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Since car tires usually need to be replaced every three or four years, here’s a refresher course on how to make sure you’re getting the right ones. Most car tires fall into three main types: all-season, summer, and winter. Most people buy all-season tires because it’s easier and cheaper than buying one set for the winter and another for summer.

All-season car tires deliver a good, well-rounded performance but are never outstanding in any way. Summer tires deliver on handling and dry/wet braking, but they have dismal snow traction. By contrast, winter tires have outstanding snow traction but just fair braking ability on cleared roads. Within each car tire category, there is a range of performance, as our tests routinely remind us. To see the basic differences in tire types, look at the chart below.

First, consult your owner’s manual or the placard on the driver’s side door jamb to find the recommended tire measurements. The label will look something like this: P215/60R16 94T.

You should match the tire’s size measurements, but you have some flexibility to go higher with the load index and speed rating.

For more on how to read a tire label, go to our tire buying guide.

Many retail websites will give you a listing of all tires available in your size. But in many cases, you’ll need to dig deeper to match the speed rating. The list below can help ID your tire type.

• All-season tires come in S- and T-speed ratings. Known for good all-weather grip and long mileage, these are commonly fit to mainstream cars and SUVs.
• Performance all-season tires come in H- and V-speed rating on many newer cars, especially those with enthusiast appeal or upgraded wheels. They tend to have better cornering grip than S- and T-speed rated all-season tires, but performance tires may not wear as long.

The post How to choose the right tires for your vehicle first appeared on Etney Automobile.

• A – Always follow a preventative vehicle maintenance plan.
• B – Be sure to have your car inspected when you suspect there is a problem.
• C – Correct the problem to help avoid the inconvenience and potential safety hazards of breaking down away from home.

“Most young people can’t wait to drive, but their car care education should begin well before their parents hand over the keys,” said Rich White, executive director, CarePair. “Understanding the basics of car care before taking the wheel will help keep new drivers safer on the road.”

The CarePair recommends that new drivers keep a free copy of its popular car care guide in the glove box and learn about 10 car care inspection procedures that are an important part of any preventative vehicle maintenance plan:

1. Check all fluids, including engine oil, power steering, brake, and transmission as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.
2. Check the hoses and belts to make sure they are not cracked, brittle, frayed, loose or showing signs of excessive wear.
3. Check the battery and replace if necessary. Make sure the connection is clean, tight and corrosion-free.
4. Check the brake system annually and have the brake linings, rotors and drums inspected at each oil change.
5. Inspect the exhaust system for leaks, damage and broken supports or hangers if there is an unusual noise. Exhaust leaks can be dangerous and must be corrected without delay.
6. Schedule a tune-up to help the engine deliver the best balance of power and fuel economy and produce the lowest level of emissions.
7. Check the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system as proper heating and cooling performance is critical for interior comfort and for safety reasons such as defrosting.
8. Inspect the steering and suspension system annually including shock absorbers, struts and chassis parts such as ball joints, tie rod ends and other related components.
9. Check the tires, including tire pressure and tread. Uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots.
10. Check the wipers and lighting so that you can see and be seen. Check that all interior and exterior lighting is working properly and replace worn wiper blades so you can see clearly when driving during precipitation.

The post The abc’s of car care for new drivers first appeared on Etney Automobile.

A car service is essentially a check carried out by a mechanic who analyses the essential systems in your car. They will be looking to make sure the vehicle is safe to drive on the road which is why it is a legal requirement to have you serviced every twelve months.

A car service is NOT an MOT, even though many of the same parts and systems will be inspected during each. The difference between an MOT and car service is that an MOT is a standardized check with specific rules and regulations set by the government. A car service is carried out and fully controlled by the mechanic or garage carrying the work out. This means that the pricing will change from garage to garage alone as well as from car to car, much like any other repair work.

There are two different types of car service, the interim car service, and full car service. As each service will change from garage to garage, they will carry out different checks and look at different parts.

Therefore it is vital that you are able to talk to more than one garage before you have the job completed. You need to be able to compare price and how thorough the checks will be. Fortunately, you are in the perfect place!

All you have to do is enter the details of your car in the form below and then sit back and relax while local garages send you direct quotes for a full or interim service. Below you will see what most garages will check during a service however it is always worth checking before you book your car in as some garages may not cover what is listed.

Most of a car’s parts and systems should be checked during a full car service or interim service, furthermore, if you require a top up of motor oil or any other repairs, you will have to pay an extra charge as a result.

A car service is essentially a full diagnostic to find out about the health of a car, it is not a service where specific repairs are included. That is why it can help to have interim checks six months before a full service, if there is a minor problem, the interim check would find it and you will be able to resolve the issue before it gets any worse. However, if you do not have an interim check and you have an issue, it will only get worse meaning you will have to pay more money when it is eventually discovered in the full car service.

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Cabin air filters often live in the shadows of their more popular cousins — the engine air filter and oil filter — and some drivers don’t even know they exist. But highly rated auto technicians say they play an important role in filtering pollutants from entering the vehicle’s cabin.

“The cabin air filter is kind of out of sight, out of mind,” says Tom Potter, owner of highly rated Japanese Auto Masters in Virginia Beach, Va. “If you tell someone they need their cabin air filter changed, some say, ‘What is that?’ They think you’re talking about the engine air filter. I’ve seen people go 90,000 miles without changing it because they didn’t know they needed to.”
Your car’s engine air filter should be replaced when it gets dusty or dirty enough. But don’t let a mechanic convince you to replace it too frequently.

The primary purpose of cabin air filters, located on most vehicles since 2000, is keeping the air inside your vehicle’s cabin clean.
It’s typically located behind the glove compartment or under the hood or dashboard on most modern vehicles. Its job is to filter all of the air that comes through the car’s HVAC system to prevent pollutants, such as dust, pollen, smog and mold spores from entering. The filters can also catch rodent droppings, leaves, and other unwanted debris.

“They help with allergy problems,” says Potter, who has a monthly contest at his shop to pick the dirtiest cabin filter (the winner gets a free oil change.) “It helps prevent pollen from getting in the car if you live in an area with a lot of trees.”
Besides improving air quality, replacing the cabin air filter may prevent an expensive repair. “When the air is dirty, the A/C will work harder and the motor can burn up,” says Troy Roberts, owner of highly rated CarePair.

The post Changing Car’s Cabin Air Filter first appeared on Etney Automobile.

“Neglecting your cooling system can result in serious damage and even complete engine failure, which would put a sudden end to your summer road trip,” said Rich White, executive director, CarePair. “If the
cooling system doesn’t receive regular maintenance, it’s not a question of whether it will fail, but rather when it will fail. Performing regular checkups of belts, hoses, the water pump, and fluids will ensure your car remains properly cooled and healthy for many miles down the road.”

The primary job of the engine’s cooling system is to remove the heat that is generated during the combustion process. The coolant temperature can be well over 200 degrees and that heat has to go somewhere; otherwise, engine components are going to start failing. The key parts of the cooling system remove the heat from the engine and automatic transmission and dispel it to the air outside. The water pump circulates coolant through the engine. The coolant absorbs heat and returns it to the radiator where heat is dissipated. The thermostat regulates the coolant temperature to keep it consistent for efficient engine operation.

A major factor that affects the replacement of cooling system parts is the frequency of regular maintenance, such as coolant changes. Motorists should consult their owner’s manual for specific recommendations about how often to change antifreeze and flush the coolant system. A coolant flush and fill is basic to cooling system maintenance as new antifreeze helps the engine run cooler and a flush removes dirt or sediment that could damage other cooling system parts.

The coolant level should be checked regularly at the reservoir and motorists are reminded to NEVER open a hot radiator cap. If the coolant is low, a 50/50 mix of approved antifreeze and distilled water should be added.

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When we first featured them back in August 2011 with the video for early single Telephone Banking, they were utilizing an often under-used musical tool in the shape of a children’s Sega Mega Drive orchestra, while the video for A&E featured a giant gold snake creeping across the streets of London.

In the video for their top twenty single, the techno-meets-classical hybrid Mozart’s House, the band created an intricate stop-motion visual accompaniment, while Dust Clears soundtracked a short film inspired by Walter Raeburn’s painting, The Skating Minister.

While their current single Rather Be (co-written with Jimmy Napes, who helped create Disclosure’s Latch) continues their love for mixing uplifting, classical-inspired violin and featherlight dance, the video – premiered here – is tinged with a darker undercurrent, as the band’s Jack Patterson explains:

“[The song] is quite romantic, but the video is about a Japanese fan of the band that becomes delirious and has hallucinations of band members and our logo appearing unexpectedly in her daily life as a chef.”

Spoiler alert: it doesn’t end well for our poor heroine.

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The drain plug is a large nut or plug located under the oil pan at the bottom of the engine. If you can’t reach your oil drain plug easily, you’ll have to either crawl under your car to reach it or jack up the car.

You want this container to catch the oil, so make sure it’s big enough. Protect your hand with a rag or some paper towels, and be ready to move your hand out of the way. The oil now drains out of your engine into the container.

To unscrew the filter, twist it counterclockwise. The filter will have oil in it, so be careful not to spill it when you remove it. If any remnants of the filter’s rubber seal remain on your engine, remove them. After the filter is empty, wrap it in the newspaper and set it aside to take to a recycling center with your old oil.

Use the oil to moisten the gasket on the top of the new oil filter. Follow directions on the filter, or turn it gently by hand until it “seats” and then give it another three-quarter turn. Wipe around the place where the oil drain plug goes. If your vehicle uses an oil drain plug gasket, make sure the old one has been removed and lay a new gasket on the pan before you replace the plug.

Pour slowly to allow the oil time to run down. Check for leaks from the oil drain plug and around the filter. Remove the oil dipstick, wipe it with a clean, lint-free rag, and shove it back in. Pull it out again and check it.

Check the stick after each addition until you reach the “Full” line on the dipstick. Go around the block a couple of times. If it’s still at “Full,” you’re good to go!

You have successfully learned how to change your oil! As a final step, dispose of the old oil by taking it to an auto parts store or another oil-recycling center.

The post How to Change Your Oil first appeared on Etney Automobile.

Even by driving your shiny new wheels off the dealership, the meter starts running slowly downward on its value – Edmunds.com estimated that a Nissan 370Z bought for $29,800 will have dropped to $12,069 in value five years later, a 40 percent reduction.

What can owners do to keep a vehicle’s value as high as possible? A lot, actually. Auto experts recommend taking care of the outside with regular washes throughout the year, extra cleanings during the winter (especially if you live in a place that uses roadway de-icer in winter), and paying attention to all recommended service appointments and oil changes.

What about the interior? What kinds of things can car owners do to make sure everything looks good and stays as clean as possible with your car interior? Declare the car a no-food and no-drink zone, and be ready to enforce this rule. Kids, family members, co-workers, even yourself, have likely accidentally spilled a snack or meal in your car and have left something behind, whether it’s an old French fry or a spilled milkshake. The former is much easier to clean up than the latter, but aren’t always as easy to notice. You might have to get tough on people who are accustomed to eating meals or at least snacking on the road.

Cover surfaces as much as possible. Start with floor mats, which keep you from tracking in mud or dirt and grinding it into the carpets with your feet. Add seat covers, which can protect seat upholstery, may aid your posture and even help customize the look of your car. There may be plenty of shiny cars out there, but not many with this sort of special seat cover.

Wipe the glass. Though you think you can see out of the dashboard just fine, grime can build up quickly simply from your breathing, and you may not even realize it until you start scrubbing. The build-up is even greater if you or a passenger is a smoker. But any grime also can be quickly removed even with basic glass cleaner. Combine a favorite cleaner with a soft terrycloth-type towel that won’t leave streaks or particles and wipe the whole thing down.

The post How to Protect Your Car’s Interior first appeared on Etney Automobile.

Air pressure in a tire is like oil in an engine; when it is low, the resulting internal damage is unseen until it is too late. Tires naturally lose 1-2 psi per month, so ongoing neglect will eventually result in a tire that cannot support the weight of the vehicle and the occupants. When this happens, the resulting blow-out can result in the loss of control and an accident.

It’s also important to rotate the tires on the vehicle every 5-7,000 miles. Today’s front-wheel-drive vehicles cause the steer tires to wear at a much faster rate than the tires on the rear axle. By periodically rotating the front tires to the back and the back tires to the front, motorists can achieve even treadwear on all four tires and increase the mileage and performance.

Failing to rotate the tires often results in the front tires wearing out faster while the rear tires develop irregular treadwear patterns that cause vibrations. The same can be said for alignments. When the vehicle is not properly aligned, the tires will wear out faster which leads to increased operating costs.

Finally, drivers should perform a visual inspection of their tires on a regular basis, especially after hitting a pothole, curb or any type of road debris. Bulges, cuts and other visible damage weaken the internal components of the tire, which can lead to a blow-out. Regular visual inspections will often identify any potential problems before they result in an accident. It’s also a good idea to have the tires inspected by a professional before any long road trips to ensure there are no obvious out-of-service conditions that must be addressed.

The post Basic Tire Maintenance for Every Driver first appeared on Etney Automobile.