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Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire wins ‘Best Automotive Repair Shop’ from Virginia Living

In Shop Talk by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

Virginia Living magazine cover.Our Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire team is proud to be listed as the ‘Best Automotive Repair Shop’ in Virginia Living Magazine’s Best of Virginia 2017 list.

Each year the magazine highlights the best places to eat, shop, have fun – and get your car repaired. More than 50,000 people voted for this year’s winners.

Steve’s was selected as the best shop not only because of the repairs and customer service we provide, but for the work we do to give back to the community.

Here’s our blurb from Virginia Living Magazine:

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire; StevesAutoRepairVA.com: An official Goodyear dealer, Steve’s Auto Repair offers services, including inspections, tune-ups and engine repairs and replacements. The team is committed to community outreach and has opened the shop to help Cub Scouts build Pinewood Derby cars for their annual race, and donated a bus to a local Boys and Girls Club.Best Automotive Repair Shop – Steve's Auto Repair & Tire.

“We’re incredibly proud to be the recipient of Virginia Living’s ‘Best Automotive Repair Shop’ award. While we’re not in the business to win awards, it’s always encouraging to be recognized for our commitment to provide top-notch automotive repair, and contribute to the Prince William County community,” said Steve’s owner ST Billingsley.

We’d like to give congratulations to second place winner Shannon Auto Repair and third place winner Olde Towne Auto Repair.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located in Woodbridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire now a Dunlop tire dealer

In Shop Talk, Tires and Wheels by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

Dunlop Direzza Sport Performance Tire.

Dunlop Direzza Sport Performance Tire

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is proud to say that we’re now a certified Dunlop tire dealer.

By being a Dunlop tire dealer, Steve’s will now be stocked with the full line of Dunlop tires, with the most updated equipment and tools to help take care of your vehicle.

“All Dunlop tires come with a 30 day pledge. This gives our customers 30 days behind the wheel to determine if Dunlop tires are the right fit for their vehicle and driving style. And if they aren’t 100% satisfied, we can exchange them with another set of eligible tires within 30 days of that purchase,” said Steve’s Service Manager Gabe Guarino.

Dunlop Rover All Terrrain Tire for Trucks and SUV's.

Dunlop Rover All Terrrain Tire for Trucks and SUV’s

There is the added bonus that all Steve’s customers can now take advantage of any rebates that Dunlop offers on their tires.

Dunlop Tire options

Dunlop carries several popular models in stock that you can get at Steve’s, including the Direzza DZ102, the Dunlop Signature II, and the Dunlop Grandtrek SJ6.

The Direzza DZ102 tire is popular for Acura TLs, the Ford Focus, Mustangs, Honda Accords, Nissan Altimas and Maximas, Toyota Camrys and Corollas, and VW Jettas.

The Dunlop Signature IIs are popular for Chevy Cobalts and Equinoxes, Chrysler 300s and Sebrings, the Ford Focus and Ford Fusions, Honda Civics, Nissan Sentras and Versas, and Toyota Echos and Solaras.

Dunlop All Season Tire.

Dunlop All Season Tire

The Dunlop Grandtek SJ6s are popular for Acura MDXs, BMW X5s, Buick Enclaves, Cadillac Escalades, Dodge Rams, Chevy Silverados and Trailblazers, and Ford Explorers.

Steve’s offers a road hazard warranty for Dunlop tires that can be purchased.

“At Steve’s were happy to be able to offer our customers Dunlop tires as a Dunlop dealer. The Dunlop brand is known for its reliability and durability, and the 30 day guarantee Dunlop offers and allows our customers to be confident in the decision. Tires are an important investment,” said Steve’s Owner ST Billingsley.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located in Woodbridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire in Woodbridge now a certified Kelly tire dealer

In Shop Talk, Tires and Wheels by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

Kelly Springfield Tire Charger GT Performance Tire.

Kelly Springfield Tire Charger GT Performance Tire

If you’re in need of Kelly brand tires in the Woodbridge area then you’re in luck, as Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire now a fully certified Kelly tire dealer.

As a certified dealer, Steve’s is now fully stocked with the full line of Kelly tires, and have the equipment needed to make sure Kelly tires are properly installed and cared for.

Kelly Springfield Edge A/S all season tire.

Kelly Springfield Edge A/S all season tire

“As with all Goodyear tires, Kelly tires come with a 30 day test drive program. This means that our customers get up to 30 days with Kelly tires on their vehicle, to make sure that they like the tires and that they’re a good fit for their needs. If they aren’t happy with the tires, as a Kelly dealer we’re able to exchange them for another set of eligible tires within those 30 days,” said Steve’s Service Manager Gabe Guarino.

In addition to this guarantee, Steve’s customers with Kelly tires can also instantly take advantage of all Kelly tire offers.

Different Kelly tire models

At the shop, Steve’s has several popular Kelly tire models that will work with your vehicle including the Kelly Charger GT, the Kelly Edge All Season, and the Kelly Safari ATR.

Kelly Springfield All Terrain Tire.

Kelly Springfield All Terrain Tire

The Kelly Charger GT is a sporty tire with enhanced traction, and all season grip, and a black serrated sidewall design. This tire model works well with the Acura Integra, Audi A4 and A6, the BMW 5 and 7, the Cadillac CTS and Seville, Honda Accord, Civic, and Prelude, the Mercedes E Class, and the Nissan Altima and Maxima.

The Kelly Edge All Season is an all season tire with enhanced grip, long treadwear, and enhanced handling. And the Kelly Safari ATR is great for all terrain driving, with self-cleaning traction grooves to move through mud and snow in any season.

Kelly Springfield Tire HP Performance Tire.

Kelly Springfield Tire HP Performance Tire

Steve’s also offers an additional road hazard warranty that can be purchased for Kelly tires.

“We’re excited to be a certified Kelly tire dealer. By being a Kelly dealer, we can make sure that our customers have access to the full line of Kelly tires, and that they can take advantage of the 30 day guarantee, as well as the instant rebates Kelly offers,” said Steve’s Owner ST Billingsley.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located in Woodbridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire now a Goodyear Tire dealer

In Shop Talk, Tires and Wheels by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

Goodyear Tire.

Goodyear Tires in Woodbridge Virginia

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is now a certified Goodyear Tire dealer.

As a Goodyear Tire dealer, the shop offers the full line of Goodyear tires, with up-to-date tire machines, technicians that can fix your tire light, and nitrogen – a better option than compressed air for your tires.

“The benefit for the customer is that if they have any type of Goodyear tire warranty or recall information, they can come directly to us to get that fixed. We’re the only Goodyear dealer currently in the Woodbridge area,” said Steve’s Service Manager Gabe Guarino.

Customers can now also take advantage of Goodyear tire rebates at the shop.

Popular Goodyear Tire brands availableGoodyear Tire logo.

Some popular Goodyear brands Steve’s now has in stock are the Wranglers, Assurance, Eagle LS-2, and the classic Eagle RS-A.

“Those came in stock, all the way back from 1990 Nissan Maximas. The Goodyear RS-A is also what every single police Interceptor Cruiser uses,” Guarino said of the RS-As.

Steve’s Auto offers road hazard warranties for all Goodyear tires, with a 3-year, 2/3nds of wear warranty.

Goodyear tires on a truck.

Goodyear Tires in Lake Ridge Virginia

“We’re proud to be able to offer Goodyear products in our shop. Goodyear is known for their durability and quality, and we’re able to help our customers by becoming the only Woodbridge area Goodyear dealer,” said Steve’s Owner ST Billingsley.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located in Woodbridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.

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Why do auto repair shops not want to use my own parts?

In Shop Talk by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

Keeping your car well maintained is important. And for some people, letting a technician isn’t enough – they want to take the extra step and order their own auto parts and really be a part of the process. And while that effort is appreciated, there are several reasons why many auto repair shops will not install car parts that you bring to them when you’re getting your vehicle serviced.

The easiest way to explain why is to give you some example scenarios.

Alternator and Air Filter from a quality aftermarket parts supplier.

Alternator and Air Filter from a quality aftermarket parts supplier

Let’s say you order your water pump and timing belt off of the internet or purchase them at a local parts supply house.  When you bring in your parts, you are feeling all happy because you feel like you just saved yourself some money. In this scenario, let’s pretend we agree to install them.

One of our technicians gets your car into the bay, and sets it up on the lift. We go to install your part – but oh, wait –the water pump does not fit. Then you’re in a position where we’ve begun labor, and now you’re stuck with a part that doesn’t fit, waiting for days or weeks until you can get the appropriate part from an internet parts retailer or taking time to run back and forth to the store to complete the job, all the while the car is stuck in the repair shops bay.

Genuine GM parts from the dealer.

Genuine GM parts from the dealer

Or say, maybe we installed that part, and six months down the road, you return to our shop and say the water pump and timing belt we installed are making noise and are not working properly. If we had installed your parts – and not our own – then you aren’t covered with the 2 year, 24,000 mile warranty that we offer our customers with our parts. And while yes we do need to sell auto parts in order to keep our shop open, another important reason why we do that is so we can offer the great warranty.

In this scenario, you would now be paying our shop two times for the same job to be performed, and overall you haven’t saved any money.

Now let’s look at another scenario so you can better understand the hazard of using your own parts, instead of those from an auto repair shop.

Radiator for a Nissan from an aftermarket parts supplier.

Radiator for a Nissan from an aftermarket parts supplier

Say you call the shop to get a price on replacing an oxygen sensor.  You say you have been to a local auto parts house and have the code and they say it’s your oxygen sensor. You are asking us to put in the part that you have, and go off of another person’s word that this will fix your problem with the check engine light.

Then comes in the fact that as an auto repair shop, we absorb the liability when you walk out the door with your car keys in hand. If you were to have someone install a customer supplied part and it’s wrong, it could cost cause further car problems, an accident, or even put your safety at risk.

Radiator cap from an overseas parts supplier.

Radiator cap from an overseas parts supplier

When you allow us to diagnose and replace the products that we purchase we are guaranteeing your money is well spent.  If the part fails, you will not be paying labor again, nor will you be paying for the part. We as a company have to absorb the expense when a part fails within its warranty time and that is why we use quality parts from our trusted suppliers.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located in Woodbridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.