Here’s an item that could be an episode of “Mythbusters” (or maybe it has been – I don’t watch it that often).  If you’ve ever lived up North, or still do part of the year, you may have got in the habit of “warming up your car” by letting it idle for long periods. You may even think that warming up the engine before driving is doing your vehicle a favor.

Busted.

Actually, because of engine efficiency and modern fuel injection (and the elimination of carburetors and chokes) the only possible reason to idle your car is to get the oil circulating, but that only takes 30 seconds.   And here in Florida there’s no reason to “warm up” your car at all.  I know, I’m preaching to the choir.

You can read all about it here.

And I also wanted to remind you about the Michelin Tire deal that’s going on right now.  Buy a set of 4 Michelins at Gatto’s and get a $70 Rebate. That’s pretty sweet.  And with that purchase you get tires that are backed up by Michelin’s new PROMISE PLAN.

Check this out:

30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee
Available on all MICHELIN passenger and light truck replacement tires. If you’re not 100% satisfied, bring the tires and original sales receipt back to the place of purchase within 30 days for a new set of tires.

3-Year Flat Tire Changing Assistance
A qualified service professional will change your flat or provide towing at no charge. In case of a flat tire, simply call 1-888-553-4327 and a qualified professional will change the tire or provide towing up to 150 miles for free. Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in the U.S. and Canada.

Limited Mileage Warranty
MICHELIN passenger and light truck tires (replacement and original equipment) are covered by a limited warranty for tread wear.
See Michelin limited mileage warranties

Michelins are always a great deal and with the PROMISE PLAN they’re even better.

So what have we learned? First, idle cars are the devil’s playground (to paraphrase) and you Gotta Go to Gatto’s for a new set of Michelins, get a $70 Rebate and the PROMISE PLAN.

Drive carefully and I’ll see you at Gatto’s.

Pam

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Last month, I shared a few of the reasons why being a Gatto’s customer is a good thing. (You can read part one here) Now on with part 2!

We’re all in this together. Bringing your business to Gatto’s means a lot to the local community, too. Healthy local businesses are the backbone of this country, and taking your dollars to big box or chain stores keeps very little in our town.

Understand that the Gatto crews ARE tires, inside and out. We know tires and vehicles, and how best to marry the two to provide you with the optimum in treadwear, braking, handling, comfort, low noise and fuel efficiency. We are extremely well-trained and know how to keep your vehicle running strong and safely for you and your family.

Remember that the Gatto family really is a part of this community. My father Mike Gatto started this business in 1972, my sons Scott and Mike work here, along with my son-in-law Kiwi (another Mike, really, he’s from New Zealand). We all live and work here. We all have families, same as you, and we believe in treating people like we would treat our own spouses, parents, sons and daughters.

Most importantly, when you buy your tires and service from Gatto’s, you show that you place a great deal of importance on getting the best – and more.

I can personally promise that you are getting the best selection and service you will find anywhere, and you will drive away on the best possible tires for your vehicle and budget.

If quality is important to you – and it should be – know that the tires you will find at Gatto’s are made by the best manufacturers in the world and feature advanced technology developed specifically to keep you safe and optimize your vehicle’s performance. Whether you drive a minivan or sports car, you will find only the best tire options here.

The tire recommendations you get here come from people well-trained by the manufacturers and suppliers to know and understand how to best match tires to a customer’s needs. We are not just trying to sell you something; we are working to put the best rubber and replacement parts in your vehicle. Why is that important? Because we want to see you again and again as a customer, but we don’t want you to have to come back complaining about bad tires or a specific service problem that wasn’t addressed.

If you ever have an issue at any Gatto’s store, I want you to talk to me personally. Together we will find an answer. At Gatto’s you can expect us to make good on our promises. On that, you have my personal guarantee.

Drive carefully and I’ll see you at Gatto’s.

Pam

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As we come to the end of another challenging year I want to take a moment to speak to you seriously about why you should continue to be our customer.

I want to personally thank you for your loyalty to Gatto’s Tires & Auto Service and making your tire and service purchases here. You have made a smart choice in selecting our stores, and I have every confidence you will not be disappointed.

It’s very tough these days to make confident purchasing choices. Budgets are tight and everyone is trying to make each penny stretch as far as possible. But I want you to know that while there are other options available to you that purport to have “the lowest prices,” the true value of your buying experience today far exceeds whatever you might “save” shopping at cheaper alternatives.

From mass merchants like Walmart and price clubs like Sam’s Club and Costco, there are certainly plenty of places where less expensive tires can be found. National chain stores, too, promise to save you money. But none of these alternatives are as invested in their customers’ well-being as Gatto’s. None are as committed to your safety, and surely none can claim the level of expertise that Gatto’s and our staff holds. Why? Simply put: This store is focused completely on tires and service, and nothing else. Ask yourself this: Do I want to purchase something this important to my well-being, and that of my family, from a place that doesn’t even specialize in tires?

Check out the experience of one of our new customers, June Wright, who had a few disappointments before she found Gatto’s.

Read June Wright’s Testimonial here

Then ask yourself this question: Do I really want to buy the cheapest tires? All tires are not the same. There are many differences in quality and performance between the cheapest tire and the most expensive. When it comes to the only part of your vehicle that touches the road—a connection to the street that is only the size of a standard envelope—do you really want to buy the least expensive tires? Because Gatto’s is a local business, the staff here have a special appreciation for the performance and value customers expect. We know and care and will always deliver the best options for your safety and your wallet.

I have some more reasons to choose Gatto’s and I’ll share them with you in the next “On the Road”. For now, let me wish you and yours the very best during this holiday season.

Pam

PS: We want to thank all of you who participated in the Holiday gift drive to benefit the children in Brevard County’s foster care system. Because of your generosity and the hard work of Brevard C.A.R.E.S. there will be many more smiles on a lot of young faces when the big day arrives.

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How the heck did that happen? It seems like just last week it was summertime. Oh, yeah. This is Florida. Just last week it was.

And holidays mean that you may soon be hitting the road to grandma’s house, or other distant loved ones, so I thought I would remind you to be extra careful during those drives. This is especially true when you are full of turkey, (although some scientists will argue that tryptophan doesn’t really make you sleepy), because fatigue is dangerous.

Here’s some advice from the State of Florida:

When you drive tired, the risk of being involved in a crash goes way up. That’s because not getting enough sleep negatively affects your:

• Reflexes, slowing your reaction time
• Judgment, making it more likely that you’ll make mistakes and take risks
• Concentration, allowing your mind to wander and increasing the chances of being distracted
• Alertness, increasing the chance that you’ll miss important traffic cues
• Mood, putting you in a bad mood and leaving you unmotivated

Research shows that inattention and other mental lapses contribute to as many as 50 percent of all crashes. While fatigue may not be involved in all these crashes, it clearly contributes to many of them.

Follow this link for more words of wisdom from the FDOT.

And for all the lucky recipients on your holiday list, may I suggest a gift card from Gatto’s? It’s always the right color, the right size and fits snugly under any tree. Well, you weren’t actually going to wrap that set of four Michelin Tires, were you?

And remember that all of our Gatto store locations are designated drop-off spots for Brevard Family Partnership’s annual Holiday gift drive that benefits the many children who will not be spending the holidays in their own homes.

You can help by dropping off a new, unwrapped toy, game or gift card for a girl or boy, from infants to teens. Need more info? Visit brevardcares.org or call Brevard C.A.R.E.S. at 321-752-4650.

Drive carefully and I’ll see you at Gatto’s

Pam

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It’s the little things we regret not doing. We forgot to hug the kids. We didn’t stop to smell the roses. We didn’t change our windshield wiper blades and then we got hit with one of our torrential downpours, causing us to squint and curse and wonder what the heck was really on the other side of the smeary mess that click-clacked at us from the other side of the steering wheel.

You’ve been there. So here’s a little push to help you avoid this situation.

Come on in to Gatto’s and let us switch out your worn-out wiper blades with some new ones from Rain-X. When you get 2 Rain-X Latitude wiper blades you’ll get a $10 service certificate back by mail. Get a couple of Rain-X Weatherbeater wiper blades and the service certificate is worth five bucks. Ask any of our guys about the details. The offer is good through December 31st.

Just another way we’re helping you put a little something away for a rainy day.

And since we’re talking about December, don’t forget to bring in a gift for some special kids.

Gatto’s has teamed up with Brevard C.A.R.E.S. and some other folks to collect gifts for kids who are being served through Florida’s foster care system and Brevard C.A.R.E.S.

You can help by dropping off a new, unwrapped toy, game or gift card for a girl or boy, from infants to teens, at any Gatto’s location. Need more info? Visit brevardcares.org or call Brevard C.A.R.E.S. at 321-752-4650.

Remember, ‘tis better to give than receive, and it also gives you a chance to use the word “’tis” in a sentence.

Drive carefully and I’ll see you at Gatto’s

Pam

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