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Winter’s on its way, and while some people look forward to snowball fights and blazing fireplaces, many of us find winter to be a real pain. Winter can be really hard on vehicles as well as people. At Star City Tire in Roanoke, VA, we would like to talk about a few ways that cold weather and winter conditions put an extra burden on your car (and some things you can do to help).    Battery: You go out on a cold morning, stick the key in the ignition and hear the engine turn too slowly ...

Winter tires versus all-season tires…which is the right choice for you?   The two designs are quite different and deliver different levels of performance and winter-weather traction, so let’s discuss.  • All-season tires are designed as an all-around compromise. They feature a tread pattern that evacuates water from the tire’s contact patch to prevent hydroplaning, with plenty of small, textured slits (sipes) to add extra biting edges for traction in wet or slushy co...

Where did this year go? Before you know it, it’s going to be time for the holidays, and that can mean travel in some pretty trying conditions (and we don’t just mean restless kids in the back seat). Is your vehicle ready for some interstate miles?   • Tires: It’s a good idea to have your tires rotated every 5,000-7,000 miles to ensure even wear. With that in mind, it’s easy to just schedule a tire rotation with every oil change, since the vehicle will be up in ...

A generation ago, your dad or grandpa might have had a heavy, noisy set of “snow tires” or “mud grips” on the back of his woodgrain Ford station wagon. Cars have come a long, long way since then, and so has tire technology. Today’s winter tires rival all-season tires or grand touring tires in terms of road manners, but they’re still purpose-built and designed specifically for winter conditions. Are winter tires a necessity in Roanoke, VA? Star City Tire would like to break that down a l...

If you’re past “a certain age,” you might remember when gas was $1.50 per gallon, or $1.00 per gallon, or 59 cents, or what-have-you…but the truth is that everything has gotten more expensive. After all, when gas was $1.00 per gallon, a nicely tricked-out Chevrolet Caprice Classic was selling for about $6,000 brand new.    Now that we’re well into the 21st century, gas prices are likely to fluctuate, but one thing’s for sure: gas is likely to never be “cheap” again. We kno...

In a lot of parts of the country, the winters are tough enough that all-season tires just won’t get the job done. All-season tires are a compromise; they offer good year-round traction with a quiet ride, good handling and road manners. They tend to perform well in wet weather and light wintry conditions, but when the snow is more than a couple of inches deep, all-season tires are out of their league. That’s when it’s time to consider winter tires.    Today’s winter tires are a ...

You know that winter conditions can be rough in Roanoke, VA and all of southwest Virginia. It’d be better if you could just stay home and not even venture out when there’s snow, sleet or ice coming down, but we don’t always have that choice. At Star City Tire ,we want you to be safe this coming winter – so here are some winter driving tips that we hope you’ll find useful. First, it’s important that you go into the winter months with a solid, reliable vehicle: ·         Check your ba...

Some people love winter. They love the snow, the snap in the air, the short days and cozy nights at home. Others can’t stand it, for many of the same reasons. Regardless of whether you love it or hate it, though, chances are you’re going to have to get out and drive in it at some point. We’ve got a few suggestions to help you through the winter safely:  • Make sure you’ve got a well-maintained car. This includes fresh windshield wipers, proper tire inflation, a strong battery, a properly-...

Your tires are a pretty big investment. Even with the cheapest set of tires, you’re going to be spending upwards of $400 on the tires, mounting, balancing, disposal fees and taxes. Since you laid down that kind of money, doesn’t it just make sense to make sure you get the most miles possible out of them?  Here’s some advice on long tire life:   • Regularly check your tire pressure. This one is really, really important. Underinflated tires will wear  unevenly and reduce your fuel economy du...

You may have noticed that your fuel economy tends to drop off when the temperatures drop. Ever wondered why? Here are some causes: ·         Your engine is most efficient at normal operating temperature, and in cold weather it takes much longer to warm up to that temperature range. This will definitely hurt fuel efficiency on shorter trips, where the engine might never warm up completely. ·         Motor oil tends to be thicker at cold temperatures, increasing friction in the engine. ·         ...