As those who have had tinted vehicle windows for some time are already well aware, they carry numerous benefits throughout the year. However, especially in a hot state like Utah, there are certain parts of the calendar where window tint might be even more beneficial, and the hot summer is typically the best example here.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, we’re here to offer window tinting services for a huge range of vehicles, in addition to our car audio and other automotive performance solutions we offer throughout Utah. What are some of the specific benefits that car owners see from window tint during the summer part of the year? This two-part blog series will go over several areas to keep in mind.

Staying Cool

One of the most well-known positives of window tint in any area where the temperatures get high is the way they help the vehicle stay cool. The first method here is by reducing how much heat is in the air within your vehicle, which happens through the massive reduction of UV rays that make it through a properly tinted window.

However, that’s not even the full extent of it. When your car’s windows are tinted, the sun’s rays are not able to make the same kind of impact on your surfaces, particularly leather seats for those who have them. Instead of sitting down on scorching hot seats that might even burn your bare skin in the hottest parts of summer, tint will allow you to sit down on seats that are at a normal temperature. And of course, all of this reduces how much gas you burn while running your car’s AC unit through the hot Utah summer.

Glare and Damage Reduction

Glare is often an issue for drivers, and particularly so during the longer days we find during summer. However, tinted windows remove glare from several angles, making your driving experience safer – especially if you’re driving during the late part of the evening while the sun is setting, often the most dangerous time for glare.

In addition, tint reduces glare-related damage. UV rays can damage interior car materials, from leather to upholstery and many others, but these are blocked by proper tint.

Secondary Aesthetic Considerations

For many, the primary draw of window tint is the way it improves their car’s style. Most are only thinking about the darker shades here, though, and aren’t even considering a secondary benefit: These darker hues help conceal dirt, smudges, spots and other cleaning concerns. Even if you haven’t had time to wash the car in weeks, it will still look great in tinted areas.

For more on the benefits of summer window tint in Utah, or to learn about any of our car audio or other automotive services, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the most common vehicle accessories or aftermarket parts often considered by rideshare drivers with companies like Uber or Lyft. These drivers operate in a unique space that often requires a few different common elements in the vehicle, whether we’re talking about customer convenience or items that will help maintain or protect your vehicle.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, we’re here to offer a huge range of aftermarket parts and vehicle accessories, ranging from window tinting through car audio and numerous other areas. What are a few of the other most common products or accessories Lyft and Uber drivers tend to ask us about for their vehicles, and why should you consider them if you’re entering this field? Here are several options to consider.

Window Tint

For those who want to make their ride experience more luxurious, especially such as drivers for programs like Uber Black that are targeted at business-class clients, one option to consider closely is window tint. Tinted windows offer a comfort perk for those riding in your back seat, allowing them privacy and protection from UV rays while bringing more of a “VIP” experience. And when you combine this with the way window tint protects your vehicle’s interior, especially if you have leather seats, you’ll be killing two birds with one stone here.

Dash Camera

One vital component for rideshare drivers, both for customer protection and their own, is installation of a dash camera. First and foremost, this camera will keep you, the driver, safe in case anything goes wrong – if there’s an accident caused by another driver, for instance, your dash cam will record this and protect you during any litigation.

On the flip side, this camera also records the inside of the vehicle. This protects customers against any attempted theft or other risks, plus keeps you protected from any false harassment or other accusations that clients may try to levy against you if they were unsatisfied with their ride.

LED Lights

And if you really want to make your ride memorable for those who enter your vehicle, you might consider a pure entertainment element like LED lights for the interior. These help your car stand out from others customers have been in, giving them a positive impression of you and showing that you care enough about the job to go the extra mile. They’re also sometimes helpful during the evening when clients are more likely to lose objects like phones or wallets in your car. For more on the aftermarket accessories or features you might consider for your rideshare vehicle, or to learn about any of our car audio or other services, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.

There are several groups of people who may have very different needs in their vehicles than the average driver, and a great example here are rideshare drivers for companies like Lyft and Uber. Based on the typical day-to-day operations of rideshare vehicles, which will often transport dozens of people to and from locations in a given day, the owners and operators of these vehicles may be in need of a few unique combinations of vehicle components and aftermarket parts.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, we’re here to offer numerous automotive accessories, aftermarket parts and other vehicle services, including everything from automotive performance areas to car stereos and many in between. What are some of the top features or accessories that are often considered by Uber or Lyft drivers, and why might you be thinking about some of these for your vehicle if you’ve recently joined up with one of these or another ridesharing company? This two-part blog series will dig into several to keep in mind.

Quality Car Audio

Comfort and perks are a big part of the rideshare experience for many riders, and one of the first themes you can use to impress them is a quality audio system. Many of your clients will want to listen to music during their ride, and they don’t want to do so using shoddy, old stereo equipment that produces static or other audio issues.

Instead, invest in a quality car stereo system featuring an upgraded amplifier and potentially several other pieces. These will keep your customers relaxed and comfortable for their entire experience, and they’ll be more likely to rate you well.

Apple CarPlay or Android Auto

Another theme that’s vital to rideshare clients is getting to their destination quickly, and as a driver this means you should eliminate any possibility of getting lost or taking bad routes. For those who want to accomplish this without squinting at a tiny phone screen all day, you should strongly consider upgrading to a larger display using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Not only do these allow for easy integration of your smartphone and GPS apps, you will also have simple integration with your audio needs as well.

Phone Chargers

One of the most-requested accessories in the ridesharing world: Phone chargers, which everyone seems to always be in need of. You can really endear yourself to customers by having spare chargers for both Apple and Android available in your car at all times, allowing them to charge up while they ride with you to their destination.

For more on various accessories or aftermarket parts to consider for your Uber or Lyft vehicle, or to learn about any of our car audio, window tinting or other services, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some basics on whether you should choose a two-way or three-way speaker system for your new car audio upgrade. This choice, which relates to the number of drivers in your speaker and the frequencies of sound you regularly need played, is important for both the performance of the speakers and their long-term quality.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, speaker selection is just one important piece of our comprehensive car audio services, which include numerous other components as well. What are some of the other considerations to keep in mind while choosing between a two-way and three-way speaker system, and how can you go about finalizing your decision? Here are some basics.

Coaxial Speaker Considerations

For those using coaxial speakers, or speakers where individual driver units radiate sound all from the same point or axis, the standard two-way coaxial box will include a large woofer and a small tweeter – or in some cases, multiple even smaller tweeters. Both these items will be in the same box.

In other cases, however, and especially if you’re looking for a three-way system, you can add to this. A mid-range driver, sometimes simply called a super tweeter, will be placed on the woofer. The issue here, though, is that a coaxial uses a passive crossover inside the box, and this makes a two-way system more ideal than a three-way system for coaxial speakers.

Components System

Component speakers, on the other hand, involve separately-mounted speakers with a higher-quality crossover than coaxial speakers. In these cases, rather than all the components involved being located inside a single box, they will be separated into multiple boxes.

For a two-way system, the baseline setup, your woofers and tweeters will be separated into their own boxes, regardless of how many of each of them are present. However, within this realm, you have the ability to add external crossovers to the audio system without any interference or issues, and these will simply benefit sound frequency ranges. Adding a mid-range driver, for instance, is incredibly easy and will not cause any interference, like with coaxial speakers. As long as you’re using high-quality parts here, it’s possible to attain much higher-quality sound using a three-way component system.

Making Your Choice

When it comes down to it, much of the choice between a two-way and three-way speaker system is whether you’re purchasing coaxial or component speakers. For the former, the two-way system is generally preferable; if you have the budget for it, the three-way system is the optimal format for the latter.

For more on choosing between two-way and three-way speakers, or to learn about any of our car stereo upgrades, window tinting or other automotive services, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.

When it comes to car audio, speakers are some of the single most important components involved. You have numerous modern speaker options available to you today and a few important decisions to make within these options, and one of the questions that may come up in your research is whether to purchase a two-way or three-way speaker system.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, we’re happy to offer a wide variety of car audio installations and services, including comprehensive expertise and knowledge on the best speakers on the market and which will be ideal for your setup. Have you heard about two-way and three-way speaker systems and wondered what this term really refers to, plus how each type will impact your sound quality? This two-part blog series will dig into several areas to be aware of when making this choice, plus help inform you on some of the internal components in your speakers and how they work.

Inside Your Speakers

As we dig into the differences between two-way and three-way speaker systems, it’s important to understand how speakers work to begin with. Specifically, you need to know about drivers, which refer to one or two parts found in the speaker box that are meant to vibrate as sound comes through them.

The primary purpose of these drivers is to deal with varying frequency ranges. Sounds have a whole range of different frequencies, from high to low, but no single driver can handle all of them at once – this is why most speakers tend to have two or more drivers, so they can handle the different frequencies of sound your system may be producing.

You’ve likely heard of some of these driver types, such as woofers (for low frequency), tweeters (for high frequency) or mid-range drivers (for frequencies in-between). In addition, an element known as a crossover may be used to split original sounds into multiple signals and send the frequencies to the proper driver.

2-Way Vs. 3-Way System

And when it comes to a two-way or three-way speaker system, it’s these drivers that define the decision. Speaker systems that have more than one driver will require at least a two-way split of sound signals, but there are also some frequency ranges where splitting into three separate directions is much more prudent. A two-way system will usually include a woofer and a tweeter, while a three-way system will typically feature both those same elements plus an additional mid-range driver. From a simple classification standpoint, this is the most straightforward way to define speaker systems and their splits.

For more on any of our car audio, window tinting or other services, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some basics on whether or not a remote start feature in your vehicle is worth the expense. For those who just want this feature as a novelty, the answer might be no – but for those who will utilize several different practical and convenience benefits of the remote starter, the answer is often an easy yes.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, we’re happy to offer a variety of different automotive security and upgrade services, including remote start systems, keyless entry, power lock and numerous other solutions. What are some of the other features you should be considering when determining if a remote start feature is right for you? Here are a few to keep in mind as you’re making this decision.

Scaring Potential Burglars

We mentioned automotive security in part one of this series, and a remote start feature actually promotes this theme in more ways than one. Specifically, it can also be used to scare away anyone you think is trying to canvass your vehicle when it’s parked in public.

Say you’re in a coffee shop grabbing a drink, and you notice someone lurking suspiciously around your vehicle outside. You can simply activate the remote start feature and turn the engine on, then off again quickly – this will surprise anyone lurking, and should provoke a reaction (usually, they will leave). If they are undeterred, your suspicion level should grow and you can take further action.

Quick Exit

There are also several practical areas that make life simpler and more convenient for you when you have a remote start feature, including the ability to make a quick exit in cases where this is necessary. For those who have busy schedules and spend lots of time driving during the average day, the ability to get the car started and be ready to drive the moment you snap in your seatbelt is enormously valuable.

Convenience Factors

Finally, the starting feature isn’t the only one that speaks directly to convenience here. In addition, the remote starter allows you to lock or unlock the doors of your vehicle from much further away than you normally would be able to – this makes several areas far simpler, from carrying in groceries or unpacking the car after a long vacation to ensuring your doors are locked after an unloading, even if you aren’t sure whether you actually locked them or not. Combined with safety and security themes, you can see how remote start features are enormously beneficial and easily worth their cost of installation to many car owners.

For more on our remote start or other vehicle security solutions, or to learn about our window tinting, car audio or other services, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.

There are a number of automotive features that provide both practical and stylistic benefits, and a great example here is the remote start feature. While some primarily consider a remote start for their vehicle because it’s novel and unique, this feature is also often selected because it holds multiple areas of practical value to the vehicle owner.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, we’re happy to offer a variety of automotive performance and auto security upgrades for Draper, Utah clients, including remote start systems for those interested in this capability. Is getting such a system worth the expense you’ll pay for it? That largely depends on the use you can expect to get out of several features of remote start systems, which we’ll dig into in this two-part blog series.

More than a Novelty

As we noted above, some are mostly interested in a remote start because it’s cool and unique. How many of your friends can start their car without even being inside it?

However, this is just one small piece of the broad picture when it comes to the benefits these systems bring. For most, such an installation wouldn’t be worth it just for this novelty – but in these cases, all the additional positives that come with a remote start system are the ones that help you make your decision.

Our next several sections will go over these other convenience and practical areas.

Temperature Considerations

One of the most common uses of remote start systems, especially among Utahns who have to park their cars outside during the cold winter or the hot summer, is to regulate temperature. Think about your car’s interior during the sweltering heat of a mid-July day, for instance: We all dread getting into that virtual sauna initially, especially if there are leather seats.

With a remote start, however, this is a thing of the past. Instead, you can start your car a few minutes in advance and allow the air conditioning to reach full blast before you step foot inside the car – the flip side is just as possible during the cold winter, where you can even begin the defrost cycle for your windshield and back windows in advance.

Vehicle Security

Now, it’s important to note that the above capability comes with one very important caveat: Until you actually approach the vehicle and unlock it yourself, this entire remote start process takes place with all doors locked. This limits any risk of thieves attempting to steal your running car – in fact, there are even remote start systems that will start the vehicle, but will not allow it to actually drive anywhere until the owner and their keys are inserted properly into the car.

For more on the value of a remote start system and why you might consider one for your vehicle, or to learn about any of our car stereos, window tinting or other automotive upgrades in Draper, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some basics on why it pays to have a quality alarm system in your car, plus some of the basic factors you should be considering when considering such an upgrade. Whether your current vehicle has no alarm system or does have a system that’s outdated and limited in its effectiveness, there are several great aftermarket automotive security themes you might consider.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, we’re here to provide a variety of automotive security features to clients, including high-quality alarm systems for any vehicle you own in addition to our wide range of car audio, window tinting and other automotive services. In today’s part two of our series, we’ll look into several features that might come with an upgraded alarm system, plus why each might be valuable for you to consider.

Motion Sensors

Modern vehicles are utilizing motion sensors more than ever before within several areas, and security is at or near the top of this list. There are a number of ways you can enhance a current alarm system using motion sensing technology: Some, for instance, will install night vision cameras if they live in areas where nighttime car thefts or burglaries are common.

In other cases, you might install sensors that will help with reversing, parking or avoiding accidents. In many cases, features double as both safety and security elements within the same package.

LED Warnings

One feature your car’s stock alarm system will virtually never include is LED lighting, which can be installed aftermarket with great value. The simplest format here is a flashing light that activates anytime the car alarm is activated, drawing eyes to the vehicle and letting passers-by know that something out of the ordinary is happening. There are also others down these lines as well.

Shock Sensors

Another form of sensor often used for car alarms today is the shock sensor. These sensors are generally on areas like windows (including tinted windows), but can also be put in place for tilting or illegal tows of your vehicle. If any of these sensors are tripped, a loud alarm will sound and you will receive a notification on your smart phone, if connected.

Remotes and Alerts

Speaking of smartphone connection, it’s one great method for monitoring your vehicle’s security. There are several apps that are made to link up with your car’s security features, notifying you anytime something strange happens. In other cases, you might purchase a two-way remote that allows for similar capabilities, only without using your smartphone. For more on how to upgrade your vehicles alarm system, or to learn about any of our car stereo or other automotive performance services, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the basics on how window tint provides protection and safety qualities for children within vehicles. While most tend to think of items like car seats and booster seats for child safety in a car, there are other forms of protection that benefit them as well, and window tint offers several of these.

At Laketown Speed and Sound, we’re happy to offer a wide range of vehicle window tinting services for any primary purpose you have in mind, whether it’s upgraded style, protective qualities or some combination therein. Here are some of the other top ways vehicle window tint protects children on a regular basis.

Eye Protection

We went over the heat and skin risks of UV rays in part one of this series, but there’s one more sun-related item to go over here: Potential eye damage. Children’s eyes are particularly susceptible to this damage as they develop, and also to other major light sources like headlights and high-beams, traffic lights and various police or emergency lights.

Again, window tint provides a major benefit here. It limits the brightness of these lights on your child’s eyes, heavily decreasing the risk of any eye problems that result from exposure to sunlight or other dangerous forms.

Shattered Glass Protection

In case of an accident while driving, one of the major risks to both children and adults is shattered glass from windows that have broken. However, window tint protects all parties from this risk in two ways:

1. It heavily reduces the chances of the glass breaking to begin with, due to increased strength from window tint film.
2. If glass does break, the window tint will keep the pieces attached rather than allowing sharp shards to fly out all over the vehicle and risk injury.

This is particularly valuable for children, who might be susceptible to more serious injuries due to glass than adults.

Safer Driving

And finally, window tint also makes driving itself safer due to limiting glare, sunlight and related concerns. For those with any visual issues, especially concerns with bright lights, this theme is often very important, particularly while driving at night.

The obvious connection to children here: They are at some of the highest risk of injury during vehicle accidents due to their size and fragility. By making the entire driving experience safer, window tint benefits children as much as any other specific group who might be getting into a car on a regular basis.

For more on the child safety and protection benefits of window tint, or to learn about any of our window tinting, car sound systems or other services, speak to the staff at Laketown Speed and Sound today.