Performance Unlimited Blog

Did this driver adequately prepare for driving this Wonder Lake winter? There's a good chance that the problem they're experiencing could have been avoided with some proper preparation. Imagine going for a jog one winter day in Wonder Lake except you’ve dressed as though it’s the middle of summer. Those shorts, t-shirt and sneakers might have been enough in July but, even if you have a high tolerance for cold, it may not be a good idea to head out that way in December. At the very least, you’ll want to check the weather before you leave your Wonder Lake home. Preparing for a drive in winter is much the same thing; if you’re not prepared, you could wind up in serious trouble. If you head out jogging in shorts, t-shirt and sneakers when it’s 10-below zero (you might not want to go out jogging at all on a day like that), you could get frostbite and/or hypothermia. If you head out on the road driving on a winter day, or night, and you’re not prepared, you could get into all kinds o...

Here at Performance Unlimited, we would like to take this moment to say Happy Thanksgiving . 2024 has not been the easiest year so far and, this late in the year, it can only get so much better. But there is still reason for us to be thankful. It’s good to have some gratitude, even when things are tough. Inflation has been troublesome, the job market could be better, and there are wars. But we still have cause to give thanks. Most of us have friends and family to share our lives with. We have homes and, hopefully, those homes are warm and there’s food in the refrigerator.  One day each year is set aside for us to give thanks. And that day is this week – Thursday, Nov. 28. This is a day to gather with friends and family, enjoy a meal, probably a turkey dinner, and share each other’s company. If we can avoid politics, we can probably have a pleasant time.  We can bask in the light of the warm feelings we have for those we love and cherish. We might even enjoy watching some footb...

If your battery and charging system aren't up to the task, your car may not start one cold Richmond winter night, or day. Winter in Richmond makes drivers happy when cars warm up and they feel the heat coming out of the vents. But that only happens after the car starts and warms up a bit. What if the car won’t start. You bundle up and run out to the car for a trip to a store in another town. As is often the case here in Richmond during the winter, the temperature is well below zero. Bundling up only helps so much. You slide into the driver’s seat, insert the key and attempt to start the car. The last thing you want to hear is silence. You don’t want to discover that the car won’t start. Maybe you’ll pop the hood and look at the engine while wrapping your arms around you to ward off the cold. Maybe you’ll just run back into the house and look out the window at the car with wishful thoughts that it will start the next time you try. But, whatever you do, this is certainly not part of ...

Veteran's Day is about those who fought for our liberty. The American automobile is a product of that freedom. Veterans Day became an official national holiday in the United States in 1938. But it originally signified the end of WWI. This is why it is celebrated on November 11 each year.  World War I ended at 11 a.m., of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. That was the time agreed upon when the Germans surrendered. More than 116,000 Americans died in WWI. Globally, the war was responsible for 22-million deaths. The sacrifice paid to defend liberty is clearly worthy of a day of somber recognition. But, unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day does more than honor the dead. Veterans Day honors all Americans have served in defense of American liberty It was just before WWI that Henry Ford began production of the automobile on the world’s first assembly line plant (Dec. 1, 1913). The assembly line led to affordable production of cars and trucks. This would have a profound effect on societ...

That's a good tire that will take a bite out of the road this McHenry winter. You want to make sure you've got a good set of tires on your car, too, before winter arrives. Imagine trying to take a bite out of an apple without teeth. That’s a fair comparison of trying to drive on slippery winter roads in McHenry without a proper set of tires on your car, truck or SUV. The word is “traction.” You need some traction for your teeth to break through the skin of an apple. And you need traction for your tires to pull you through the snow on a McHenry road after a snow storm. Winter in these parts throws conditions at our tires where only the strong will survive. And, if your tires are not up to the challenge, the results could be catastrophic.  It’s not just that your tires may not get you going on slippery roads; it’s also that your tires may not help you stop in critical situations on slick winter roads. When your tires won’t stop your car, truck or SUV, the question is, “What will?...