Richard called to tell me my car was ready, said he would send someone to pick me up, and that I didn’t owe anything. I was stunned. Richard said there was a bad cable under the battery, and somehow they had missed it. The tow and all repairs were taken care of by Leonard. I was in shock. My experience in the past had been that “all auto repair places will rip you off.” Not so with Leonard Tire.

In speaking with Don Leonard, I learned quite a bit about automotive and tire repair. I would like to impart some of that information to those of you who might be interested in keeping your car longer than the end of your car payments.

“The day of the shade tree mechanic is gone,” says Don. “A pair of pliers and a few screw drivers can’t fix cars any more. Today’s cars are much more technical and require qualified technicians to work on them. Cars today are more complex than Apollo lunar landers. All of our technicians have computer skills. Newer cars are made better, have parts that don’t wear out as fast, and the cost of a new car is very expensive. If you want to extend the life of your personal vehicle to 350,000 miles, preventative maintenance is the answer.”

Leonard Tire & Automotive offers a “Recommended Preventive Maintenance” card that provides you with guidelines to the importance of regular maintenance. As an example, a major tune up should be done every 60,000 miles. Belts and hoses should be replaced every 60,000 miles or four years, your air filter every 6,000 miles. Check with Richard to schedule your maintenance. Leonard Tire & Automotive will work around your budget to help you prioritize your preventative car care. Call the Second and Lomas location at (505) 243-5588 or the Eubank and Menaul location at (505) 292-7040 for an appointment or questions.

With women comprising more than 60 percent of their business, Don’s son, Travis, says, “Women have a better idea of what needs to be done with their cars. They want to know what’s going on.” Don adds that they “encourage both men and women to get a second opinion if any automotive work is to be done on your car. We are happy to provide that second opinion. Many times the original recommended work is not necessary.”

Don also reminds us not to forget tires. “We ask a lot of our tires. We over- or under-inflate them, go at high speeds for long distances, hit potholes and curbs, overload our tires with heavy loads, and abuse them with high heat and cold.” Travis Leonard concurs. “Brakes slow you down, but tires are what actually stops a car as they grip the ground. You can imagine what happens when your tires are threadbare.”

Leonard Tire & Automotive is in the business to make customers for life. And to prove it, they would like to invite any New Mexico WOMAN reader to take advantage of a $5 discount on an oil change with free tire rotation. They work on all makes and models. Be sure to say hello to Don or Travis when you visit either shop.

Beth Donahue is a freelance writer in Albuquerque and can be reached at (505) 248-9700 or via email at nmwbethdonahue@aol.com.