A DEALERSHIP service manager has revealed the three key components to check on a vehicle as winter thaws into spring.
Failure to make an important change could cost hundreds when it comes time to next winter.
Ryan Booth, a service manager for Performance Chevrolet in West Virginia, was featured in a recent video posted to the dealership's TikTok account (@performancechevrolet) detailing the three checks he advises customers when spring is on the horizon.
The first item he mentioned was tires.
"You want to change your winter tires out to your summer tires or your all-season tires," he said.
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If a dedicated winter tire is left on a vehicle during the warmer spring and hotter summer seasons, it can wear out the softer rubber much quicker.
It will also cost you at the gas pump, as softer rubber increases traction, and reduces fuel efficiency.
"It might seem like a way to save money, but running winter tires in the summer won’t keep money in your wallet. Instead, you’ll spend more at the pump with a reduction in fuel efficiency thanks to deep tread and wide grooves," read Les Schwab's webpage on winter versus summer tires.
"Plus, you’ll wear those tires down faster, meaning you’ll need a new set of snow tires sooner than expected."
With the average cost of winter tires being nearly $200 per tire, that's another $600 to $700 that would need to be spent sooner than normal.
The second check Booth recommended was a part that's important for a driver's health and comfort.
"You're going to want to check your air filter," he said.
The cabin air filter pulls air from outside the vehicle and runs it through a fine filter that keeps pollen, debris, dust, and dirt from entering the cabin.
With the increased use of the heater and defroster during the winter, the filter is used more often and may have collected more debris and need a change.
Typically cabin air filters will only need to be changed once per year, though it never hurts to check.
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Finally, Booth suggested that wiper blades be checked for effectiveness.
As many people use the wiper blades to push away snow and ice, drivers may not realize that snow and ice can cause the rubber to wear out faster.
Since spring tends to bring a lot of rain, less rubber on the blades can lead to streaky windows, which reduces overall visibility.
