 Winter is coming to British Columbia, which also means: it’s time for winter tires! There are some myths about winter tires that we'll debunk in this blog. If you use any of these for excuses, it’s time to think again. 1. There is not much snow in Metro Vancouver.“Each year, there’s hardly any snow anymore.” Well, winter tires are not just snow tires, and they do more than just give you traction on the snow. They’re engineered for wetter weather - pretty much our Vancouver winter - with tread that’s designed to channel water and slush out from under them, which helps avoid hydroplaning — a dangerous situation where your tire’s tread fills with water and “floats” on top of the puddles, and you lose control.
Rubber naturally hardens in cold weather, which reduces its grip. Winter tires are made of a specific rubber compound that keeps them supple at lower temperatures. Tire grip is important not just for acceleration, but also for lane changes and braking. The general rule is that when the temperature drops below 7°C, winter tires grip better than all-season tires.
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 As the weather changes from Summer to Winter, it’s a reminder to change over your seasonal tires as well.
In British Columbia, certain roads in mountainous terrain are accessible only to vehicles equipped with winter tires. However, winter driving in Vancouver – as with other cities on the “Wet Coast” – comes with its particular challenges. The combination of the closeness of the ocean, the temperature fluctuations, and the moisture in the air can create dangerous driving conditions. We highly recommend using winter tires for our Canadian climate and so do the tire manufacturers. This isn’t an evil plot to sell more tires, because by using different tires for summer and winter you are doubling the length of time each set of tires will last. The reasons for changing back and forth are primarily better traction, which makes your vehicle safer to drive. Meaning you are no longer “that person” spinning tires at every light. Tire companies recommend switching tire types when temperatures are about 10 degrees Celsius. While you can use summer tires below that temperature and winter tires above that temperature, you will gain the most benefit by switching when temperatures average around 10 degrees.  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.  The little book that no one reads, but that can make you comfortable with your car. 1. How to Check Your FluidsYour car, as a machine needs lubrication and cooling to run optimally. For this, your car has been designed to run on specific fluids for your engine, gearbox, power steering, cooling system etc. Your car manual gives you specific details on these fluids and where they should be put in your car. It also tells you the exact quantity required for each system. Please note that using the wrong fluids can drastically cut short the life of the affect system in your car. More importantly, owners often need help locating where to measure fluids because the location can greatly differ between models.  Your guess is right, tires are made of Rubber, but in the name of safety, durability and performance, there are many more tire ingredients used in the production process. On average, a modern tire on a passenger car will contain up to 25 components and as many as 12 different rubber compounds.
 A vehicle’s air conditioning system does not create cold air, as some folks think. It actually takes the heat and moisture out of the air that is already in your car, leaving behind cooler air. Having a good understanding of how the components work can help to explain the process of air conditioning.
 We’ve compiled the following list of tips, with the intention of getting your ride gleaming with ease, protecting its appearance, and leaving more money in your pocket and time in your schedule.
You and your family may find your vehicles being driven far more infrequently than usual.
Leaving cars parked for long periods of time can have unforeseen consequences that can impact both the reliability and potentially safety of the vehicles. With so much uncertainty right now, you may not want to take your car off the road for such a long period. In today's blog we'll cover some common trouble spots to watch out for and give you simple solutions for keeping your car moving. 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!  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. 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. 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.  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. 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. 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.  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 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!
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