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The automotive aftermarket offers thousands of cool gadgets and gizmos to make your summer driving experience safer, more comfortable and way more entertaining. Here are the top ten coolest of the cool gadgets for 2017: 1. Dash-cam - It seems like there are cameras everywhere today, and there is no better place to put one than on your dash. If something exciting or dangerous happens while you are driving, the dash cam will catch all the action. You can use this as evidence in case of a crash, t...

With all the tires you encounter every day, it is easy to forget their humble beginning and just how far they have come since the early days of automotive development. Follow along as we recap the incredible evolution that has taken us from simple rubber rings to the products we see today. The tire had rather humble beginnings. In the late 1800's the invention of the automobile necessitated something for them to roll on. Until then, wheels were rolling around on hard wooden rims or metal bands....

Summer is a great time to head to the movies and what could be more American than heading to the local drive-in to take in a movie while enjoying a piece of classic Americana?  But don't head to the drive-in unprepared.  Follow these quick tips to make the most of your viewing experience. 1. Check Your Battery - Drive-in theaters these days pipe the audio through your car stereo and you won't be able to leave your engine running for a two hour plus cinematic experience.  Your battery will be do...

Head into the showroom at any tire retailer and you will find a dizzying array of tire types, sizes, tread patterns and other variables that can have you turning right back around and heading the other way.  The good news is a step-by-step approach to choosing the right tires for your car, truck or SUV with a little knowledge can make the process much simpler and give you great results. The type of tire you need depends on what kind of vehicle you have, your driving style and the type of weathe...

So summer’s right around the corner, and summer means road trips and vacations in the family car. Is your car up to the job? Here are some things you’ll want to check over before you pack up and hit the road… Fluids: That means coolant, transmission fluid, windshield washer fluid, motor oil. You’ll need to make sure you’ve got plenty of each, and that they’re clean, free of contamination and in good shape. Coolant and motor oil, in particular, are essential to dissipating heat and keeping...

At Don Owen Tire, we’ve seen a lot of change in the automotive world in the last 30 years. Yes, that’s how long we’ve been in business. We opened our doors way back in 1986, with Don himself and his wife Carole establishing Don Owen Tire Service, Inc. at 620 West Olive St in Bloomington. Don was 45 at the time but already had 23 years in the tire industry under his belt, at both the commercial and retail sales/service levels. We had a modest little business at first, with just one service ba...