Getting into the Groove with Winter Tires When purchasing new tires for your vehicle, it may be very tempting to just buy a set of quality all-season tires. Surely, they’ll work in all conditions, right? They literally have all-season in the name! What you might not realize, is that depending on where you live, owning two full sets of tires, both an “all-season” set, and a set of “winter” tires, may be very beneficial for your vehicle in the long run. What are Winter Tires? How do they Differ from All-Season Tires? There are several key differences between a winter tire and an all-season tire, the first of which is the rubber compound that the tire is made. As winter temperatures begin to dip below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the rubber in an “all-season” tire begins to stiffen, which reduces overall grip on the road. Winter tires are made of a different rubber which can withstand colder temperatures, maintai ... read more

The Effects Freezing Temperatures Have on Your Car’s Fluids Depending on the area of the country in which you live, winter weather and frigid temperatures have the potential to wreak havoc on your vehicle. We often think about the dangers of snow and ice on the road or any problems of starting the car in the cold.  But people don’t always consider the impact freezing temperatures have on their vehicle’s fluids. Here is some information to know about your car’s fluids and what to monitor during the coldest points of the winter. Regular Gasoline Fortunately, with gasoline, there’s an extremely high probability that your tank will not freeze solid. Due to its chemical makeup, gasoline has a significantly lower freezing point than water. Different fuels have different chemical balances, but the estimated point of freezing for gasoline is approximately  ... read more

Preparing Cars for Winter WeatherIf You Haven’t Done So Yet, It’s Time to Prepare Your Car for Winter We have finally reached the point on the calendar in which it is winter, although depending on where you live in the country, it may feel like it’s the middle of winter. Winter has only just begun, and so we thought it might be a good time to remind everyone of some tips that may help you keep your car safer when you’re driving in the snow and ice. Remove snow and ice from your car before driving. Maybe it isn’t practical to get it all off, but you should make an effort to not drive what looks to other people like a giant snowball. After all, that snow and ice will come off, and it could come sloshing down your windows, making it difficult to see.  It becomes very dangerous when that snow or ice could go flying onto another car, causing another driver to swerve their vehicle. In fact ... read more

The coldest parts of the country are battling heavy snowfall right now, but other areas of the country, particularly in parts of the south, deal with their own hazardous weather conditions. Sleet and freezing rain can add a thick ice coating to the roads and can result in even more dangerous driving conditions than snowfall accumulations. There are several ways to prepare your cars for icy conditions and keep you and your family safe this winter! Brakes Brakes are one of the only things standing between you and an accident on winter ice. A good time to have your brakes inspected is the start of the winter, especially if you notice any changes in their performance. There are several hints your brakes might give you that should bring you to your local Milex Complete Auto Care. If your brakes are screeching, this could indicate that the brake lining is getting low. Feel ... read more

Winter Car Care from Milex As much as winter weather stresses you out, it can stress the vital systems in your car even more. Cold weather and the things we use to cope with it can increase the demands on your car’s engine, battery, gas lines, tires and windshield wipers. If you don’t regularly monitor the systems in your vehicle, you could end up stunned and stranded when the winter chill becomes too much. Here are the main systems to monitor to avoid a winter weather catastrophe. Battery | Low winter temperatures can force your car’s electrical system to work harder while reducing its output at the same time. Cold weather can reduce a vehicle’s battery power by 50 percent, which can spell disaster — especially if you use common winter accessories such as the defroster, heating and windshield wipers. You should frequently check battery cables and clamps for fraying or corrosion, whi ... read more