FAQ
Can I use an independent repair shop while my car is under warranty?
Definitely! Fairview Automotive only uses fluids and parts that meet or exceed what originally went into your vehicle. All of our service regimens are performed according to manufacturer recommendations and an impartial periodic check of your vehicle done at an independent shop may find something that the dealership may have overlooked.
How often should you change your oil?
Servicing your vehicle every 5000km to 8000km is not only important for the regular day to day operation of your vehicle, but it will also help maintain the integrity of your engine and drivetrain in the long-term. Our general services include a thorough inspection of your vehicle during which we can identify problems early on before they become a costly repair down the road.
What are the benefits of using winter tires?
Winter tires are built for cold weather, not just snow and ice. Below 7 degrees Celsius normal Summer and All-Season tire compounds start to become hard and are no longer pliable; this can compromise traction and braking performance. Winter tires use a softer compound rubber which remains pliable to temperatures below -30 degrees Celsius! Tread design is also different for winter rubber. Most winter tires have what are called sipes built into the tread. These small grooves in the tire help grip on slick and slippery surfaces allowing you to stay in control.
Be sure that your designated winter tire carries the mountain snowflake icon and not just the M+S.
We offer various winter wheel and tire packages for most Volkswagen’s. Be sure to contact us for more info!
What are the benefits of using summer tires?
Winter tires are all made for a lower temperature range than all-season or summers tires.
All tires start life with differently engineered rubber compounds, each designed for specific temperature ranges.
Whereas summer tires turn hard as hockey pucks in the winter, all-season tires lose grip below 7 degrees Celsius and are virtually useless on snow or ice below 0 degrees Celsius.
Conversely, winter tires are designed to have flexible tread below the freezing mark. This means that they have a lot more sipes and tread blocks for gripping on snowy or icy surfaces. But not for consistently dry and warm pavement.
Your winter tires will wear much faster above 7 degrees Celsius.
As the aforementioned sipes and tread blocks come into contact with the dry and warmer spring pavement, heat is created as the rubber blocks are compressed.
This is because the sipes rapidly open and close as they come into contact with the dry pavement with nothing to cool them down. And too much heat is the worst enemy of a tire.
You will not be able to brake as quickly or avoid collisions as effectively.
By design, winter tires are designed to be more flexible to dig in for traction in the snow. Compared to a good all-season tire, a winter tire will have 2-3 times as many tread blocks and significantly more sipes.
On dry and warm pavement though, this flexible-by-design construction can make stopping distances significantly longer.
Regardless of the type of tire, too much heat makes a tire’s tread blocks too flexible and therefore squirmy. The tire will get a greasy feel because it is chemically dissolving. And obviously greasy tires do not grip!
Final Tip
When you are swapping your tires, be sure to look at the amount of tread left on your winter tires. For the best traction in snow, tire manufacturers recommend a minimum tread depth of 6/32 of an inch. For comparison, most tires come with new with about 11/32 to 12/32 of an inch tread depth.
If you do not have the recommended amount, now is a good time to plan to save money for new winter tires well in advance of the next winter season.
