Debunking Winter Driving Myths

There’s a lot of advice out there about how to drive during the cold winter months, but not all of it is useful. Today, we explore some common winter driving cautions and determine if they are fact or myth.

1. Let your car warm up before driving when it’s cold out – This myth takes one piece of general information, that cars are more fuel efficient when running in warmer temperatures, and incorrectly assumes you need to let your car warm up to optimal temperature before driving away in frigid conditions. During the 1980s and 90s, car companies began replacing carburetors with electronic fuel injectors, which helps the engine get the optimal mix of fuel and air. Fuel injectors essentially made the need to warm up your car irrelevant, and experts say your car reaches ideal temperature at a faster rate when driving. Car experts suggest you should allow your car to run for no more than 30 seconds before driving away, otherwise you’re just burning fuel!

2. All season tires mean they preform well in all four seasons – As we explained in our post on winter tires, swapping out your all season tires for a set of winter tires can make all the difference. Not only do winter tires provide you with a better grip of the road, they also help you stop sooner, which can be the difference between a safe stop and a fender bender. If you live in an area that sees a lot of snow during the winter months, consider investing in a pair of snow tires.

3. You can get a ticket for not fully clearing your windshield and rear window of snow – This one is fact. There have probably been times whenÂ you’ve had to scrape your windshield off multiple times in one day, and although it can be annoying, it’s important you don’tÂ ignore the snow. Driving in poor conditions is tough enough without doing it with impaired vision. Failing to clear your windshield makes you a danger to yourself and everyone on the road, and the police can ticket you for it.

4. Reducing tire pressure will increase your grip on the road – Some people believe a flatter tire will increase their traction, but improper tire pressure can make driving dangerous. Your tire pressure will drop as the temperature declines, so keep on top if your tire pressure as the weather fluctuates. Keep a handheld guage in your glove box for easy access.

Related source: Auto Express, The Spec

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Snow Tires

As winter weather continues to set in, drivers have a big decision to make. Should they equip their car with snow tires? Snow tires, as the name implies, are designed to provide you with a better driving experience in wintery conditions. That said, there are some drawbacks to equipping your car with snow tires. Below, we explain the benefits and drawbacks of snow tires.

Benefits of Snow Tires

Enhanced grip – Winter driving usually means you are traversing over ice and snow, and snow tires are designed to provide a better grip on these surfaces. Snow tires are softer and have deeper treads than all-season tires, enhancing their grip on the road. Although they improve grip, they aren’t the bestÂ in summer when road conditions are ideal, as the softer design and deeper treads create more drag, reducing your fuel economy.

Better braking – If you’ve been driving in Minnesota long enough, you’ve experienced that panicky feeling when you hit the brakes and your car continues to slide along an icy road. Hopefully you were able to avoid a nasty fender bender, but the enhanced grip on snow tires also allows for better braking. That added brakingÂ ability can be the difference between stopping in time or ending up in an accident.

Drawbacks of Snow Tires

Wear down quickly – Although they are built to handle the winter weather conditions, snow tires are comparatively fragile to their all season counterparts. If you use snow tires during ideal conditions you’ll notice that the tread wears down faster than normal. Additionally, the thick, studded design of some snow tires can damage the roads, creating potholes and problems for everyone else on the road.

Mental mindset – Sometimes snow tires give drivers a false sense of confidence during poor weather conditions. Snow tires help you grip the road, but that doesn’t mean you should do 65 on the highway in blizzard conditions. These tires help to minimize the effects of snow and ice, but they don’t fully compensate for their presence. Take it slow in bad weather even if you’ve swapped out the allÂ season tires for a set of snow tires.

Related source: CarsDirect.com

The Worst States For Speeders

Let’s be honest, car ownership can be expensive.Â Regular scheduled maintenance isn’t usually too bad, but you also have to factors in other expenses like car insurance and driving citations. Even the best drivers have seen the flashing blue and red cherries in their rearview mirrors before, so today we’re looking at the worst and best states for speeding tickets.

The Five Worst

5. California – On the outset, California doesn’t look so bad. The base fine for speeding between 1-15 mph over the limit is $35, but then they tack on administrative and processing fees. By the end of it, you’re holding a $158 ticket. Additionally, a speeding ticket can jack up your insurance rates. One research group suggests the higher insurance rates will amount to 20 times the price of the ticket in the long run in California.

4. New York – Â New York is exceptionally hard on excessive speeders. Anyone caught going at least 30 miles over the posted speed limit will be hit with a $600 fine and 30 days in jail.

3. Virginia – Similar to New York, Virginia is also very harsh on excessive speeders. Anyone caught going faster than 80 mph or at least 20 miles over the posted speed limit can be hit with a Reckless Driving ticket, which is punishable by up to a year in jail and $2,500 in fines. The state also ranks seventh in the nation for most tickets issued each year.

2. Massachusetts – Massachusetts has a tiered system in which the ticket price increase rapidly depending on how many miles you were driving above the speed limit. The base fee is $50, but it increases by $10 for every mph you drive about the speed limit, which means you’ll be paying at least $200 for doing 70 mph in a 55 mph zone. Additionally, speeding in a tunnel is a serious fine in Massachusetts. Tunnel speedsters will be hit with a $500 fine, and the state boasts the the second highest speed-trap-to-mile ratio in the nation.

1. New Jersey – Let’s just say you do not want to get caught speeding in New Jersey. Not only will ticket fines double if you’re traveling more than 9 mph faster than the posted 65 mph speed limit, but you have to look out for speed traps at nearly every turn. New Jersey boasts one speed trap every 30 miles, which is the highest mark in the US, and they collect nearly $30,000 per mile in driver fines and fees.

The Five Best

On the flip side of the ball, here are the five most lenientÂ states when it comes to speeders.

5. Colorado – Going just a few miles over the speed limit will only set you back $36, and as long as you’re not double digit over the speed limit, your max fine will be $80.

4. Tennessee – The maximum speed limit fine is only $50, so long as you aren’t drag racing.

3. Idaho – Idaho doesn’t have very many speed traps, and getting caught going up to 15 mph over the speed limit will only set you back $75, which is less than half what the same violation would cost in Massachusetts.

2. Montana – Montana has the fewest speed traps per mile in the United States, and in many places the speed limit is 75 mph. Even if you do get pulled over, it’s only a $20 fine for going 10 miles above the posted limit, and the maximum fine for going 31 miles per hour or more than the posted speed limit is $100.

1. North Dakota – North Dakota has very few speed traps and boasts the lowest fines for going between 1-10 mph over the posted limit, as a driver will be hit with a meager $10 fine so long as the posted speed limit is 55 mph or less. If you’re speeding on a bigger highway, the penalty is $5 for each mile per hour over the posted speed limit.

Related source: Popular Mechanics

Car Owners Prefer Technology Over Brand Loyalty

A new study suggests more car owners are willing to ditch their favorite car brand for upgraded in-car technologies, like active park assist and rear-view cameras.

According to the poll conducted by AutoTrader.com, more than half of vehicle owners (56 percent) would switch form their favorite car company to get a vehicle with the technological features they desire. The study asked 1,033 US vehicle owners how much technological features influence their buying decisions when it comes to picking out a new car. Not surprisingly, technological safety advancements outweighed other add-ons like bluetooth connectivity. 84 percent of consumers said advanced safety features outweighed infotainment options. Additionally, 61 percent said they are likely to consider autonomous features like collision avoidance and parking assist during their next purchase.

Other findings from the study include:

Ease of technology is also important. Mare than 50 percent of consumers would pass on a car they liked if they felt the tech features were too cumbersome.

More than 75 percent of consumers said they’d prefer one easy-to-use vehicle technology than a slew of complicated options.

38 percent said they would delay their next vehicle purchase by six months in order to get a car with all the features they desire.

The majority of respondents said it shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes to figure out all the tech features in a particular model.

30 percent said they’d like to be able to test drive a car overnight to spend more time learning about the car’s features.

“The fact that consumers are in need of this education combined with how much technology is influencing the purchase decision is a huge opportunity for dealers,” said Michelle Krebs, a senior analyst at Auto Trader, adding that many buyers feel that a quick test drive doesn’t give them enough time to get acclimated with all the features. “Salespeople who can actively show shoppers how easy these features are to use, and demonstrate the benefits, will build a trusted relationship with the shopper to help seal the deal.”

While technology reigns supreme, some people are pretty picky when it comes to the color of their vehicle, as 31 percent said they would not sacrifice their car color choice for their favorite on-board technologies.

Improving Gas Mileage in Cold Weather

Winter is here, and by all accounts it appears it’s here for good. When temperatures drop, so too does your car’s fuel economy. Below, we explain why winter driving lowers your average mile per gallon and share some tips to raise it back up.

Cold Weather and Your Car

One car study found that the average car’s gas mileage drops about 12 percent when temperatures drop below 20Â°F than if the outside temperature was a comfortable 77Â°F. Short trips of less than five miles are even worse, as fuel economy can drop up to 22% on quick trips to the store.

Gas mileage isn’t the only thing affected by cold temperatures. Other ways cold temps impact your car include:

Engine and transmission frictions increase in freezing temperatures due colder engine oil and other fluids.

It takes longer for your car to reach optimal temperature. If it takes 10 miles for your car to reach optimal temperature, a three mile trip to the store means your car is making the whole trip at a less-than-optimal temperature.

That said, don’t let your car sit in your driveway for 10 minutes to warm up before you leave. Idling yields 0 miles per gallon.

Cold air is denser than warm air, leading toÂ more drag on your vehicle at high speeds.

Keeping yourself warm comes at a cost. Heated seats, window defrosters and heating fans require additional power.

Tire pressure decreases in colder temperatures. If you don’t adjust them, your tires will create more resistance than normal.

Colder temperatures make it harder for your alternator to keep your battery charged. Last year we replaced an incredible amount of batteries as below-freezing temperatures took their toll on old batteries.

Improving Fuel Economy in the Winter

Now that you know why colder temperatures make it harder on your car, here are some tips to improve your gas mileage during the cold winter months.

As we mentioned, don’t idil your car to let it warm up. Start your car and wait 10-30 seconds before hitting the road.

Don’t overheat your cabin. Dress warmly while driving so you don’t need to crank the heat your whole drive.

Avoid short trips when possible. Try to combine trips to multiple errands when possible.

Park in a warm place, like your garage or a covered parking ramp. That will keep your initial engine temperature warmer than if you parked on the street.

Check your owner’s manual and adjust your tire pressure for the colder temperatures.

Get an oil change if you need one, and make sure the mechanic uses a winter-driving blend.

If you want to get a tune-up in now that winter is upon us, contact us for a free quote or to set up an appointment!

Related source: FuelEconomy.gov