None of us wants to hear strange noises coming from inside, underneath or the back end of our car, but those noises can be very helpful, serving as warnings of potentially serious problems. For its March 2010 issue, Consumer Reports put together this list of common vehicle noises and what they typically mean. Recognize any of them? If so, pull into any Mountain View Tire store and our ASE-certified technicians will diagnose the problem.

It pays to be aware of the top 10 car killers, the corrosive agents that can destroy your vehicle from within. They tend to be stealthy, often escaping the notice of even the most careful car owners, but the experts at Mountain View Tire can help you defend your vehicle from all of them.

According to Bridgestone's TireSafety.com website three out of every four drivers wash their vehicles once a month, but only one in every seven checks his tire pressure that often. That's fewer than 15% of all drivers. And that's a scary number when you consider that tires are the only things between our vehicles and the road.

Any puncture or injury to a tire affects performance and safety, so a proper repair is critical. However, only punctures in the tread area that are straight-through and 1/4" diameter or smaller may be repaired, if no secondary damage has occurred. Because all parts of a tire are engineered to function as a single unit, a puncture must be repaired on both the inside and the outside of the tire.

Rotating your vehicle's tires – periodically changing their position on the vehicle from front to back and/or side to side – delivers three main benefits.

For years, drivers were advised to “change your oil every 3 months or 3,000 miles – whichever comes first.” But is that still a good rule to follow? The answer depends on your vehicle manufacturer's recommendation.

Full synthetic motor oil outperforms conventional and synthetic blend motor oils in nearly all aspects of engine protection. A full synthetic starts with a quality base oil. It’s combined with an additive formula that enables it to provide superior protection against friction, and resist burn-off, oxidation, shear, and sludge. This additive formula includes detergents, anti-wear agents, friction modifiers, dispersants, viscosity index improvers, and antioxidants to help the engine run better.

(This article was published by MotorTrend.)

In a 2008 Wall Street Journal / NBC News poll, Americans cited gasoline prices as the economic woe that most affected them. The Car Care Council warns that putting off vehicle care and maintenance can make matters worse. Proper vehicle maintenance will increase miles per gallon.

If you hear a deep growling sound when making extreme turns, your vehicle may be low on power steering fluid. Pop the hood and check the power steering dipstick. It should be clearly marked. Refer to your owner's manual for details on how to properly read the stick, and which type of fluid is recommended.