 No. The reality is they should be used in the spring, summer and fall cause the compound is designed for long life, not winter traction. The other thing to consider is that winter tires are not just snow tires. Back in the day, winter tires had big, knobby chunks of rubber and they were really only good in snow. There are many times during a Vancouver winter that the roads are exposed or wet, and not covered in snow. Modern winter tires continue to stay soft and pliable, providing the grip you need in all winter driving situations. If there is one certainty in weather… it’s the change of seasons. When a regular all-season or summer tire experiences cold temperature, they become hard.All-season tires aren't designed to stay soft in cold temperatures. Now think of this - a hockey puck. When it comes in contact with cold the ice surface, it becomes hard and slides. That's something you don’t want in a Tire in Winter to do. Winter tires, in contrast to all-season tires, are specially formulated to stay soft and contour to the road surface even if there is no snow or ice. They provide a level of grip, stability, handling and braking capability that regular tires simply can’t. If you are planning on buying winter tires don’t wait too long.The good news is that the earlier you shop the more selection you have. But what tire is right for your vehicle? Let Gorm at NTW help you with their vast knowlegde and expertise. The reality is that winter is coming and the better prepared you are the easier it will be to manage. Looking at the research and choosing the right winter tire for your vehicle provides a level of safety and grip that you simply cannot get with an all-season tire. So the next time you head outside and you can see your breath, you want to start thinking about winter tires. Get them early, book your appointment |
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2. Brakes
When left unused, brake rotors can begin to develop rust on the surface of the rotors. If you leave your parking brake engaged for a long period of time, it can actually cause the brake pads to bind to the rotors. While this shouldn't be a concern over a few weeks, if you know your car will be parked for a month or more we recommend leaving the parking brake off. Obviously, you should always put safety first and only do so on a flat surface. Brake repairs are always preferable to a runaway car.
3. Battery
Over time, your car's battery can discharge and leave you needing to jump-start your car. You can plug your vehicle into a battery tender if you have one. Or if you know your car will be sitting for a long time, you can always disconnect the battery.
4. Paint
If your vehicle is parked outside it's likely to accumulate dust, bird droppings, and other contaminants such as tree sap or water spots from nearby sprinklers and rain. Over time, exposure to the elements can damage your vehicle's paint. If you can, we recommend hand wash it if your local car wash is closed & parking under cover or using a weatherproof car cover.
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5. Fluids
Fluids are a major issue for long-term storage (for three months or more). Fuel can separate, and water vapor can accumulate in your gas tank. Gaskets and hoses that aren't kept lubricated can dry out and become brittle.
What to do? Just Drive It!
There's a simple solution to almost all of the troubles facing your car as it languishes in its parking spot: driving it. We recommend driving your car for at least 20 minutes once every two weeks. That's enough time to warm up your tires and protect from flat spots, return some charge to your battery, wear surface rust off your brake disks, and keep the fluids in your car moving and everything properly lubricated.
It's a simple solution, but it works. Cars are designed to be driven, so it's easier to keep them healthy by putting them to regular use.
It's a simple solution, but it works. Cars are designed to be driven, so it's easier to keep them healthy by putting them to regular use.
Maintenance
Your car may come due for regular maintenance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Repair shops and dealership service departments have been deemed necessary services and at NTW, we remain open!.
WE TAKE PRIDE IN OFFERING PERSONAL SERVICE!
Remember to Sterilize your vehicle
You can reduce the risk of coronavirus in your car by simply using disinfecting wipes on commonly touched areas such as the steering wheel, door handles, window switches, the dashboard, the inside door buttons, seat belts, gear shifters and touchscreens. How often should you do this? While your individual circumstances with your vehicle will vary, it's recommended cleaning and disinfecting touched surfaces.
Other places to clean are the door handles and other exterior touch points. Gas pump handles and keypads at gas stations are also locations to be wary of.
At NTW, we are actively following the guidance and safety recommendations of the Public Health Agency of Canada. Therefore we are taking precautions when handling your car for everyone's wellbeing.
Bring your car to National Tire Wholesale. Our technicians only recommend maintenance and repairs to keep you and your car safe.
Other places to clean are the door handles and other exterior touch points. Gas pump handles and keypads at gas stations are also locations to be wary of.
At NTW, we are actively following the guidance and safety recommendations of the Public Health Agency of Canada. Therefore we are taking precautions when handling your car for everyone's wellbeing.
Bring your car to National Tire Wholesale. Our technicians only recommend maintenance and repairs to keep you and your car safe.
GIVE US A TRY, YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!
Spring is coming and after a season of cold temperatures, harsh weather, and maybe some road salt, your car needs a little extra care. It’s our job to help make sure your car gets the right maintenance, offering personal service and excellent quality products at a fair price.
Wave goodbye to winter and prepare for safe, warm weather driving with this easy spring car maintenance checklist we bring to you!
Wave goodbye to winter and prepare for safe, warm weather driving with this easy spring car maintenance checklist we bring to you!
1. Schedule an oil and oil filter change.
Why are oil changes important?
Regularly scheduled oil changes help maintain a healthy engine. As motor oil lubricates and cools the engine, it naturally picks up impurities. This is good! What’s not so good, however, is that oil becomes less effective as it ages. That’s why regular oil and filter changes are so important. If it’s too old, your motor oil can’t do its job and protect your engine.
Schedule an oil change at the start of spring to help your engine purr all season long.
Regularly scheduled oil changes help maintain a healthy engine. As motor oil lubricates and cools the engine, it naturally picks up impurities. This is good! What’s not so good, however, is that oil becomes less effective as it ages. That’s why regular oil and filter changes are so important. If it’s too old, your motor oil can’t do its job and protect your engine.
Schedule an oil change at the start of spring to help your engine purr all season long.
2. Have your car battery tested and replaced, if necessary.
After winter, your car battery might be on its deathbed. Low temperatures forced your battery to work harder by slowing down its chemical reactions. Now, high temperatures are right around the corner, ready to evaporate essential battery fluids and speed up corrosion.
There’s a chance that one hot day could leave your battery DOA. Avoid the inconvenience of a car that won’t start by getting your car battery tested and if necessary, replaced, before it’s too late.
There’s a chance that one hot day could leave your battery DOA. Avoid the inconvenience of a car that won’t start by getting your car battery tested and if necessary, replaced, before it’s too late.
3. Check tire pressure and tread.
Check your tire pressure in the morning before hitting the road for the day, and adjust your tires based on that reading. Your tire pressure should match the recommended tire pressure in your vehicle manual.
Why bother checking tire pressure between winter and spring? Because fluctuations in temperature can also cause fluctuations in tire pressure. In general, tires lose or gain 1 PSI (pound per square inch) for every -12C change in temperature, and both under-inflated and over-inflated tires can cause problems on the road.
Why bother checking tire pressure between winter and spring? Because fluctuations in temperature can also cause fluctuations in tire pressure. In general, tires lose or gain 1 PSI (pound per square inch) for every -12C change in temperature, and both under-inflated and over-inflated tires can cause problems on the road.
This is the perfect moment to check tire tread depth, too. Without sufficient tread, your tires can’t grip the road as they were designed to do. This could compromise your car’s handling in wet weather and your ability to come to a quick stop. Thankfully, you only need one thing to check tread depth (and it’s not fancy). Grab a penny and perform the penny test!
WE TAKE PRIDE IN OFFERING PERSONAL SERVICE!
4. Replace your wiper blades and refill wiper fluid.
Your wipers are probably looking worse for wear, especially if they spent months clearing away snow and ice. Perhaps they’re smearing water across the windshield, chattering, or just not doing their job. If a simple wiper cleaning doesn’t do the trick, then it’s time to replace your wiper blades to prepare for spring and summer rainstorms.
Get ahead of the changing seasons (and the bugs that come with it) by topping off your wiper fluid, too.
Get ahead of the changing seasons (and the bugs that come with it) by topping off your wiper fluid, too.
5. Deep clean your lights and replace the bulbs, if necessary.
You might need glasses if you’ve found yourself squinting while driving in the dark. Or, your lights might need a good scrubbing! Just like our cars get dirty, so do our headlights and tail lights. Polish hazy headlights with a soft toothbrush, baking soda and water to help them shine bright. If that doesn’t work, a quick bulb replacement should do the trick.
Whether you’ll be driving across the country or across town this spring, bring your car to National Tire Wholesale. Our technicians only recommend maintenance and repairs to keep you and your car safe.
Whether you’ll be driving across the country or across town this spring, bring your car to National Tire Wholesale. Our technicians only recommend maintenance and repairs to keep you and your car safe.
Wheel balancing and wheel alignments are just some of the many services offered by National Tire Wholesale. Our technicians only recommend maintenance and repairs to keep you and your car safe.
GIVE US A TRY, YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!
If you are experiencing irregular tire wear, handling problems or a crooked steering wheel, an alignment check should be performed. Ignoring these signs can make your alignment problems more expensive to address down the road, can reduce the life of your tires, and can even cause driver assist systems to malfunction.
Even without experiencing these problems, most vehicle manufacturers recommend checking your alignment every 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first.
Even without experiencing these problems, most vehicle manufacturers recommend checking your alignment every 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first.
Let's talk about the importance of wheel balancing and wheel alignments for your vehicle.
Wheel balancing is important because wheels lose their balance over time. Factors concerning the weight distribution of your vehicle, road conditions and tread wear can cause an unevenness in the tires, which can then lead to further uneven tread wear. As a result, the vehicle might shake or vibrate while in use.
When a technician balances the wheels, they typically apply a calibrated spin balancer, and will normally also test both the static (non-moving) and dynamic (moving) aspects of wheel balance. Any existing unevenness is corrected. Wheel balancing is a service that’s normally done when tires are rotated on the vehicle, or roughly every six to 12 months, depending on the vehicle and its use.
Wheel alignment differs in that it involves an adjustment of the angle of the vehicle’s wheels. This is normally done based on the manufacturer’s recommended specifications. A wheel alignment usually includes a tire tread check along with the three basic components for measuring wheel orientation, involving the toe, camber and caster.
Wheel alignments are generally recommended if the vehicle feels like it’s pulling to one side, if it has been involved in an accident, or during annual inspections. Since vehicle use will differ among drivers, there is no specific mileage or designated timeline for wheel alignments. For these reasons, the manufacturer’s recommendations as well as those of your automotive facility are likely to be the best sources of advice concerning alignments.
Wheel alignments are generally recommended if the vehicle feels like it’s pulling to one side, if it has been involved in an accident, or during annual inspections. Since vehicle use will differ among drivers, there is no specific mileage or designated timeline for wheel alignments. For these reasons, the manufacturer’s recommendations as well as those of your automotive facility are likely to be the best sources of advice concerning alignments.
Wheel alignments and wheel balancing are important for reasons that include the safe and efficient operation of your vehicle, including requirements for control in difficult road, weather and driving conditions, as well as to ensure that you benefit from the longest use of your tires.
Wheel balancing and wheel alignments are just some of the many services offered by National Tire Wholesale. Our technicians only recommend maintenance and repairs to keep you and your car safe.
GIVE US A TRY, YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!
At National Tire Wholesale, we do our best to reduce our carbon footprint. This 2020 is not an exception and we bring to you some ways that you can reduce yours too!
Adjust your driving style.
Try to accelerate and decelerate slowly. This will help you to use less gas and decrease the C02 emissions from your vehicle.
Check your tires.
Driving with under-inflated or over-inflated tires can reduce the fuel efficiency of your vehicle. Check your owner’s manual to determine the correct PSI of your tires and add or remove air as needed. The best time to check your tires is in the morning before you have driven your car because the temperature can fluctuate the reading.
National Tire Wholesale has a tire for your every driving need! Check out the list of brands we carry: http://www.nationaltire.ca/tires.html
National Tire Wholesale has a tire for your every driving need! Check out the list of brands we carry: http://www.nationaltire.ca/tires.html
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Get regular oil changes.
Oil changes should be done every 5,000 – 10,000 km. Check your oil regularly and if it is getting low or murky.
Get a tune-up.
Ensuring that all of your vehicle’s parts are working effectively can help to increase your fuel efficiency.
Our technicians only recommend maintenance and repairs to keep you and your car safe -you decide if you want to go ahead. These are some services we offer:
- Wheel Alignment
- Shocks and Struts
- Air conditioning Service and Repair
- Tire sales and service
- Custom Wheels
- Steering and Suspension
- Brake service
- Lift Kits
- Lowering Kits
- Leaf Spring sales and service
- Overload Kits
Remove the cargo rack.
Remove the cargo rack from your vehicle when you aren’t using it. Adding extra weight to your vehicle will increase the amount of gas you use and the amount of C02 you’re putting in the atmosphere.
Reduce the amount that you drive.
When the weather is warmer, try to walk or ride your bike. You can also start a carpool to get work or get your kids to school or their after-school activities.
The idea is to reduce the use of the car when situations on your lifestyle allow for it.
The idea is to reduce the use of the car when situations on your lifestyle allow for it.
Check your traffic apps.
Check traffic apps before you leave the house to make sure that you’re using less gas by going the quickest route to your destination.
By following these suggestions, you can increase your fuel efficiency and decrease your carbon footprint. If we all work together, we can all help to decrease C02 emissions.
Do you have any other suggestions? Let us know!
At National Tire Wholesale, you're in the driver's seat. Our technicians only recommend maintenance and repairs to keep you and your car safe.
GIVE US A TRY, YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!
In most areas of Canada, the winter season can significantly affect driving conditions, leaving you more prone to accidents. During the winter, even more so than other times of the year, it’s important to focus on defensive driving to protect yourself and keep your family safe and sound. Driving safely also helps keep your insurance rates down, while minimizing wear and tear on your vehicle. A big part of staying safe in the winter is making sure that your car is adequately prepared to handle whatever driving conditions you may face. Here are some steps you can take to prepare your vehicle and give yourself the best chance of staying safe over the winter months.
1. Make sure you have the right oil for your car.
Check your owner’s manual for the right oil for your specific vehicle, but in general oil like 5W30 works better in cold weather conditions than thicker 10W30 or 10W40. The thinner the oil, the more easily it circulates to lubricate your engine in colder temperatures.
2. Make sure your battery is in good condition.
| The last thing you need is to be stuck in the middle of nowhere and not be able to start your car. Make sure your battery’s connections are free of corrosion and if your battery is more than 3 years old, consider having a repair shop test its ability to hold a charge. Extreme cold pulls voltage from a battery, making it harder for your vehicle to start. In fact, battery output drops by about half at -18 C. Keeping your battery fully charged – either by driving regularly or by using a battery tender – will help prevent this winter woe. |  |
3. Check your tire pressure.
Due to the colder air, your tire pressure tends to drop a little bit in the winter. Keeping your tires at the manufacturer’s recommended pressure makes your car easier to handle, making you safer on the roads and will even save you money by improving fuel economy! Most tires lose one pound per square inch for every 5 C drop in temperature, making it critical to regularly check pressure in winter. An improperly inflated tire can cause excessive wear on your tire’s tread, reduces traction for your car, and uses more gas. You can find the right tire pressure (psi) for your car in the driver-side door jamb, on a sticker in your glove compartment, or in the owner’s manual.
4. Make sure your windshield wipers are in good condition.
Faulty windshield wipers can significantly impair your ability to see in wet weather conditions. If your wipers are bent, twisted or simply don’t clear your windshield adequately, then replace them. The rubber on winter blades is designed for extreme weather conditions and will help protect your windshield against ice, sleet, and snow so you can see the road clearly.
Installing wiper blades is a snap to do, too.
Installing wiper blades is a snap to do, too.
5. Consider snow tires.
If your area usually gets a significant amount of snow, it may be worth getting snow tires for your car during the winter months. Snow tires have deeper grooves that provide significantly more traction than all season tires, making them capable of stopping your car as much as 40% faster than all season tires. In addition, snow tires are made of a different type of rubber which allows them to maintain their flexibility even in very cold conditions. You’ll feel safer and more confident in your ability to adequately control your car, no matter what happens on the roads! Winter tires give a better grip and provide up to 50 percent better traction on cold, wet, icy, or frosty roads. Always check your owner’s manual for manufacturer recommendations and make sure you use a set of four identical tires.
6. Make sure your antifreeze mixture is correct.
Your coolant should be a 50-50 combination of antifreeze and water. If you’re unsure, you can buy an inexpensive antifreeze tester at most auto part stores. Having less than 50% antifreeze can leave your engine vulnerable to freezing up.
7. Make sure you keep an emergency kit in your car at all times.
A well stocked emergency kit can be a lifesaver if you find yourself stranded on a highway in the middle of nowhere. A proper winter emergency kit for your vehicle includes:
- At least one warm blanket.
- Extra warm clothes, including boots, gloves and hats.
- Drinking water and food. Chocolate bars and candy are good choices due to their high sugar content.
- A flashlight.
- A shovel for digging you out of deep snow.
- Jumper cables.
- A flare.
- Extra windshield wipers.
- A first aid kit.
- A bag of sand or salt to give you extra traction if you get stuck.
- Windshield washer fluid.
8. Keep your gas tank as full as possible.
Not only does this prevent you from running out of gas and being stranded, it also lowers the chance that your gas lines will freeze up due to water vapours and condensation in very cold weather.
9. Take your car in for a tune up prior to the first snow fall.
Keeping your car well maintained is a good idea at any time, but it’s especially important during the winter when driving conditions are poor and you may be taking lengthy trips for the holidays. Keeping your car in peak condition lowers your chances of getting stranded and gives you the peace of mind to know you’re prepared.
10. Have your brakes checked.
| If it’s been more than six months since your last brake check, have them checked again before the winter driving season. With the slippery road conditions that winter brings, being able to stop quickly is even more important than usual. Incorporating these seasonal checks can help keep your car running smoothly and safely throughout the winter season, giving you one less thing to worry about when you’re out on the road, and safer driving will keep you safe. |  |
Our service includes but not limited to recommending maintenance and repairs to keep you and your car safe -you decide if you want to go ahead.
At National Tire Wholesale, you're in the driver's seat. Our technicians only recommend maintenance and repairs to keep you and your car safe.
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Gorm Dagoe and
Nicole Syme
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4 Things About Tires You May Not Have Known!
Are Car Interiors Toxic In The Summer?
BC Winter Tire Law & Winter Tips
Beware!
Car Maintenance
Do Your Tires Really Affect Your Gas Mileage?
Get Car Winter Ready Now!
Happy Holidays From National Tire!
How To: Choose Snow Tires
How To Do A Tire Safety Check
How To Drive Green This Spring
Is All Season Tires Ok For Winter?
Last Minute Gifts
Oil Changes & Wheel Alignments
Potholes Season Is Here
Storing Tires
Tire Buying Tips #1
Tire Myths
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Top 10 Interesting Facts You Didn’t Know About Tires
Vancouver Destination
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When Should I Switch Over To Winter Tires?
Winter Road Trip Car Preparation
Winter Tires
With Road Trip Season Approaching: How To Prepare Your Car For A Road Trip
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