Performance Unlimited Blog

For those who punch a time clock at work, when quitting time comes around, they generally put whatever they’re working on down, cleanup, punch the clock and head out. For a dedicated business owner, that isn’t always possible. That’s particularly true at Performance Unlimited in Ringwood where success often leads to long hours. When a business does a good job and treats its customers fairly and with respect, word gets around. The word is out on Performance Unlimited and they are often working long hours to keep up. One day soon, however, they’ll actually close-up shop a little early. That’s because they have somewhere very special to go. On Thursday, Nov. 20, they’re going to a party. But not just any party – this is the Shop With A Cop party, the annual fundraiser to benefit children of families with financial challenges. Denny Norton, the owner of Performance Unlimited, is a member of MC3, the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce business networking group that hosts the event. Nort...

Four critical points on a car - where the rubber meets the road. One sure way to tell if you need new tires is to look at the tread wear. After driving 50,000 miles, or so, there’s no surprise if you need new tires. Of course, that also depends on how you drive. A heavy foot, either accelerating or braking can lead to faster tire wear, not to mention higher fuel usage and brake wear. But, there are other reasons you’ll want to pay attention to your tires. One potential problem with tires, particularly with older tires, is when the sidewalls begin to crack. This is more common with older tires. It’s a result of tires enduring the conditions – sun, heat and other weather. The tires are made of rubber and the elements can dry out the rubber in tires. As a result, tires can crack. Seeing a web of cracks in your tires does not necessarily indicate a serious problem. It depends on the depth of the cracks. Some are merely surface blemishes but you’ll really want an expert to take a lo...

For some folks, it’s easy finding an auto repair shop, right? Not for you though. You drive that Volkswagen. Or, maybe, you drive a Subaru or a Daewoo. Whatever your car, it’s not one of those ‘run-of-the-mill’ vehicles that everyone else drives. And that poses a problem when you bring the car to an auto repair shop. You can’t bring that more unique vehicle to just any repair shop. You might wind up hearing your mechanic say something to the boss along the line of, “I never did work on one of these before. This should be fun.” You sure don’t want to hear that. You want someone who is qualified to work on your vehicle. In most cases, you’ll wind up at a shop that specializes in your particular vehicle. That doesn't, however, have to be the case. There are some shops, such as Performance Unlimited in Ringwood, where their ASE Certified auto repair technicians are fully qualified for most makes and models, foreign and domestic. They bring equal knowledge to the process, whether ...

Tires are designed to provide your vehicle with traction so that when you apply the gas, or hit the brakes, the tires grab the road. That’s why they make tires out of rubber. That’s also why design engineers have spent decades developing tread patterns that will channel the water, dig through mud and snow and maintain a degree of grip even on ice. No matter how good the design of your tires’ tread, over time, as the tread wears away, the tires will lose their traction. It’s inevitable. As the tire turns, propelling your car down the road, or when it comes to a halt and drags the car to a stop, bits of rubber are torn away from the surface of the tire. Eventually, the tread has worn away to a point where the tire has lost a significant amount of its grip. When tires have worn sufficiently, they increasingly present a potential safety hazard. They’re not as good when you want to get up and go. They’re also not up to par when you need to come to a quick stop. On wet or icy roads, t...

Wouldn't it be nice if, the next time you went to the butcher shop, they gave you one steak for free – if the next time you went to a show, they didn't charge the last member of your party? Of course, what are the odds that would happen? You’ll turn a nice color of purple holding your breath until it does. Well, take a deep breath because that’s exactly what can happen when you purchase and have four shocks or struts installed on your vehicle at McHenry County’s Performance Unlimited. If you purchase four shocks or struts, you get the fourth shock or strut free. To put it another way, you’ll receive four shocks or struts but only pay for three. Just to be clear, you’ll still get that fourth shock or strut, you just don’t have to pay for it. That’s a crazy way to do business but it’s also a nice way to do business, especially since almost no one ever buys just three shocks or struts. In some cases, they may buy two shocks or struts, putting them either on the front or the ...