Tires — Your Kids Are in This Car
This is not about extending tire life or saving money. This is about the vehicle your children ride in every day. Check tread depth on all four tires — if any tire is below 4/32, replace it before school starts. Check tire pressure weekly during the first month of school because September temperatures swing from 80 degrees during afternoon pickup to 50 degrees during morning drop-off, and temperature changes cause pressure fluctuations. Bald tires on wet September roads near schools are a recipe for disaster. If your teen is driving to school, check their car's tires too — teens never check tire pressure.
Brakes — Stop Fast in School Zones
School zones mean more stopping, more pedestrians, more unpredictable situations. Kids dart into streets. Buses stop suddenly. Other parents cut you off in the drop-off line. Your brakes need to be sharp. If you hear any noise when braking, feel any pulsation, or notice the pedal is softer than it used to be, get a [brake check](/brakes) before the first day of school. Brake pad replacement at Nick's starts at $149.99 per axle. That is cheap insurance when you need to stop fast for a kid on a bike.
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Free written estimate. 12-month warranty. $10-down financing. Walk-ins welcome 7 days.
Lights — Be Visible During Early Morning Drop-offs
By October, morning drop-off happens in the dark. Walk around your car and check every light — headlights high and low, taillights, brake lights, turn signals, and reverse lights. Have someone stand behind the car while you press the brake pedal. A burned-out brake light is a $20 fix that prevents a rear-end collision in the school parking lot. Foggy or yellowed headlights reduce your visibility by up to 80 percent. Headlight restoration takes 30 minutes and makes a dramatic difference.
Wipers and Defrost — Cleveland Fall Weather
Cleveland fall means rain, fog, and eventually frost. If your wipers streak, chatter, or miss sections, replace them. Wiper blades are $15 to $30 per pair and we install them while you wait. Test your front and rear defrost systems before you need them on the first cold morning. A defroster that does not work means you are scraping windows at 6:45 AM or driving with limited visibility — neither is safe with kids in the car.
If Your Teen Is Driving to School
If you have a 16 or 17 year old driving to school, bring their car in for a full safety check. Check the tires, brakes, lights, and fluids. Make sure the spare tire is inflated and they know how to change it — or at least have roadside assistance set up on their phone. We see a lot of teens driving on bald tires with a check engine light they have been ignoring for months. A $49 [diagnostic check](/diagnostics) at Nick's catches the serious problems. Come to 17625 Euclid Ave, Euclid or call (216) 862-0005. Open 7 days a week. [Tires](/tires), [brakes](/brakes), [diagnostics](/diagnostics), and [general repair](/general-repair).
RELATED SERVICES
Bring it in. We'll show you the problem before we fix it.
Free written estimate before any work. 12-month warranty on parts and labor. Free Uber within 5 miles if you drop off. Walk-ins welcome 7 days a week.
- 12-mo / 12,000-mi warranty
- $10-down financing available
- Most repairs same/next day
- Text updates throughout
