Summer in Chicago is marked by hot, humid weather and heavy traffic, and the last thing you need is for your vehicle’s air conditioner to take a summer vacation.

Wheel alignment is the position of your tires relative to each other and your vehicle’s frame. When aligned correctly, your tires all point in exactly the same direction, which means your vehicle travels as smoothly and efficiently as possible. If your tires aren’t aligned correctly, they will wear prematurely, and your vehicle will be difficult to steer.

It all begins with the battery. If your car won’t start, or if it's more difficult to start than usual, you may need to recharge or even replace your battery. If you’re concerned about your battery’s performance, pull into your local Tuffy location, and we’ll check it out for you.

Imagine, you apply the brakes as you approach an intersection and nothing happens. You push harder against the brake pedal, and still, your vehicle won't slow down. Your heart beats faster, you break into a sweat, and you brace for impact.

Your vehicle has as many components as the most powerful computers in the world. Almost every system in your vehicle is controlled by a computer. That computer has a series of sensors that can tell if there’s a problem with any of your vehicle’s systems, including the steering, brakes, fuel injectors and air conditioning.

Your vehicle’s brakes and transmission, as well as your power steering and cooling systems are fluid powered. And as those systems operate, the fluid that powers them absorbs a lot of abuse.

Your vehicle’s heating and cooling system doesn’t have anything to do with keeping you sweat-free in the summer time and warm in the winter.

Your vehicle’s exhaust system is composed of an exhaust manifold, heat riser, exhaust pipe, catalytic converter, muffler, resonator, and tail pipe.

Your engine is made up of hundreds of moving parts. Oil lubricates those parts so they keep moving. But, as oil circulates through your engine, it picks up particulates, like dust and metal shavings, that can damage your engine.

You go to the doctor when you’re not sick, and you go see the dentist even though you don’t have a toothache. This is called preventative maintenance. It provides your medical professionals with a baseline for your health, and allows them the opportunity to catch any problems before they become big problems.

When you’re traveling down a bumpy road, your vehicle’s suspension system minimizes the bounce you feel inside the vehicle. It also maintains connectivity between your tires and the surface of the road, providing steering stability and quality handling.

You get into your vehicle every day, put your key in the ignition and start it up. The starter solenoid, basically your vehicle’s on switch, engages the starter motor, which spins the engine to start the internal combustion process.

From inflation to rotation and tread wear to balance, your tires can give you a lot to think about.