AUTONET TV

Below 45 Degrees in CHERRY HILL: Consider Winter Tires

Remember snow tires? They were basically just regular tires with big, knobby lugs to get them through deep snow. They were loud and rode hard, and CHERRY HILL drivers couldn't wait to get them off the car. Then along came television advertisements for “all-season” radials. NJ drivers ran out and bought some and we thought we were done with snow tires forever.

Tires have come a long way since then. Modern winter tires sold in the CHERRY HILL area are much better designed for the wide range of conditions that come with NJ winter weather. They are made with a rubber compound that helps them stay flexible in cold weather. Regular tires become hard and stiff at CHERRY HILL temperatures below 45°F (7° C) which reduces their traction. That's a concern in winter, especially with snowy or wet conditions. But it also means that CHERRY HILL drivers are better off with winter tires in cold weather even when it's dry.

The tread design on winter tires has been improved to move snow, slush and water. The lugs and grooves throw packed snow out of the tread as the tire rotates. This means the tread is open and ready to move more snow when it rolls around again. Summer tires can pack up with snow, which makes them more dangerous than a bald tire.

The all-season tire that is popular among CHERRY HILL drivers is a compromise between summer and winter performance. This means they give adequate performance for CHERRY HILL drivers in either season but aren't great in either. Summer tires give great performance in hot weather but lousy performance in winter. CHERRY HILL drivers need to put more thought into their tire choices these days.

If you want the performance that new winter tires can give you, you should have them properly installed by your friendly and professional service advisor at Joe D'Auria's Auto. It's best to purchase four snow tires and put them on all the wheels of your vehicle. But if you only want two, you need to put them on the rear of your vehicle, even if you drive a front-wheel drive vehicle. CHERRY HILL drivers always want to put the tires with the best traction on the rear of the vehicle.

For more auto advice about tires for any NJ season, ask your friendly and knowledgeable Joe D'Auria's Auto tire professional. They can help you find the right tire for your area and for your driving needs. For the best performance from your tires, whatever the season, don't forget preventive maintenance. Keep your tires up to pressure for the best durability, safety and performance, but don't overinflate them. Remember, good car care provides the safest road for all of us in CHERRY HILL.

Joe D'Auria's Auto
1401 BRACE RD
CHERRY HILL, NJ 08034
(56.427.9422
www.autorepaircherryhill.com

Keep It Rolling Right

Keeping your tires rotated regularly is one of the simplest yet most important maintenance services you can perform on your vehicle. It is where each tire is moved to a different position: front to back, side to side. That rotation helps to ensure your tires wear evenly, which directly impacts safety, performance and long‑term cost.

Front and rear tires experience different loads and stress. Front tires handle steering, braking and most of the vehicle’s weight during stops, causing them to wear faster. If the front tires are not rotated, uneven wear can lead to reduced traction, longer stopping distances and a less stable driving experience. Rotating your tires helps balance out these forces, giving all four tires a more consistent grip on the road.

Another benefit of even tire wear is it improves fuel efficiency. When tires wear unevenly, they create more rolling resistance and make the engine work harder, resulting in lower mileage. A simple rotation can help maintain optimal efficiency and save you money at the pump.

When your tires are regularly rotated, it extends their life. You know what a new set of tires can set you back, and rotation helps you get the maximum mileage out of them. It also allows technicians to inspect your tires regularly for damage, punctures or alignment issues before they become serious problems.

Many manufacturers recommend you keep your tires rotated about every 5,000 to 7,500 miles/8,000 to 12,000 km.  Think of it this way.  Tire rotation is a small service with big benefits. It enhances safety, improves handling, boosts fuel economy and protects your tire investment.

Joe D'Auria's Auto
1401 BRACE RD
CHERRY HILL, NJ 08034
(56.427.9422
www.autorepaircherryhill.com

Trip Inspection at Joe D'Auria's Auto in CHERRY HILL

Now CHERRY HILL drivers can't always avoid problems, but you can take steps to reduce the probability of getting sidelined on your trip. The first step is to look at your trip plan from your vehicle's perspective. What kind of roads will you be traveling – winding NJ byways? Purple mountain majesties or fruited plains? What weather conditions are you likely to encounter? How far will you travel each day? How much weight will you be hauling – passengers and luggage? Pulling a trailer, a rooftop carrier, or ATVs? Will it be dusty?

Prepared with answers to these questions, you can schedule a trip inspection at Joe D'Auria's Auto in CHERRY HILL to help you prepare your vehicle for your big adventure. Many of our CHERRY HILL customers prefer to go through this exercise with their friendly, knowledgeable service advisor to get their input and ensure they haven't overlooked anything.

A great place for CHERRY HILL drivers to start is with the tires. Inspect them for tread wear and proper inflation. Is it time to rotate your tires? Replace them? Are they up to the job? You wouldn't want to drive regular highway tires on a muddy off-road adventure on NJ rock-crawling trails. 

Shocks and struts play a major role in both driving comfort and safety. If they need to be replaced, you'll really be glad you did once you hit the road. Is it time for a wheel alignment? Fighting a car that's pulling to one side all day can be tiring and dangerous. 

And don't forget your brakes. Any strange noises, grabbing, soft or hard pedal feel? If there is any doubt, get a brake inspection at Joe D'Auria's Auto in CHERRY HILL before you leave.

Moving under the hood, have a belts-and-hoses inspection. If something is excessively worn or near failure, the stress of a long road trip might just be the straw that breaks the camel's back. Talk to your service advisor at Joe D'Auria's Auto.

Your engine air filter will be inspected. Your car's air filter processes 12,000 times as much air as the fuel the engine burns. If the filter needs to be changed, you'll notice improvements on your trip.

How close are you to your next oil change? Will you be able to complete your trip before it's due? If not, just get it taken care of before you go so that you don't need to interrupt your trip. In fact, a full-service oil change at Joe D'Auria's Auto is a great idea because they will top off all your fluids and check for any other maintenance items due, such as transmission or cooling system service.

Do you notice any unusual odors in your vehicle? If so, it could be as harmless as a dirty cabin air filter. But if it's an exhaust leak, it could be fatal for CHERRY HILL drivers and their passengers on a long trip. Of course, you'll want to be comfortable, so get an air conditioning service if you aren't getting the cold air you’re used to. 

Are your wiper blades still working well? If not, that is a quick and inexpensive fix for CHERRY HILL drivers. Headlamps are often overlooked when planning for a trip. If you haven't changed the bulb in six months or so, replacement bulbs will really light up the night on your trip and provide the necessary after-sundown visibility.

All the items mentioned are part of any good vehicle maintenance plan. These are things that you want to take care of anyway, but they all become more important as you plan for your trip.

Joe D'Auria's Auto
1401 BRACE RD
CHERRY HILL, NJ 08034
(56.427.9422
www.autorepaircherryhill.com

Knowledge is Power (Battery Testing)

It’s likely happened to you once or twice.  You head to your vehicle, open the door, turn the key and… lo and behold, your battery is dead. Now you’re stranded, may have to get a jump or a tow, and you’ll definitely be late for wherever you were headed. While your vehicle may sometimes give you warning signs, other times it doesn’t.  

As many as one out of every four vehicles will have to have its battery replaced in the next 12 months.  If you don’t want to be surprised the next time your battery fails, consider having it tested.

There are different types of battery testing.  One measures voltage. Another checks for something called conductance.  By sending a certain type of electric current into the battery, it can measure how healthy your vehicle’s battery is.  There’s also a load test.  It checks how your battery is working while drawing power from it.  Newer test equipment found in professional service facilities can check for a number of different conditions using different methods. 

Most vehicle batteries last around five years.  It all depends on how you drive and in what conditions.  Extreme heat and cold will take their toll on a battery and shorten its life.  Stop-and-go city driving will also place batteries under more stress than smooth, continuous driving.  

So, what are some signs that your battery is starting to show its age? Well, the battery or alternator light may illuminate after you’ve started the vehicle or come on while you are driving.  If you’ve left lights or some equipment on and drained the battery, that can be very hard on it.

Because the battery is one of your vehicle’s most important components, it’s a good idea to have us check it regularly. In addition to examining the battery itself, a technician will also inspect the terminals and cables for corrosion, damage, fraying wires and loose connections.  It’s smart to have us do it before any extreme weather changes are expected or before long trips. In this case, knowledge truly is power.

Joe D'Auria's Auto
1401 BRACE RD
CHERRY HILL, NJ 08034
(56.427.9422
www.autorepaircherryhill.com