZIc

2012-03-05T15:40:00.001-05:00

Police warn gas theft across the country could increase as gas prices continue to climb http://ow.ly/9sZxe

2012-03-04T18:40:00.001-05:00

How One Bureaucrat Almost Succeeded in Banning Car Radios http://ow.ly/9qO97

2012-03-04T11:51:00.001-05:00

Grandma, I Love You, But You’re Too Old To Drive http://ow.ly/9qO6p

2012-03-03T20:35:00.001-05:00

Feel cheated? Small claims court brings big wins http://ow.ly/9qNyZ

2012-03-03T15:15:00.001-05:00

‘Best Use of Technology in Customer Service’ is recognized http://ow.ly/9qNt6

2012-03-03T10:05:00.001-05:00

Beauty Queen's prized possessions stolen while her car was in her driveway. Don't let it happen to you. http://ow.ly/9oOIz

2012-03-02T20:10:00.001-05:00

N.J. Woman Makes "Wall Of Shame" With $102K In Toll Bridge Fines http://ow.ly/9oOPD

2012-03-02T16:05:00.001-05:00

How much would the Batmobile cost? http://ow.ly/9oOAk

2012-03-02T12:25:00.001-05:00

And the Energy Star Award goes to... http://ow.ly/9oOsK

2012-03-02T08:02:00.001-05:00

1 out of 3 Sports Cars Sold is a Chevy! http://ow.ly/9oP3g

2012-03-01T21:20:00.001-05:00

The Monkeemobile http://ow.ly/9oNum

2012-03-01T19:17:00.001-05:00

It's a bird, it's a plane...it's a car? http://ow.ly/9oOv2

2012-03-01T11:40:00.001-05:00

What was it like back then? 1936 Car Assembly Footage! http://ow.ly/9n3Pg

2012-03-01T09:05:00.001-05:00

Do you like the tv show "The Office"? You'll enjoy this. http://ow.ly/9mUVa

2012-02-29T16:55:00.001-05:00

“Happy wife, happy life?” http://ow.ly/9mU21

2012-02-29T13:18:00.001-05:00

Community, students support Chardon High after school shooting http://ow.ly/9mPtZ

2012-02-29T12:07:00.001-05:00

If you love cars, this is the place to be! http://ow.ly/9mCuD

2012-02-27T19:15:00.001-05:00

Do you know what to do if a downed power line hits your car? http://ow.ly/9jXEm

2012-02-27T15:40:00.001-05:00

Guess who ranked as Top Performance Brand in the U.S http://ow.ly/9jW9A

How Old Are the Tires on Your Car or Truck?

2012-02-27T15:15:00.002-05:00

We always stress the importance of checking your tire tread on a regular basis, but there’s something else equally as important that you should check when it comes to the reliability of the tires on your used Chevrolet: tire age.

The general standard for replacing tires is six years, regardless of use, and never to exceed ten years. But according to an article on Edmunds.com, the Rubber Manufacturers Association says there is no way to put a date on when a tire “expires” because factors such as heat, storage and conditions of use can dramatically reduce the life of a tire. For example, research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that tires age faster in warmer climates and exposure to sunlight and coastal climates can also speed up the aging process. Even if a tire is just sitting in a store for a few years, it still ages.
So what exactly happens to a tire as it ages? The President of Safety Research & Strategies, Inc., Sean Kane, compares an aging tire to an old rubber band. If you were to pick up an old rubber band and stretch it, you’d probably see cracks in the rubber. The same goes for tires. Over time, cracks in the rubber begin to develop on the surface or the inside of your tire which can eventually cause the steel belts in the tread to separate from the rest of the tire.

Now that you are aware of aging tires, you may be asking yourself how in the world you can determine your tires age. Luckily, tires contain what we call DOT numbers originally designed to help the NHTSA recall tires and keep track of their manufacturing dates. The DOT code is often stamped in a recessed rectangle and tells us who manufactured the tire, where it was made and when. The last group of digits in the code is the date code that tells when the tire was made.

The first two digits are the week of the year (01 being the first week of January), and the third and fourth digits are the year (04 meaning 2004). In the example below, you’ll see the date code is 4202. This means the tire was manufactured in the 42nd week of 2002.

If you’re tire has a date code with any year below 2006, it’s probably time you start looking for a new set of rubber. The best thing I can suggest is to not buy used tires. Head over to Pat O'Brien Chevrolet and let the service experts give you a hand. I’m sure they’ll have no issues with you inspecting the age of the tire for yourself.

If you need any help at all determining your tires’ age, they’ll gladly help with that, as well. Remember Cleveland Chevrolet owners, tires are crucial to your safety. So be sure to maintain them as best you can and constantly inspect them for cracks and worn tread. And don’t forget to keep an eye on that manufacturing date. Just because the general standard is six years, doesn’t mean that’s the case with all tires. It all depends on the individual’s driving habits.

[Source: Edmunds.com]

2012-02-27T14:10:00.001-05:00

Do you have these tires? Goodyear is recalling them. http://ow.ly/9jQe8

2012-02-26T20:50:00.001-05:00

Drive in the Carpool Lane w/o Carpooling! http://ow.ly/9fDrg

2012-02-26T16:30:00.001-05:00

Do you like OnStar? It's going Global! http://ow.ly/9fDBX

2012-02-26T13:00:00.001-05:00

Do you think this is true? Stick vs. Automatic http://ow.ly/9fCAJ

2012-02-25T13:20:00.001-05:00

Just when you thought it couldn't get any better...http://ow.ly/9fAsb

2012-02-25T10:35:00.001-05:00

Lights, camera.... start your engines? http://ow.ly/9fDfJ

The Proof is in the Pudding!

2012-02-24T17:53:00.002-05:00

More proof positive of the five-star safety design and engineering found in today's Chevrolet cars and trucks. Per the pic below, a semi trailer flipped and landed on top of a Cruze on a Dallas, TX freeway. Not only did the structural integrity of the Cruze's roof hold up, but, when onlookers rushed to the car, they found the driver talking to an OnStar advisor who was already sending help. Go Lordstown!!!!

More Details:

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/18-wheeler-Flips-onto-Car-Hits-Barrier-022312

2012-02-23T19:45:00.001-05:00

Is your car a curvy, innovative, boxy, smart, artificial, thingy? Very Cool Infographic about what Americans Drive! http://ow.ly/9fBcK

2012-02-23T17:15:00.001-05:00

If you like the way we do business, help us out! http://ow.ly/9eju3

2012-02-23T15:05:00.001-05:00

The world’s first military fleet of fuel cell vehicles. http://ow.ly/9fAf4

2012-02-23T11:55:00.001-05:00

GM head to donate $1M to Habitat to revitalize Detroit http://ow.ly/9dMUz

2012-02-23T09:45:00.001-05:00

Are you keeping your car longer? http://ow.ly/9dLtF

2012-02-22T20:40:00.001-05:00

Who says "You can't put a gun rack in a Volt" LOL? http://ow.ly/9dQJj

2012-02-22T17:20:00.001-05:00

Adios...80-year-old bridge crashes into the Ohio River. http://ow.ly/9dRiG

2012-02-22T13:05:00.001-05:00

Should you believe this sign- ‘Speed Limit Enforced By Aircraft’? http://ow.ly/9dNf7

2012-02-22T11:10:00.001-05:00

Why 70 Miles Per Hour Is the New 55 http://ow.ly/9dKXv

2012-02-22T10:45:00.001-05:00

Nathaniel is completely infatuated with his car - "My Strange Addiction" http://ow.ly/9dM3a

2012-02-21T20:35:00.001-05:00

Would you like to see $10K off at time of purchase or as a tax credit? http://ow.ly/9cJuy

2012-02-21T20:15:00.001-05:00

Driverless Cars are Sneaking Up on You http://ow.ly/9cEXT

2012-02-21T16:10:00.001-05:00

For car buyers, it's harder to end up with a lemon http://ow.ly/9cEcp

2012-02-21T14:20:00.001-05:00

U.S. will Cruze into Diesel in 2013 http://ow.ly/9cb05

Vote for Us!

2012-02-21T14:16:00.001-05:00

Unless you already have a reliable mechanic, finding a place to get your car repaired can be a nerve-wracking experience. It's often expensive, and you're almost always left wondering if you got a fair deal (or if the repair was even necessary).
Word of mouth is one way to find someone trustworthy, and that's why we need your help in voicing your opinion on the best car repair shop in town, our very own, Pat O'Brien Chevy!

Nominate Pat O'Brien Chevrolet for "Best Auto Repair" under the Shops and Wares category in the Cleveland Scene's "Best of Cleveland" 2012 Contest.

Voting is easy and you can also vote for other "Best of Cleveland" categories while you're there also. Just click the link below, feel free to share with your friends and family! Helps us and your other favorite places take the lead as well!

http://posting.clevescene.com/cleveland/Survey

Hurry, Survey Ends March 9th, at 4am! Thanks for your support!

2012-02-21T09:47:00.001-05:00

Are you holding on to your vehicle "until the wheels fall off" or trading it in soon? http://ow.ly/9c9cN

2012-02-20T16:00:00.001-05:00

Gas prices set to soar in Cleveland, is your car fuel efficient? http://ow.ly/9bi4W

2012-02-19T14:01:00.001-05:00

This Trooper doesn't get off easy. http://ow.ly/99qVc

2012-02-18T17:58:00.001-05:00

Don't forget about our Swap meet at Pat O'Brien Chevy! Doors open at 8am Feb 19th!

2012-02-18T16:39:00.001-05:00

Cadillac’s Top 10 List of Presidential Rides http://ow.ly/99y5v

2012-02-18T15:12:00.001-05:00

App Detects Potholes; Reports to City http://ow.ly/99w1q

2012-02-17T16:10:00.001-05:00

Yes, You Picked A Bad Place To Park http://ow.ly/97th2

2012-02-17T11:55:00.001-05:00

Man Gets $20,000 In Tickets For This Vanity License Plate http://ow.ly/97sYa

2012-02-16T19:45:00.001-05:00

This Is The Worst School Zone Sign In History LOL http://ow.ly/97ohA

2012-02-16T16:08:00.001-05:00

Want to drive over 65mph & not get a ticket? http://ow.ly/97mRO

2012-02-15T20:45:00.001-05:00

Will wireless charging void your EV's warranty? http://ow.ly/95USt

2012-02-15T18:15:00.001-05:00

Will this App Keep Drunk Drivers off the Road? http://ow.ly/95QPD

2012-02-15T14:58:00.001-05:00

Don't take starting you car for granted http://ow.ly/95NmV

2012-02-14T21:55:00.001-05:00

Chrysler recalls 9,688 Dodge Charger police vehicles http://ow.ly/94ocG

2012-02-14T18:45:00.001-05:00

Sheriff pursues DUI suspect in Volkswagen Beetle http://ow.ly/94oqB

2012-02-14T14:55:00.001-05:00

Why Used Tires Don't Make Sense http://ow.ly/94lks

2012-02-14T09:45:00.001-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day! http://ow.ly/93Soy

2012-02-13T17:50:00.001-05:00

World record-holding airbags? http://ow.ly/92NWV

2012-02-13T14:22:00.001-05:00

One dirty Chevy will have you doing a double take http://ow.ly/92NDc

2012-02-12T12:50:00.001-05:00

10 Automotive Stereotypes That Need To Die http://ow.ly/901uU

2012-02-11T19:00:00.001-05:00

Meet Boxx: A Squared-Off, Self-Contained Electric Scooter. Hot or Not? http://ow.ly/901R7

2012-02-11T15:15:00.001-05:00

The Hidden Beauty Of The Bottom Of Toy Cars http://ow.ly/901np

2012-02-10T19:05:00.001-05:00

Wash Clothes on a Road Trip w/ a 5-Gallon Bucket http://ow.ly/9015U

2012-02-10T13:15:00.001-05:00

There are miles and then there are “Seth miles.” http://ow.ly/8ZPa9

2012-02-10T09:49:00.001-05:00

Pat O'Brien Chevy teams up to collect food for area pantries http://ow.ly/8ZDAq

2012-02-08T21:00:00.001-05:00

Control your Hot Wheels from your iPhone http://ow.ly/8X0ve

2012-02-08T19:05:00.001-05:00

Most Watched Super Bowl Spot in U.S. History goes to... http://ow.ly/8WXtb

2012-02-08T14:15:00.001-05:00

4 1/2 reason why you shouldn't text & drive in Cleveland! http://ow.ly/8WX2d

2012-02-08T11:56:00.001-05:00

Camo for a Camaro http://ow.ly/8WVBg

2012-02-07T21:20:00.001-05:00

Mr. Buick trades in his car to buy a Buick! http://ow.ly/8VyRh

2012-02-07T18:55:00.001-05:00

Ford regrets not having Super Bowl ad http://ow.ly/8VyJq

2012-02-07T15:40:00.001-05:00

Do you agree that these are Buick's 10 most collectible cars? http://ow.ly/8Vxl6

2012-02-07T14:24:00.001-05:00

Just Announced! Pat O'Brien Chevy West's Service Hours have been extended! Now open until 8pm M-TH. http://ow.ly/8VIbP

2012-02-07T12:26:00.001-05:00

Want to take home more than just a brochure from an Auto Show? http://ow.ly/8Vxg8

2012-02-06T11:01:00.001-05:00

Thanks for participating in our Super Bowl experience, and congratulations to everybody who won with the Chevy GameTime app!

2012-02-05T19:45:00.001-05:00

Specially designed vehicles were used to hide ppl under the hood from authorities http://ow.ly/8SlSe

2012-02-05T17:00:00.001-05:00

Check out this year's Chevy Super Bowl XLVI commercials and let us know your favorite.Cast your vote here http://ping.fm/TPDhs

2012-02-05T11:30:00.001-05:00

Answer trivia through the ChevyGameTime app and you may win a new Chevy during today's Big Game! Here's how: http://ping.fm/n7CMU