Category

Safety

Nov 04
Love0
signs you need new tires

Signs You Need New Tires: 5 Things to Check Before Winter Hits

By Safety, Tires

The weeks before winter are a good time to take a closer look at your tires, since cold, wet roads ask more of them than almost any other time of year. Knowing how to tell when you need new tires can help you decide whether your current set will carry you through the season or whether it’s worth replacing them before the first cold snap. Most of these checks take just a few minutes in the driveway, and none of them require special tools.

Sign 1: Your Tread Is Getting Shallow

Tread channels move water, slush, and snow out from under the tire, so as the tread wears down, grip gradually drops, especially on wet or snowy roads. Tires have small wear bars molded into the grooves that sit about 1.6 mm below the surface, and once the tread is level with them the tire is considered worn out. Traction in winter conditions starts to fade well before that point, though, and many tire professionals suggest replacing winter tires once they’re down to roughly 4 mm.

A simple way to check at home is the toonie test. Place a toonie in a tread groove and if the tread covers the silver outer ring of the coin, you have about 4 mm or more remaining. If you can see the whole ring, the tread is wearing thin. A tread depth gauge is inexpensive and gives you an exact reading if you’d like one.

checking tire tread depth with a toonie

Sign 2: Cracks, Bulges, or Cuts in the Sidewall

The sidewall flexes every time the tire rolls, which makes it the part of the tire most likely to show age and damage. Fine cracks across the rubber can be a sign that it’s drying out, while a bulge or bubble usually points to internal damage from a hard impact, such as hitting a pothole or curb. Cuts and gouges are worth a look too. A bulge in particular is something to have checked by a tire shop as soon as you can, and since cold weather stiffens rubber, existing weak spots matter even more once temperatures drop.

Sign 3: Uneven Wear Across the Tread

Run your hand across the tread, and look at how the wear is spread from edge to edge. If the outer or inner edges are more worn than the centre, it can point to under-inflation or an alignment issue, while wear down the middle often suggests the tires have been over-inflated. Patchy or scalloped wear can be a clue that suspension parts need attention. It’s worth having the cause looked at when you replace the tires so the new set doesn’t wear the same way, and regular rotation helps too. Our tips for getting more life out of your tires cover the habits that help.

Sign 4: Your Tires Are Getting Older

Rubber hardens over time, even when a tire has plenty of tread left, so age is one of the signs you need new tires that’s easy to miss. You can find out how old yours are by looking for the DOT code on the sidewall, where the last four digits show the week and year the tire was made. A code ending in 3422, for example, means the 34th week of 2022. Many manufacturers suggest having tires inspected once they’re around six years old and replacing them by about ten, though your owner’s manual and tire shop can give you advice specific to your tires.

Sign 5: Vibration, Pulling, or Pressure That Won’t Hold

Sometimes the signs show up while you’re driving. A vibration at highway speeds, a steady pull to one side, or needing to top up the air more often than usual can point to a tire that’s out of balance, damaged, or slowly leaking. None of these always means you need a new tire, but they’re worth having inspected, since a quick look from a tire shop can tell you whether it’s a simple fix or time to replace.

Why It’s Worth Checking for Signs You Need New Tires Before Winter

Temperature changes how tires behave, which is part of why a set that felt fine in September can feel different in November. Once the temperature settles around 7°C, rubber begins to stiffen, as we explain in our post on the 7°C guideline for winter tires, so any wear or damage you already have tends to show up more. If you’re planning to put on a stored winter set, it’s worth running through the same checks before they go on, and our winter vs. all-season comparison can help if you’re deciding which set suits your driving.

signs you need new tires

Found Signs You Need New Tires? Making the Swap Easier

If one or more of these checks turned something up, replacing your tires doesn’t have to turn into a big weekend project. Your floor jack handles the lifting, and the Jack and Jill of All Tires takes care of the part most people find hardest: holding a 40 to 100 lb wheel steady while lining it up with the bolts. This trolley works alongside your floor jack, supporting the weight so you’re guiding the wheel into place instead of carrying it.

If you haven’t done a swap before, our beginner’s guide to changing a tire walks through each step, and the tools page lists what’s helpful to have on hand. Ready to make tire changing easy? Check out the Jack and Jill of All Tires here.

For more on tire care and safety, the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada is a helpful resource.

Oct 19
Love0

DIY Tire Change 101: The Beginner’s Guide Anyone Can Follow

By Jack and Jill of All Tires, Repair Tips, Safety

If you’ve never done it before, learning how to change a tire yourself can feel like a bigger job than it really is. But once you understand the process, it’s much more manageable than you might think. From preparing your vehicle and loosening the lug nuts to swapping the wheel and tightening everything back up, knowing what to expect can make all the difference. This guide walks you through each step, so your first tire change feels familiar before you start.

What You Need Before You Learn How to Change a Tire Yourself

Having everything within arm’s reach makes the job faster and safer. Gather:

  • A floor jack to lift the car
  • Jack stands (a floor jack lifts the car, jack stands hold it)
  • A lug wrench or breaker bar
  • A torque wrench
  • Wheel chocks
  • Your spare or seasonal tire, inflated and ready
  • Work gloves and your owner’s manual
  • The Jack and Jill of All Tires to support and move the tire

Our tools checklist explains what we’d keep on hand and why.

Step 1: Park on Flat, Solid Ground

Flat, solid ground matters more than anything else on this list. A driveway or garage is ideal. Avoid soft ground, gravel, and slopes, since a lifted car can shift on an incline.

Put the car in park (or in gear if it’s a manual), set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks against the tires on the opposite end of the car from the one you’re lifting.

Step 2: Loosen the Lug Nuts First

This is the step beginners most often skip, and it causes the most frustration. If the tire is already in the air, it just spins when you push on the wrench.

With the tire still on the ground, turn each lug nut counterclockwise about a half turn. You’re only breaking them loose, not removing them. If a nut won’t budge, a breaker bar gives you extra leverage.

how to change a tire yourself

Step 3: Lift the Car and Add Jack Stands

Check your owner’s manual for the reinforced lift points on your vehicle. Position the floor jack under the correct point and lift until the tire is clear of the ground.

Once the car is up, set a jack stand under a nearby frame point as backup. Never put any part of your body under a car supported only by a floor jack.

Step 4: Take the Tire Off Without Wrestling It

This is where many first-timers find the job is more physical than they expected. A tire and wheel typically weigh between 40 and 100 lb, which is a lot to manage when you’re kneeling or crouching while trying to keep the wheel balanced. And when you’re swapping all four tires, that physical effort can quickly add up.

With the Jack and Jill of All Tires, changing your tires becomes easier and more manageable by following these simple steps:

  1. Secure the Jack and Jill of All Tires under the wheel before removing the final few lug nuts
  2. Once secure, remove the lug nuts and set them aside.
  3. With one hand on the wheel and the other on the handle of the Jack and Jill of All Tires, pull the wheel off the vehicle

how to change a tire yourself

Step 5: Mount the New Tire

Lining the studs up with the holes on the wheel can be one of the more frustrating parts when changing your tires. With the Jack and Jill of All Tires, you’re able to spin the wheel on the rollers to line both the holes and studs up perfectly. Once lined up, simply push the wheel towards the hub and hand thread each lug nut back on.

Step 6: Lower the Car and Torque the Nuts

After threading the lug nuts back on, remove the Jack and Jill from the wheel and lower the car back down. Using a torque wrench, tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern to the vehicles torque specifications located in the owners’ manual.

Mistakes to Avoid on Your First Tire Change

Most first-time tire-changing mistakes come down to a few common oversights:

  • Forgetting to secure the vehicle with the parking brake and wheel chocks
  • Lifting the vehicle before loosening the lug nuts
  • Positioning the floor jack at the wrong lifting point
  • Tightening the lug nuts in a circle instead of a star pattern
  • Guessing at tightness instead of using a torque wrench
  • Forgetting to re-check the lug nut torque after the first 50 to 100 km of driving, as recommended by your vehicle or wheel manufacturer

That last step is particularly easy to overlook. After your first short drive, check the lug nut torque again according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. It’s also a good idea to double-check your tire pressure before hitting the road.

How to Change a Tire Yourself, With Less Heavy Lifting

The steps above don’t change from car to car. Lifting the car is easy with a floor jack. Handling the tire is the part people dread, and it’s what the Jack and Jill of All Tires was built for. It works alongside your jack, supporting the tire’s weight while you guide it off and back on.

Timing your swap? Our post on why 7°C is the magic number explains when winter tires make sense. You can also see the Jack and Jill of All Tires in the shop, watch it in action on the videos page, or read our complete step-by-step guide and FAQ for more detail.

Oct 14
Love0
thermometer next to a winter tire

When to Switch to Winter Tires: Why 7°C Is the Magic Number

By Safety

Deciding when to switch to winter tires is one of those seasonal questions that most of us answer by instinct, whether that’s the first frost, the first snowfall, or a date we’ve settled on over the years. It’s a reasonable way to go about it, but there’s also a more precise guide that many drivers find helpful: the 7 degree rule for winter tires. Once you understand what it’s based on, choosing the right weekend for your swap tends to feel a lot more straightforward.

The 7 Degree Rule for Winter Tires, Explained

The 7°C rule comes down to how tires perform in colder temperatures. As daily temperatures consistently drop to 7°C or below, winter tires generally begin to outperform all-season tires. This is true even when there’s no snow on the ground, as colder temperatures affect how tires behave on the road. It’s an important distinction to keep in mind, especially since temperatures often fall below 7°C well before the first snowfall arrives.

What Happens to Your Tires Below 7°C

A tire’s performance depends a great deal on the rubber it’s made from. All-season tires use a firmer compound that’s designed to handle a wide range of conditions, and as temperatures approach 7°C that compound gradually begins to stiffen. A stiffer tire doesn’t grip the road quite as well, even on dry pavement, which can affect braking, cornering, and acceleration in ways you might not notice until you need them.

Winter tires are made with a softer compound that stays flexible in the cold, which lets the tire keep conforming to the road surface as the temperature falls. The tread pattern plays its part too, though the rubber does much of the work. If you’d like to see the two tire types compared side by side, our guide to the differences between them goes into more detail.

Why the Thermometer Beats the Calendar

Winter tire laws are a good reminder of how much the timing varies across the country. Quebec requires winter tires from December 1 to March 15, and British Columbia requires winter tires or chains on most designated highways from October 1 to April 30. Those dates set a legal deadline, though many drivers find the ideal time to swap comes a little earlier, since temperatures in much of Canada dip below 7°C well before December. If you’d like to see what applies in your province, our province-by-province overview covers the requirements in more detail.

Likewise, many of us wait for the first snowfall as a natural cue, and it makes sense that we would. The only catch is that the cold has usually been affecting all-season tires for a few weeks by the time the snow shows up, so watching the forecast for temperatures can give you a bit of extra lead time.

7 degree rule for winter tires,

How to Track the Temperature Without Overthinking It

Following the 7 degree rule for winter tires doesn’t take much effort, and a few simple habits can make it feel natural:

  • Check both the daily highs and the overnight lows in your weather app, since mornings are often the coldest part of the day
  • Watch for a stretch of about a week where the highs hover around 7°C, which is a good sign that the season is turning
  • Keep in mind that shaded roads and bridges tend to be colder than the air temperature suggests

Once you notice the weather is consistently around 7°C, choose a dry weekend so you can take your time with the swap.

A Helpful Pre-Swap Checklist for Winter Tires

Before your winter set goes on, it’s worth taking a few minutes to look over a handful of things:

  • Tire pressure: make sure your winter tires are properly inflated before installing them
  • Tread and sidewalls: check for uneven wear, cracks, bulges, or any other visible damage
  • Wheel markings: if your tires are directional or have a specific rotation pattern, confirm that each wheel goes back on the correct corner
  • Hub faces: clear away any dirt and rust from the wheel hub before mounting

Making the Swap a Driveway Job

Once you’ve picked your weekend, the swap itself can be a very manageable project. Your floor jack takes care of the lifting, and the part that many people find most challenging is what comes next: holding a 40 to 100 lb tire steady while lining it up with the bolts, usually from a crouched position.

That’s the step the Jack and Jill of All Tires was designed to help with. It works alongside your floor jack, supporting the tire’s weight so that you’re guiding the wheel into place instead of struggling with it. Our complete step-by-step guide walks through every stage of a tire change, and the tools page lists what’s helpful to have on hand. Ready to make tire changing easy? Check out the Jack and Jill of All Tires here.

The 7 Degree Rule for Winter Tires Works in Reverse Too

The same number is a useful guide in the spring. Once temperatures are consistently above 7°C, the softer rubber on winter tires tends to wear more quickly on warm pavement, so that’s a good time to switch back to your all-season set. For more on caring for your tires through the seasons, the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada is a helpful resource.

Dec 03
Love0
Cars in a snow storm

Get Ready for the Snow and Ice

By News, Repair Tips, Safety

Before you venture out into the snow and ice this winter, be sure that you have winter tires to increase your safety on the road.

Purchase the Jack and Jill of All Tires to help you change your winter tires today!

 

Even though driving may feel like second nature, when the weather changes the road conditions, we must be extra cautious to ensure the safety of ourselves and others.

 

Here are some tips to help navigate through the snow and ice:

 

Drive Slowly

Slow and steady really wins the race! When there’s lots of snow and ice on the ground, driving in slower speeds will help your tires gain more traction and control while on the road.

Keep Your Distance

The more space you keep between you and the vehicle in front, the more time you have to stop or react to sudden action on the road.

Keep Moving

Don’t stop on snow or ice if you can avoid it. It’s difficult to regain inertia when your tires have stopped moving, so we suggest keeping a steady pace when making a turn or approaching a light (U.S. News & World Report).

How to prevent problems on the road

 

While driving cautiously can help you be safe on the road, there are other ways you can ensure safety throughout your vehicle and travels:

 

1. Plan your trip and check for weather and road conditions.

Check weather updates from your local news station OR use a weather app on your phone to get the latest conditions of where you are and where you’re going.

2. If you’re in an area that receives snow, consider winter tires.

Check out our previous blog post to learn about this seasons’ weather predictions across Canada and U.S.

3. Carry extra windshield fluid.

Winter aka ‘washer fluid season’ calls for lots of dirt, salt and debris on the road that will impact your visibility while driving. It’s always important to be topped up, but especially during the winter months. Keeping extra washer fluid in your car is a great way to stay safe on the road.

4. Pack an emergency kit.

You can’t plan for an accident – so it’s important to be prepared for when one happens. Keeping a compact emergency kit in your vehicle will get you through the more common dead batteries to more serious roadside incidences. The Get Jacked Safety Kit comes with the tools you need to get yourself out of trouble and items to keep you comfortable until help arrives.

 

snow and ice

 

“Prevention is better than recovery.” 

 

Be sure to check your battery, ignition system, lights, brakes, tire pressure, windshield wipers, heating and cooling systems!

 

Safe travels this winter.

 

 

 

Nov 19
Love0
Person wearing gloves using an ice scraper on a car windsheild

5 Game-Changing Winter Driving Accessories

By Accessories, Repair Tips, Safety, Tires

Aside from the obvious jumper cables, first aid kit, washer fluid, snow brush and ice scraper, there are a few more essentials that every motorist should have in their car during winter.

Here are Jack and Jill’s top 5 winter accessories from Amazon:

 

1. Windshield Snow Cover

Not only does this cover keep the snow off your windshield, it also saves you from scraping the frost and ice. This accessory will ultimately save you time in the morning for an easier and faster getaway!

2. De-Icer

So your windshield is winter-proofed but your door is iced shut…now what?

A can of de-icer can go a long way. Without damaging your cars’ paint, a quick spray will have the frost and ice instantly melted, giving your arms a well deserved break from scraping.

 

Now that you’ve made your way into your car, there’s a few more accessories to keep you warm and safe.

 

3. Regular or Electrical Blanket

Electrical or not, a blanket is a great piece to have on hand for any drive.

4. Unscented Candle

There’s nothing worse than your car suddenly shutting down on the side of the road while it’s below zero. Lighting a large unscented candle will warm up your vehicles’ cabin area long enough to keep you comfortable until help arrives.

You’re stuck, now what?

 

5. Cat Litter

Not an obvious winter accessory but when you’re stuck in snow or on ice, sprinkle some under your tires. Cat litter will help you gain traction so you can get back on the road.

 

Consider using these accessories to keep yourself prepared and safe this winter!

 

Nov 05
Love0
Person wiping the side of black car

Protect Your Vehicle from Road Salt this Winter

By Car Cleaning, News, Repair Tips, Safety

Although we may love the idea of a beautiful White Christmas, your car sure doesn’t. If you’re driving on the road often, your vehicle may pick up lots of dirt, salt, rocks and other debris hidden in the snow.

 

Here are 3 ways to keep the exterior and interior of your car clean this winter:

 

1. Paint Protector

Winter weather conditions take a toll on the exterior of your car. Just like when you wear gloves, a hat, and coats to endure the snow and cold, your car also deserves some added protection.

Your vehicle’s paint protects the metal from outside elements like ice, salt and debris. Using paint protector will keep the paint in shape and ensure your vehicle is not exposed to corrosive properties (washmenow.ca).

Now is the perfect time to add a layer of protection to your car before the snow and salt start hitting the road. You can either purchase a paint protector and apply it yourself or take your car to a detail shop.

Salt

3. A Car Wash Goes a Long Way

One element of winter driving that causes the most exterior damage to your vehicle is road salt. Salt on the road does have benefits for safer driving, however it can cause some damage to your exterior over time.

In-N-Out-Car-Wash explains that “Salt can get into all the cracks and crevasses of your car, waiting for the spring when the weather warms up and it actively starts to produce rust and corrosion.”

Washing your car throughout the winter season is a great way to keep the bottom and sides of your car clean and prevent rust or deterioration.

There are a few options to choose from when washing your car this winter:

  1. A single wash at your local gas station, estimated between $7.99-$14.99 CAD depending on the service
  2. Specialty car wash shops such as In-N-Out-Car-Wash
  3. Season passes offered at local gas stations

 

Salt

3. Don’t Forget to Look Down

Salt, snow, mud and dirt not only make a mess of your exterior but also collect inside. When getting into a vehicle, most of us are focused on getting away from the cold that we don’t pay attention to the mess we bring in.

If you haven’t done so already, look into purchasing rubber floor mats for your car. Even though most cars have a rubber base, a mat will make cleaning out dirt and salt much easier and allow you to keep it clean more often.

Tip: To clean the mats themselves, use a rim and tire cleaner to get rid of the stains the salt leaves behind.

Salt

 

Subscribe to our newsletter for more road safety in your inbox!

Sep 09
Love0

5 Driving Habits You Should Break

By Repair Tips, Safety

For most people driving has become second nature. Doing an activity so seamlessly every day can cause us to pick up some bad habits that could potentially put us in danger on the road!

 

1. Using your cellphone

We know by now that texting or talking on the phone is the most dangerous habit to have while driving. Our attention is focused on our device and not on the road, and is a major cause of distraction and accidents. Different provinces and states have their own legal ways of controlling the use of devices while driving.

For the safety of yourself and others on the road, be sure to put your phone away or pull over to send a text or take an important phone call.

2. Eating while driving

With all of these quick drive-thru options, it’s hard to resist grabbing your morning coffee with a quick breakfast, or getting an easy lunch on the go. However, eating while driving is a habit that is just as dangerous as being on the phone.

Your mind is attempting to focus on the road while also eating, drinking and trying not to make a mess. It’s best as the driver to finish your food before heading back on the road or wait until you reach your destination. 

 

bad habits: eating while driving

3. Entertaining your passengers

Your vehicle is an easy place to socialise with your family or friends. Whether it’s engaging in conversation, playing a movie for those in the back or trying to talk with everyone; it can all be too distracting.

Again your mind is focusing on the people, the conversations and the other things around you. Your attention may draw towards what’s happening inside the car rather than outside of it.

As a driver, you hold a responsibility to keep your passengers safe, so attempting to entertain them while also focusing on the road is a bad habit. 

4. Pets

Who wouldn’t want their best friend riding shot-gun? Having your pet beside you may seem like a good idea, however trying to drive while also taking care of your pet that needs attention is dangerous for not only you but the dog as well.  A dog on your lap limits your ability to manoeuvre the car, especially during a collision. Even in the passenger’s seat, your dog could be severely injured by an airbag. 

 

Results from a AAA NEWSROOM SURVEY included this statistic:

An unrestrained 10-pound dog in a crash at only 30 mph (48 Kph) will exert roughly 300 pounds of pressure, while an unrestrained 80-pound dog in a crash at only 30 mph will exert approximately 2,400 pounds of pressure.

 

The safest place to keep your dog is in the backseat secured by a seatbelt seatbelt or in a crate!

 

5. Loud music 

Of course we all love to belt out to our favourite tunes! And if you don’t turn into a professional karaoke singer when you drive, are you even driving? But this little habit can have you singing and dancing in your seat and cause you to lose focus on the road.

We aren’t saying to never play your music, but make sure to keep the volume at a level where you can pay attention to the road and your surroundings; more importantly so you can hear other drivers and first responders. 

Bad Habits

Make your drive safer for you and your passengers by breaking these 5 habits!

 

Want to learn more about safety tips on the road? Check out our other blog posts here for more information about tire safety and travel tips!