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The Evolution of O’Brien Tire & Auto Care: A Route 66 Icon Purposefully established on a stretch of land along the Mississippi River at the southwest edge of Illinois in 1896, the industrial town of Granite City depended upon raw materials coming in and finished product exiting via the railroad and the river. For travelers, the Illinois Terminal Railroad offered passenger service up to Springfield and across the river to St. Louis. And there was always the horse and buggy. But the city was still young only a decade later, when the new-fangled device called a motor car looked to be more than just a fad. And like other modes of transportation, it needed fuel to propel it. In the Granite City area, as across the country, carriage shops and hardware stores scrambled to respond, offering gasoline, oil, tires, and other parts and supplies, even as automobile dealerships and repair garages began to pop up around Madison County. On a piece of property along Nameoki Road — soon destined to carry traffic as a young U.S. Highway 66 — a small repair garage became operational in the early 1900s. Although that structure no longer stands, a repair business grew and evolved there which has remained open consistently in this spot — a business. William Kirchner and His Garage The village of Nameoki, now part of Granite City, grew from a simple station stop named by a railroad conductor. It was an Indian name for “fishing place” due to the numerous lakes in the area. By the late 1800s, a hotel, blacksmith shop, and a drugstore and physician’s office served the village’s occupants, as well as travelers passing through. In 1906, a 23-year-old German immigrant named William Kirchner established a hardware business in Nameoki Township, adding a filling station and repair garage soon after — on the same block of Nameoki Road, between Pontoon Road and Amos Avenue. By all accounts it was successful, but by the late 1920s, change was afoot when brothers George and Joseph Klug took over operation of Kirchner’s station and garage, changing the name to Klug Bros. Auto Repairing, Tires, and Auto Accessories. But the Klugs soon moved on, possibly to another business up the street, and the garage was once again listed in the local city directory with William Kirchner’s name until an aspiring entrepreneur named Jim O’Brien came along. Early in 1932, O’Brien, a former Granite City mill worker originally from a tiny village near Jefferson City, Missouri, entered the scene, ready and willing to take over the operation of Kirchner Garage — an already well-established gas station and auto service business. To launch the business under his name on March 17, 1932, he purchased — partially on credit — Kirchner’s stock of gas, oil, and grease. O’Brien even talked one of the Klug brothers into coming back to the garage long enough to serve as O’Brien’s first mechanic. O’Brien was likely well aware of his good fortune when walking into a ready-to-operate business. We don’t know if he paid rent or a share of the profits to Kirchner, or if Kirchner just saw the value in someone else running the business while he took care of his hardware operation, which grew to include at least one other location. But with good fortune sometimes also comes bad luck. It was the early years of the Great Depression and a tough time to be in business. The situation was so bad in Granite City in the early ‘30s that the City itself had a balance of zero in their bank account. Yet somehow, through grit and determination and his fair treatment of customers, O’Brien hung on to his business. Fifty years later, in 1982, O’Brien described his entry into the auto service business in a Christmas letter he wrote to customers, summarizing the history of the business: “A 29-year-young James E. O’Brien full of guts, energy, ambition, and the old Wm. Kirchner garage marked the birth of O’Brien Tire and Battery on March 17, 1932. Cliff Edrington of Illinois Power & Light got the business off to a good start by being the first gas customer, but the first big bucks were brought in by Roy Brown of Granite City Ice Company when he purchased the very first set of tires sold by O’Brien Tire. The venture was off and rolling. Many dinners got cold waiting, while Jim and his first mechanic Joe Klug hit the concrete at the station servicing cars and taking care of customers. As the business grew and prospered, much commercial customer entertaining, business dealings, and employee dinners took place at the Luna Cafe in Mitchell [three miles away].” Jim O’Brien is remembered for establishing two themes in his business and his life: excellent customer service and family. Those two priorities became a legacy that the current owners are proud to say still guides the business today. O’Brien and his wife, Angeline “Angie,” did not have children of their own, but raised two foster sons, Alvin Bruce Marler and Fred “Fritz” Rehagen. In 1940, Marler began as the car wash boy in the O’Brien garage, working after school and on Saturdays. When Jim O’Brien was ready to retire in 1952, Marler stepped up to take over the operation. It was January 1, 1953, during the time of the economic boom of the Mid-Century, and O’Brien had done well in business. He was ready to retire to Mountain Home, Arkansas, where he had bought a farm. And so, O’Brien handed the business operation over to son Marler — perhaps sold it, or just gave it to him. Over the years, it had become an unofficial tradition for an employee to step up and take over when the previous operator was ready to retire. The business was usually passed on with no more than a simple contract for deed with a dollar down followed by a percentage of the gasoline sales until the debt was considered paid. (This explains why any actual

Owning a vehicle is akin to orchestrating a complex symphony of mechanical components, each playing its part to create a harmonious driving experience. Amidst this automotive ensemble, the importance of manufacturer maintenance stands out as the conductor, ensuring that every note is played to perfection. Let’s delve into the unique significance of adhering to the manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations and how it orchestrates a melodious journey for your beloved vehicle. Why Perform Maintenance? The Art of Resale Value: Every note played in the symphony of maintenance is an investment in the future value of your vehicle. A documented history of adhering to the maintenance schedule becomes a masterpiece of its own—a testament to your commitment to the vehicle’s well-being. This history enhances the resale value, making your automotive symphony desirable to future owners. Preserving the Symphony of Performance: Just as a musical symphony requires each instrument to be finely tuned, your vehicle’s performance is a delicate balance of interconnected components. The manufacturer’s maintenance schedule is the sheet music, guiding you through the timely tuning and optimization of vital parts. Regular check-ups, fluid changes, and component inspections contribute to the harmonious performance of your vehicle. The Composer’s Blueprint: Imagine your vehicle’s manufacturer as a master composer, crafting a symphony of innovation and engineering. The maintenance schedule provided is the composer’s blueprint, a meticulous plan outlining when each instrument (or component) should be fine-tuned to ensure the masterpiece continues to play flawlessly. Following this blueprint safeguards the integrity of the automotive composition. Guardian of Longevity: Just as a conductor guides a symphony through the years, the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule is your vehicle’s guardian of longevity. Regular oil changes, filter replacements, and scheduled inspections are the notes that preserve the mechanical harmony, extending the lifespan of your vehicle and allowing it to agegracefully. A Dance of Safety: The safety of your automotive journey relies on a choreographed dance between various safety components. Routine maintenance ensures that the brakes, tires, lights, and other safety features are in sync, performing their dance with precision. This meticulous attention to safety is the key to a secure and confident drivingexperience. Fueling Efficiency: Just as a well-rehearsed orchestra conserves energy during a performance, a well-maintained vehicle conserves fuel. Maintenance on the schedule recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer optimizes fuel efficiency by addressing issues that could lead to increased fuel consumption. Regular attention to the engine, filters, and other efficiency-related components ensures that your vehicle operates in an eco-friendly and economical manner. In the intricate world of automotive care, manufacturer maintenance emerges as the maestro conducting a symphony of reliability, safety, and efficiency. To preserve the harmony of your vehicle’s performance, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations diligently. By doing so, you become the custodian of an automotive masterpiece, ensuring that each note played on the road is a testament to the longevity and brilliance of your beloved vehicle.

Over the course of the thousands of miles that your vehicle will travel, your car’s wheel alignment will be put to the test by all the different road conditions from smooth highways to that little dirt road on the way to the cottage, not to mention the potholes, curbs, and other anomalies you drive over every day. It’s normal that the original wheel alignment may change over time. Even though drivers don’t notice this change, the tires will eventually wear unevenly, the vehicle will tend to drift to one side, and you may even hear a strange noise coming from one of the wheels when the vehicle hits a bump or pothole. During an inspection, a certified technician will be able to detect the problem – a loose tie rod, a damaged ball joint, a bent suspension arm, a broken torsion bar… The list goes on and on, but the result is always the same. The damaged parts have to be replaced and the wheels realigned before the car will handle like it used to. It is also a good idea to have your wheels aligned every year or 12,000 miles or when you get new tires installed, which often corresponds to the manufacturer’s recommended interval for routine maintenance.

Your vehicle is quite probably the second biggest investment you have. Tires then become a big part of that investment when it is time to replace them. At one time, there was such a thing as “rock” tires, but tires have since been re-engineered and are made of rubber, which, unfortunately, makes them a delicate part of your car considering the amount of use and abuse from the roads we drive. When buying tires, consider how long you are going to keep the car, what kind of driving you do with the car, whether mostly city or highway matters, and who is driving the vehicle. Grandma? Or your teenager who runs all his friends around every weekend? Or a spouse that travels for work. All this matters.  Tire Prices Tires are priced based on a number of factors:  The Manufacturer: A better-known manufacturer will sell more tires and have a better warranty.  Compounding: While all tires are compounded, their “ingredients” can vary drastically. Technology: The major manufacturers will integrate the latest technologies from Formula 1 and NASCAR into their passenger tires.  Tire Mileage Warranty: Tires are sold with varying mileage warranties, meaning how long the manufacturer knows the tire should last with PROPER MAINTENANCE!  How Long Will Tires Last? Unfortunately, tires have a shorter life compared to other parts of your vehicle you maintain. Taking proper care of your tires is the best thing you can do to ensure they give you a full life, comfortable ride, and your money’s worth! Even with PROPER MAINTENANCE, most tire manufacturers (and the Tire Institute of America (TIA) strongly recommend tires be replaced after 6 years, unless the tires have not received proper care, then they will need to be replaced sooner. Our professional tire experts will guide you on the safety of your tires. What is Considered Proper Maintenance? Tire maintenance is pretty easy. How your tires wear is dependent upon many factors, but the major contributors are over or under-inflation, lack of rotating and balancing on schedule, and failing suspension parts. Therefore: Tires should be inspected monthly for proper air pressure and to look for evidence of a failing tire, such as a bulge on the sidewall.  Tires should be rotated every 6,000-8,000 miles. A tip for the best way to remember when to have them rotated is when you have your oil change: either every other 3,000 mile oil change or every 5,000 mile oil change, depending on the oil recommended for your vehicle. Tire balance should be checked with every rotation, or at the very most every 18,000 miles. Finally, have the suspension checked on your vehicle every year or every 12,000 miles, depending on your driving habits or the road conditions where you live and work. If the roads are full of potholes, have your suspension checked every 6 months. Tires are expensive. Get the most out of them by spending a little time and money on keeping them maintained.

Brrr… It’s cold outside. While you are nice and toasty inside, your vehicle will struggle in the colder weather.  Having a vehicle that is properly winterized is critical to its operation and your safety. Driving on snow and ice is difficult when you don’t have enough traction on your tires, causes longer stopping distances, causing fender benders as you find yourself uncontrollably sliding into another car. When poor road conditions exist, preparing your vehicle ahead for the weather will make your driving experience as safe and as stress-free as possible. Here’s a few key items to prepare your vehicle for winter. #1. A good set of tires with ample tread depth provides the best possible grip along with better stopping ability. Bald tires have no stopping ability. Be sure your tires are properly inflated. Stop by O’Brien’s. We will be glad to discuss the current condition of your tires and make recommendations if you need new tires. #2. Brakes should just be part of routine maintenance. Stopping distances are much longer when road surfaces are slick, and poor brakes can make the situation worse. All-wheel drive vehicles may handle best in the snow – but no matter the drive train of your vehicle – you are reliant on your brakes (and tires) to slow down and stop effectively. With O’Brien’s full-service oil changes, we check your brakes with every oil change, along with belts, hoses, battery, tires, wipers, and fluids… every time.  #3. New wipers and winter wiper fluid are critically important when driving during the winter. Do your wiper blades adhere uniformly to the windshield? If not, they should be replaced. The buildup of snow and slush will exasperate issues of poor visibility when the wiper blade is not making consistent contact across your windshield. Use the correct washer fluid and keep reservoir full. You’ll use more in the winter. Do not use water or regular washer fluid as it will crack your lines and reservoir. Washer fluid must be rated for below freezing temperatures (preferably -20O F or lower due to possible frigid temperatures). A good ice scraper and snow brush is also a requisite to have in your vehicle, even if it is just to scrape the windshield on a clear, frosty morning. #4. Car batteries should be checked with every oil change. Electrical current provided by the battery is reduced at colder temperatures, so a failing battery may not make itself known until the winter months. Few things are more frustrating than a vehicle that won’t start in the cold. We can replace a failing battery before you find yourself stranded. 5. A winter Survival Kit is also a good idea, in the event you become stranded. You might consider: Space Blankets for each passenger, small hand warmer packets, a small or collapsible shovel, a sturdy ice scraper/snow brush, some kitty litter in the trunk, a flashlight, flares or reflectors, extra Winter windshield washer fluid, jumper cables, and several energy bars. An empty soup can, a plumber’s candle and lighter if you need to make water to drink. A cell phone battery backup. And always keep your gas tank at least half full and have your cell phone fully charged if driving any distance to/from home or work. If stranded, ensure the exhaust pipe stays clear of snow and crack your window slightly for fresh air. Run your vehicle for short periods of time only as needed to provide heat and conserve fuel. A car adaptor for your cell phone is also a good idea, so that you can ensure adequate charging for the device in case you are stuck and need to call for help. The National Weather Service provides local forecasts out through 7 days, including winter hazards. You can learn more about NWS winter weather forecast products and preparedness at St. Louis Weather Forecast * * * Properly winterizing your vehicle with our Premium Winterization Maintenance Package will provide an extra measure of safety and peace of mind in the event you are traveling in less than ideal winter conditions to work, home, or your favorite winter activity. 

We are what I like to refer to as the TRIPLE CROWN of the autocare industry in the Metro-East. When motorists are looking for a repair shop they can trust, looking for a shop that has already been approved by the most recognized giants in the auto industry is the best way for shops to distinguish themselves from all the rest, which makes it very easy for motorists to know if they are a shop focused on delivering personalized service, are held to higher standards, provide exceptional and reliable customer service, stand behind the work they do, and treat their customers like family. O’Brien Tire and Auto Care is the TRIPLE CROWN in the industry because we have been approved by or certified by all three: As far as I know, O’Brien Tire and Auto Care is the only TRIPLE CROWN in the metro-east if not the St. Louis area. AAA Auto Center: AAA members value the peace of mind from having a qualified, professional repair facility they can rely on when taking their vehicle to a AAA-approved facility. Members receive AAA’s discount on repairs and tow-in’s get an evaluation within 60 minutes. And, AAA motorists who have repairs performed with us receive the AAA’s free 40 point vehicle inspection. NAPA AutoCare Center: As a NAPA AutoCare Center, one huge advantage is the confidence our customers enjoy with the NAPA AutoCare Peace of Mind Warranty with NAPA parts which provides 24 Months / 24,000 Miles of coverage for qualifying services NATIONWIDE and repairs on vehicles up to and including vehicles with a load carry capacity of 1½ tons. With the support of over 17,000 NAPA auto care centers across the U.S., motorists can rest assured that their repairs will be addressed quickly and conveniently. Technet Auto Care Center: As a Technet Auto Care Center, our customers enjoy the best warranty in the automotive business: a NATIONWIDE warranty on parts installed with a 36 month/36,000 mile parts warranty; 24 month/24,000 miles on labor, with assistance at nearly 10,000 shops nationwide. Along with the nationwide parts warranty, our customers also benefit from a ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE program that covers towing, battery jump starts, lock out fuel, and flat tires assistance, again nationwide, no matter where they may be.