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It’s that time of year: switching from summer to winter tires

In Tires and Wheels by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

The weather is getting colder, and any day now there’s going to be snow on the ground. You know that driving in the snow can be a hassle, and sometimes even dangerous. And just like you change over from your summer wardrobe to your winter wardrobe, you need to swap out your tires for the season.

Summer tires

Summer tires have a lot of advantages. If you have a performance vehicle, like a BMW or an Audi, then you’re going to want a quality set of wheels to get more traction and tread for the best response when turning and braking on the road. And while summer tires are created to handle rain, hot pavement, and other summer weather factors, they’re not going to be able to perform nearly as well on slick and icy roads.

All season tires

BF Goodrich performance tire.

BF Goodrich performance tire

Many drivers opt for an all-season tire, because – as the name implies – they are built to be used in all seasons. All-season tires are designed to stand up to many weather conditions, across the seasons, but they’re no substitute for winter or snow tires, particularly if you’re in an area where there’s a moderate to severe amount of snowfall each winter.

Winter tires

Winter tires are created to perform in icy and snowy driving conditions, and provide the maximum amount of traction and grip on the roads. When you need reliability and you want to ensure safety out there on the roads this winter, the best way to make sure that happens is to have a set of quality winter wheels on your vehicle. They have the ability to perform on drive pavement, but they’re designed with inclement weather in mind. That extra traction is going to give you extra stopping time when braking, and when you’re driving around other vehicles, and you start to slide, those extra couple of feet can make a major difference in the outcome.

So when it comes to the safety and reliability of your vehicle in every season, making sure you have a set of summer and winter tires to alternate between the seasons is an excellent idea. At Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire we have technicians and staff that can answer all of your questions about the different types of tires, and which ones work best for your vehicle in all seasons, and all weather.

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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Getting your vehicle stocked and prepared for winter

In Maintenance, Safety by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

Are you prepared if something happens while you’re in your vehicle this winter? It’s important to be prepared for winter, and when it comes to having supplies in your car it’s no exception.

Keeping a small emergency kit on hand in your vehicle is the best way to make sure that you have what you need, whether it’s getting stuck in a snowbank or a dead battery.

Here are the supplies you should keep in your car’s emergency kit:

  • A jumper cable. You may also want to include some flares and a reflective triangle for breakdowns.
  • Flashlight with extra batteries.
  • First aid kit with any of your medications included.
  • Formula and diapers (if you have a small child).
  • Non-perishable food items, including canned food and protein-dense foods, and a manual can opener to open any cans.
  • Water. Preferably a gallon of water per person a day. Try to prepare for three days’ worth.
  • Some tools, including a screwdriver and pliers.
  • A radio.
  • Cat litter or sand, to get better traction in icy areas.
  • An ice scraper and shovel to remove snow from your vehicle.
  • Warm clothing or blankets.
  • A cell phone charger.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire wants to make sure that all of our customers are safe and prepared, especially with the winter weather coming. In addition to your emergency kit, making sure to get your car serviced and installing snow tires are a good investment in your safety and your vehicle this winter.

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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Steve’s Auto Repair donates minivan to automotive program

In Community Involvement by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire was proud to donate a minivan and automotive parts to the Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) Automotive Program, based out of Manassas.

“Steve’s has been loading the van up with starters and air conditioning compressors…a half shaft, a steering rack,” said Gary Phares, an automotive instructor at NOVA.

According to another automotive instructor at NOVA, John Hicks, the program currently has 150 students in day and night classes.

“We train in all eight areas of ASE [certification]…brakes, alignments, suspension, electrical, AC, engine repair, engine performance, automatic transmission, manual transmission,” said Hicks.

How the minivan donation helps

At NOVA there is a 2 year automotive degree program, or a one year certificate program with job placement assistance.

While the program is popular, Hicks and Phares said that they rely mainly on donations from automotive shops, like Steve’s, to get parts they need.

“We use a variety of things in the program, so it’s not so much a question on what we need, it’s what can we get…we pretty much rely on donations,” said Hicks.

Phares said there is especially need for manual transmissions and manual transmission vehicles.

The instructors will pick up any vehicles or parts that are donated to the program, according to Phares.

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.

Do you know the street safety rules around school buses?

In Safety by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

The school year in Virginia has just begun, and that means that school buses will be back out on the road.

Do YOU know the rules for driving and stopping around school buses?

  1. When you see a school bus stopped with flashing red lights and an extended stop sign on the side of the bus, you must stop your vehicle from any direction, if you are on a highway, private road or school road. You must stay stopped until the area is clear, and the bus is moving again.
  2. If a bus is loading or letting off passengers and the signals are not on, you still must stop.
  3. If you are driving on a road in the opposite direction with a road that has a median or a barrier, and the bus is on the other side, then you do not have to stop.

Make sure to follow the rules of the road and be safe this school year.

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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Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire donates to Hilda Barg homeless shelter in Woodbridge

In Community Involvement by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

Hilda Barg Homeless Prevention Shelter sign.

Hilda Barg Homeless Prevention Shelter in Woodbridge Virginia.

ST Billingsley, owner of Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire, visited the Hilda Barg Homeless Prevention Center in Woodbridge.

After hearing that the shelter was in dire need of pillows for its residents, Billingsley wanted to help.

“Being a part of the community is important to us, and we always want to help when we can. We’re proud at Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire to be able to donate these pillows and help out residents in need,” said Billingsley.

He went to deliver a month’s worth of pillows to the volunteers, who were very excited about the donation.

“You don’t realize you need things like that, until you don’t have them,” said a Hilda Barg Homeless Prevention Shelter volunteer.

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.