It can be easy to overlook the amount of air in your tires. There are no warning lights and the difference between a properly inflated tire and one that needs more air can be subtle.  You may figure that you’ll get your tires checked the next time you get your oil changed. If you get your oil changed regularly, that is probably fine. Still, you don’t want to not ever think about your tires. After all, if your tires aren’t inflated properly, you could have some problems. The operative word here is “could.” You may not have any issues whatsoever. But when your tires’ pressure gets low, more of the surface of the tires touches the road, the flatter your tire becomes. As you can imagine, the flatter the tire, the more friction is being developed where the rubber meets the road. That can make the tire overheat, and that’s when anything can start happening. Maybe your tire just gets worn down faster. Maybe the tread gets more ragged. And maybe ... read more

Sometimes, franchises will be referred to as turn-key businesses.  An established system is already in place and all you need to do is turn the key and open the door, and you can start work. Most franchise owners know that that’s hardly true and kind of an insult to the process. There’s a lot involved in buying a franchise, and often, you’re looking for a location and then going through the process of getting a building constructed. Then you hire and train a quality staff. It isn’t as if somebody just hands you keys to a business. The exception to this is when you buy an existing franchise, particularly when it has been around for some time and been very successful.  Jason Shastri did exactly that late last year, when he bought the Mr. Transmission/Milex franchise in Stafford, Texas, which had been in business for about 30 years. “One of the things I liked about the store is that it had a good reputation with its customers.  It didn&rsquo ... read more

What Those Lights on Your Car Dashboard Mean Often, lights are a good thing. They can brighten a room and we often talk about the light at the end of the tunnel or shining light on a situation. But lights on your car’s dashboard often aren’t so comforting. They are helpful, of course, and it’s a good thing that car manufacturers have them there. But they’re definitely not to be ignored. When those lights turn on, it’s often a cry for help from your car, and a sign that something is amiss. We wanted to mention a few of the common lights that cars – especially newer ones – often have. Keep in mind that if all of your lights turn on, as you start your car, that’s normal. It’s when one of those lights stays on, that it can be problematic. Here are a few rules of the road. Think of those lights as traffic lights. The analogy almost works. If you see any icon light up on your car dashboard, and ... read more