Auto Care Corner

In these Covid Pandemic times people are choosing more and more to travel by car. In this throwback episode of Auto Care Corner, John and Rich discuss how to prepare your vehicle for that extended road trip, be it to the relatives for Thanksgiving or Christmas or that vacation or ski trip to the white mountains. John compares those normal commutes to work vs the longer road trips to walking a mile vs running a 5K or even a full out marathon. Just like your body your car needs conditioning to make the trip. Listen in as John explains what items should garner your attention and what services you should have performed prior to your excursion out on the road.

Here is a link to John’s blog on this subject as well.

Our guest this week is Paul Rivard, Service Manager and Master Automotive Technician. Discussions were centered around why you need to run a dedicated winter (snow) tire as well as why you never need to go back to the dealership to maintain your vehicle manufacturer’s warranty.

Snow tires are far superior to all-season tires for:

Winter tires are a softer compound that allows them to remain pliable in subzero temperatures which allows them to grip the road. All seasons are very stiff at these temperatures and have very limited grip. Snow tires deliver better grip to start out and to climb hills and inclines. They stop better on ice and snow and wet surfaces.

No matter what you drive, all-wheel, front-wheel, rear-wheel-drive vehicles….snow tires offer better performance.

Winter tires have a dedicated rubber compound for use when daytime temperatures are under 45 degrees.

Snow tires have a dedicated tread pattern designed to efficiently grip snow and throw it from the tire’s tread. This is why you see a rooster tail of snow coming from behind a vehicle running a dedicated snow tire.

Snow tires should not be run in temperatures above 45 degrees for any extended period of time as the rubber compound is very soft and pliable and will wear out very prematurely. Listen in to find out more!

Click here to check out John’s blog on snow tires!

Misconceptions from new-vehicle owners is that they must return to the dealership for routine services in order to keep their warranty in effect. This is simply not true. Listen in to find out more!

How to choose the best auto repair shop. John and Rich talk about knowing who is working on your car, how the industry pays its technicians, how these things can impact the service your receive. What to look for in choosing a repair shop to service your car. What certifications and affiliations should the shop have if any.

Certifications to look for:

ASE Blue Seal of Excellence certifications for the shop, service advisors and the technicians

AAA Approved Repair Facility

Napa AutoCare Center

This episode first aired on March 11th, 2016.