Do snow tires wear out faster on dry roads than on snowy and icy roads? | Car Doctor
Q: Do snow tires wear out faster on dry roads than on snowy and icy roads?
A: Winter tires have softer rubber compounds that add to the traction in snow, ice and cold temperatures. Due to the construction of the tires, they will wear a bit faster, which is why they are not generally used year-round.
Most drivers will wear out the car before they wear out winter tires when used seasonally.
Is an underbody rinse at carwash recommended to clear out road salt?
Q: Do you recommend an underbody rinse at a carwash to clean out road salt and other anti-icing materials, or can the blast of those water jets be harmful?
A: I do not think it is a great idea to do it weekly due to the high-pressure water spraying areas of the vehicle that may not have been designed to handle the pressure.
Today we use salt/sand, brine and magnesium chloride to improve road safety in winter. These chemicals over time can be harmful to your vehicle. My suggestion is, after a storm, use the undercar wash to clean the salt and accumulated dirt and then a few times per year to remove any other accumulated road grime/dirt.
Service station used synthetic oil without asking. Will it hurt the motor?
Q: I took our 2005 Ford Mustang GT convertible to our local station (been going there for more than10 years) for an oil change and tire rotation. The car currently has 141,000 miles on it. It is only used in nice weather after being an everyday commuting car for 15 years. Today, the car only travels about 3,000 miles a year.
The station came under new ownership. At the last oil change, they used synthetic oil. I questioned it. Their response was, “That’s what the car called for.” Is it going to damage the motor in any way? Should I leave it till the next change and go back to regular or have it drained and use regular oil?
A: The specified oil is a SAE 5W-20 Premium Motor Oil that is API certified. This could be conventional oil, a synthetic blend or full synthetic oil.
Synthetic oil is oil with chemical compounds that are artificially modified to provide faster, smoother flow. The result is easier starts in cold weather that improve lubrication and reduced wear.
Synthetic oil will not cause any harm, but if the car was not serviced regularly and has sludge, the synthetic oil can wash away the sludge and can find existing leaks.
Since it sounds like you have taken good care of your car, synthetic oil is a good choice. As long as the oil is the proper specification, the engine will be fine.
Why do repair shops look down on Nissan vehicles?
Q: I have driven Nissan products for more than 35 years without many headaches, yet the mechanical shops I have dealt with over that span seem to dislike the product, preferring Toyota and Honda much more. What is it about Nissan that makes these mechanics cringe?
A: Toyota and Honda make some of the highest quality vehicles on the planet. Comparing Nissan to Toyota is a bit like comparing Chevrolet to Toyota; the vehicles are good, just not as good.
There are a few areas in which past models of Nissan vehicles suffer: underbody rust, electronic glitches and the continuously variable transmission, which has a less-than-stellar rating when it comes to reliability.
Kia Sorento is giving 'service needed' message prematurely
Q: My 2023 Kia Sorento started showing me a “service needed” message at around 1,500 miles, and it was counting down every day. I went to my local Kia dealership and asked why I was getting this message. I was told it probably was for an oil change and tire rotation. I explained that there was only 1,500 miles on the car. They said it was not just keyed to the mileage, but also to time. Again, I explained that I'd had the car for about two months. I do not understand this, because the Kia owner’s manual calls for oil changes every 8,000 miles.
A: When the vehicle was delivered to you, the dealer’s service technician – as part of the inspection – should have reset the maintenance indicator. I suspect that was never done.
Additionally, as with many Kia and Hyundai vehicles, there are two reminder settings: one for normal and one for severe use. As an example, in my own vehicle, I can set the reminder for oil changes every 3,500 miles or 90 days, or 7,000 miles or 180 days.
If you go into the driver information center, it may shed some light on the reminder setting.
John Paul is the AAA Northeast Car Doctor. He has more than 40 years of experience in the automobile industry and is an ASE-Certified Master Technician. Write to John Paul, The Car Doctor, at 110 Royal Little Drive, Providence, RI 02904. Or email jpaul@aaanortheast.com and put “Car Doctor” in the subject field. Follow him on Twitter @johnfpaul or on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Do snow tires wear out faster on dry roads? | Car Doctor
