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Spring is finally upon us, meaning Opening Day of the baseball season, Mother's Day, and a plethora of airborne irritants. At long last, it’s time to leave the familiar confines of home behind and embark on outdoor adventures. Of course, before you can do so, you need to make sure your vehicle is in a proper state to get you to your various spring destinations. Courtesy of Avalon Honda, here’s a handy checklist of what components need inspecting before you put your vehicle back on the road. While they’re listed by approximate order of importance, make no mistake that each is vital to your Honda’s short and long-term health. 1. Battery Your battery runs a greater risk of depletion during colder months, so the first thing you want to do when the weather warms up is make sure your battery is along for the ride. Although the average car battery lasts between four and five years, it drains at a much higher rate in extreme elements. That makes spring the logical time for a battery diagnosis, so that you can replace it before tourist season begins and your engine starts to cook in the summer heat. 2. Fluids As surely as you spent the winter throwing back spiced beverages, your vehicle was guzzling through its own fluids. Change your oil if you haven’t done so since last summer, and consider switching your oil’s viscosity to a heavier weight for the warmer weather ahead. Keep your engine oil full to keep your engine protected and functioning normally. Refill your brake fluid, steering fluid, and coolant to their appropriate levels. Lastly, top off the windshield fluid: if not empty, it’s probably nearly spent from combatting sleet, salt, and other winter build up. 3. Tires Just as batteries are more susceptible to drainage during colder months, your tires stand a greater chance of deflation. For every 10 degrees the temperature drops, your tires could lose a full PSI. If you swapped out for winter tires last year (and kudos if you did), now is the time to transition the switch back to summer tires. If you’re rolling with the same tires, make sure to measure your air pressure pronto. Look for your tires’ recommended PSI levels on the sticker inside your driver’s door and inflate accordingly. Need a new set of wheels for the new year? Look no further than Avalon Honda's Tire Center. 4. HVAC System If you had the heat in your car running continuously throughout the winter, that means the same HVAC system that controls your air conditioning hasn’t been taking a vacation. Make sure you have cool air coming out of your vents before it really gets sweltering. Refill your coolant until it reaches its appropriate levels. Lastly, replace your cabin air filter, as it’s likely accumulated a good deal of dust, dirt and debris during the winter. 5. Wiper Blades Your windshield is often working overtime to maintain visibility during the winter. Between snow, ice, frost, and salt, there's more than enough to keep your blades occupied. As the rainy spring season approaches, take this time to install a set of well-functioning, seasonally appropriate blades. Checkmate If you’ve checked off all five items from your list, congratulations! Your vehicle is officially spring-certified. And if you need help with any part of your checklist, fear not: Avalon Honda's Service Center has you covered. From tire rotations to oil filter changes, we’re your one-stop shop for all your Honda's maintenance needs. Schedule your service with us today. This Easter, hop on down to Avalon Honda; we’ll make sure your Honda is set to deliver you to all the adventures that await you this spring and beyond.

When you get in a car accident, a million thoughts swim through your head at the point of impact. It’s not unlike being swept under the ocean current by a wave, unable to differentiate up from down. As your mind snaps into survival mode, secondary thoughts of repair costs and insurance rates undoubtedly start competing for mental real estate. Your own health and safety should always be the primary concern when you’re in an accident. And in a perfect world, the status of your car would be a distant, trivial matter. Alas, our world doesn’t stop moving, and both you and your vehicle need to be back on the road as soon as possible. Fortunately, Avalon Honda’s Collision Center in Cape May Court House turns collision repair and bodywork into a stress-free endeavor. From paintless dent repair to pre-accident restoration, our certified collision repair experts will have your car looking good as new before you know it. Certified Fresh When we say your vehicle is in the hands of top auto experts, we’ve got the paperwork to back it up. Avalon Honda is proud to be a Gold Class collision repair business – one of only two iCar Gold Class collision centers in Cape May County. As a Gold Class shop, our service technicians must undergo annual training that brings our operation up to speed with new vehicle technologies and the latest repair techniques. Though only 10% of America’s collision centers are Gold Class, we weren’t content with stopping there. We’re also Cape May County’s only authorized ProFirst Collision Center, faithfully upholding Honda’s rigorous standards. ProFirst Certified shops immerse themselves in ongoing industry education, continuously earning third party certifications. As part of our ProFirst certification, our Collision Center has been meticulously inspected by Honda itself. This ensures we have the necessary equipment and training to properly repair your vehicle to Honda’s high caliber. At Avalon Honda, we don’t take any shortcuts when it comes to restoring your vehicle the right way. Types of Restoration Services Offered Our team is prepared to service your vehicle in whatever condition it’s brought to us in. From simple scrapes and dents to major repairs, as long as your vehicle isn’t deemed a total loss, we can restore it. Types of services we offer include, but aren’t limited to: Paintless Dent Repair: Having to fix a dent in your Honda is an inconvenience, but with rare exceptions, it’s hardly a bank breaker. By the time our certified team has popped everything back in its right place, it’ll be as though those dents never existed. Windshield Repair: When your windshield is struck by a rock or other errant road materials, small impact cracks can be left in their wake. If these diminutive cracks are dealt with promptly, they shouldn’t leave much of a trace. But if left untreated, these small cracks can expand past the initial impact area, endangering the entire windshield. Avoid the cost of a complete windshield replacement and contact us at the first sign of these annoying blemishes. Bumper Refinishing: If you’ve ever been in a minor fender-bender, you know it’s not the worst thing that can happen to your vehicle from a performance perspective. But from an aesthetic standpoint, scrapes and scuffs on your bumper are an irritating eyesore. Thankfully, bumper covers are removable and can generally be refinished without the need for a full replacement. At Avalon Honda, we’ll make sure everything is straightened out. Receive Your Estimate Today If you’ve recently been in an accident and the initial wave of panic has subsided, rest easy; the worst part of the ordeal is behind you. Put your damaged vehicle – and your trust – in the hands of our certified collision repair team here at Avalon Honda. Get your estimate today and begin the process of turning this incident into a memory. Our team’s job is to remove all evidence of your vehicle’s damage – enabling you to put the past in the rearview and drive confidently into the future.

The winds of winter are out in full force, leaving us to make the proper adjustments. The heat is cranked up, the salt is spread across the sidewalk, and the winter wardrobe has once again taken up residence in the closet. Meanwhile, perhaps you’ve noticed your new Honda CR-V acting a bit more sluggish than it did during the summer and fall. Considering that even traditional car batteries struggle in cold conditions, it should come as no surprise that electric vehicle owners need to stay extra attentive throughout winter. Your EV’s range and performance will inevitably drop a little until the weather warms up, but by implementing these maintenance tips, you won't have to worry about your EV running out of charge and being stranded in the cold. Don’t Let Your Battery Dip Below 20% Due to lower battery performance and increased energy consumption, EV owners can expect a 20-30% decrease in range during the winter. This is normal, as the lithium ions in electric batteries slow down when the temperature decreases. EV batteries aren't that different from the human body; warm weather is their natural preference, with optimal temperatures of 59-95 degrees Fahrenheit. So then what to do when winter intervenes? First, as an important precautionary measure, don’t let your battery fall below a 20% charge. Since batteries are more susceptible to sudden depletion in the winter, letting the charge drop to that level is risky. Keep your car charging when not in use - the same as you would with your phone, tablet, or other essential electronic device. Park Indoors When Possible If you own a garage or a similar storage unit, try to keep your car parked inside for the duration of winter. Of course, street parking is the only option for many of us. If that’s the case, keep the battery engaged by starting it at least once a day, rather than leaving it parked for long stretches. If you have no choice but to leave it parked for an extended period, make sure the battery is charged to at least 70% to avoid degradation while idle. You'll also want to avoid fast (or DC) charging. Though it may not be convenient, it’s healthier for the battery to charge at slower speeds during the winter. Level 1 charging, generally the slowest charging option, is actually the preferable option for cold weather. Additionally, remember to leave your EV in ECO mode. Monitor Heat Levels Before heading out to work or run errands, it's a good idea to preheat your electric vehicle. By incrementally increasing the heat, you can minimize the strain on the battery when you start driving. Whenever feasible, it's recommended to charge your car while heating it, as this will draw power from the charger rather than the battery, maximizing your daily range. After warming up the car, try to be mindful of your heat's usage. Instead of relying solely on the heater, consider utilize your heated seat to keep warm. Consistently blasting the heat will impact your range. Don't allow yourself to drive in discomfort, but be mindful not to over-exert the heater. Remember, it doesn't appreciate the winter any more than you do. Remember That We're Always Here to Help If your vehicle is still succumbing to the effects of winter, make a trip to Avalon Honda today. Explore whether a hybrid battery replacement for your hybrid or plug-in might be your best course of action. Here at Avalon Honda, our team of service professionals works around the clock to ensure your vehicle gets the service it needs to make it to Beach Season with a clean bill of health.

Whether you’re a car enthusiast or simply a daily driver, keeping your car clean is always a must. While it may seem like a daunting task to keep your car clean, it truly isn't, especially with our Avalon Honda helpful car cleaning tips. As with any chore, the more you keep up with cleaning your car, the easier it is to maintain. That is why we recommend regularly cleaning out your car, vacuuming it and keeping it free of trash and debris. When it comes to keeping the exterior of your car looking great, regular washes and waxes will go a long way. Maintaining your car’s paint is a great way to ensure your vehicle won’t have rust or peeling problems. The best part is that it keeps your car looking great too. With this list of helpful tips, you’ll have all the tools and knowledge you need to keep your car looking just as great as it did the day you bought it. Clear it Out The first step to cleaning your car like the pros is pretty simple — clear it out! Trash, debris, last week's hamburger wrapper, you’ll want to get rid of it all. Clearing out the clutter from the interior of your car instantly makes it look better and a lot less “lived in”. Plus, if you had enough stuff in there, you could consider it as fuel savings to clean it all out. Not only is interior clutter unsightly, but it can also be dangerous. If you’re ever in an accident, every item you have on the interior will be tossed around becoming a hazard to you. Plus, who wants to be coated in a two-day-old soda after getting in an accident? Cleaning out the interior of your car is the easiest step, all you need are some trash bags and you’ll be clutter-free in no time. Once you’ve cleaned out the interior of your car, you can move on to our next step detailed below. Scrub it Out Just like the carpet and flooring in our homes, the floor mats in our cars can get pretty dirty. That’s why it’s important for you to pull them out of the car and give them a good scrubbing. Getting your floor mats nice and clean doesn't just look good, it also will help cut down on airborne bacteria and irritants too. Before you get to scrubbing, you may also want to give your floor mats thorough vacuuming. This will get the dirt and debris that has found its way into your car and been compacted down. Once you’re done vacuuming you can get to scrubbing. You’ll want a good brush with semi-firm bristles to attack carpet floor mats, and a good cleaning agent as well. If you have rubber or “all-weather” floor mats, you can skip the vacuum step and just give them a good spray down with your chosen cleaning agent. Vacuum it Out If you have been following our steps thus far, you should have your vacuum out still, so why not tackle the rest of the interior with it? Thoroughly vacuum all carpeted surfaces in your car, including the passenger and rear-seat floorboards, especially if they see high traffic. While you have the vacuum out, it’s probably a good idea to run it over any non-carpeted surfaces that accumulate dust and debris like the dashboard. You can even hit the vents as dust accumulates there and can cause allergies or irritation. A solid vacuum job should leave your car's interior looking fresh and smelling even better — so why not take the time and do your car a favor? Wipe it Out A final step to cleaning your car like a pro is wiping it out. Pick up some interior cleaning and detailing wipes and get to work! We recommend starting from the driver's seat, hitting all the instrumentation and surfaces you touch most. From there, we say no amount of attention to detail is too much. Dig into those cracks and crevices, don’t be afraid to really get in there. You can use things like Q-Tips to get into tight spaces like between the air vents or radio controls. Work your way throughout the front first, then make a move to the back of the car — don’t forget the cupholders! Get to Cleaning Now that you have read our list of tips to keep your car clean like the pros, it's time to grab your cleaning supplies and get to work. Whether you’re going for full interior and exterior detail or keeping it simple with a wash and wax, this list of tips is sure to get you started on the right path. If you’re not feeling the whole DIY car detailing process, that’s okay too, we can always help you out at our reconditioning department. All you have to do is book an appointment online or by calling 609-465-8600 — stopping by works too.

Everyone knows that buying a used car is a great way to save money. However, the real key to frugal car ownership is performing your own maintenance at home. You can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars simply by performing your own routine maintenance on your vehicle. When it comes to owning a car, there is no better way to ensure it has a long lifespan than with routine maintenance. However, not everyone is a trained mechanic — that’s why we put together this list of five valuable car maintenance tips that make your life easier. Whether you’re an expert mechanic or new to wrenching, you’re sure to find a useful tip on this list. Keep Cardboard Boxes While most people look at empty cardboard boxes as trash, us DIY mechanics look at them like they’re gold — and they kind of are. Cardboard boxes are perfect for repurposing in the garage since you can use them for a variety of jobs. Don’t want to lay on a cold concrete floor? Put down a flattened cardboard box. Doing an oil change and don’t want oil on your garage floor? Easy solution: put down a flattened cardboard box. See where we’re going with this? When you use cardboard boxes in your garage — you’re not just being savvy — you’re making a positive impact on the environment too. Why not save the environment while also saving your back from the cold concrete floor? Get a Magnetic Dish Staying organized is one of the most important parts of working on your car at home, that’s why this is one of our favorite tips to share. If you want to keep track of those pesky nuts and bolts that want to roll away on you, there is no better way to do it than with a magnetic dish. A magnetic dish is exactly what it sounds like, a dish that is magnetized so you can easily store objects within it. You can attach the dish to your car so it is always within reach while you’re working, helping you keep track of things with ease. If you’re looking for a magnetic dish, you can find them at your local hardware stores like Home Depot or Harbor Freight. Magnetic dishes are fairly inexpensive and their use will far outweigh any money you spend on it, so get one today! A Little Light Goes a Long Way Another great way to make life easier in the garage is to have a great light source. When you’re working on your car, things can get tough to see, especially when they’re covered in motor oil and dirt. That’s why we suggest having at least one good source of light handy in your garage at all times. We recommend a headlamp as it's a hands-free way to get light in the exact places you need it. However, if you don’t want to look like an angler fish, there are plenty of great shop lights out there to choose from. There are magnetic lights that you can attach to the car, old school “trouble” lights and fancy LED strip lights — all of which work great in the shop. Don’t work on your car blind, stop by your local Harbor Freight and pick up a shop light today. No matter which light you choose, you’ll be glad you did it! Take Pictures as You Go Cars are complex pieces of machinery and while anyone can work on them, there are some best practices you should follow. This tip is an absolute must for any mechanic, be it experienced or not. If you want to make performing your own vehicle maintenance simple, taking pictures with each step is the best way to do it. While you’re working on your car, keep your smartphone handy and snap pictures as you go. Chances are you’ll need to reference the pictures at some point during your repair, so it’s best to have them than not. If you’re ever unsure about how something goes back together, having a picture on hand really comes in handy. Another bonus of taking pictures is being able to reference them down the line during other repairs. Need to take that manifold off again but can’t remember how? Just reference your tear-down photos from the last time and you’re off to the races. This simple tip will save you hours in the shop and endless frustration — so don’t forget it! Replace Things in Pairs Whenever you’re replacing an item your vehicle has more than one of, always replace all of them at once. There is no bigger annoyance than replacing an item on your car, only to have to do it all over again just a few short days or weeks later. That’s why we recommend always replacing things in pairs if they come in them. Whether its brake pads, headlights, tires or anything else on a car — replacing both or all at once saves you time and frustration. The best part of this method is that you’ll never have to play the “when was that last replaced” guessing game! When In Doubt, Visit Avalon Honda Still unsure about your ability to work on your car? That’s okay, simply bring it to our service center here at Avalon Honda and our expert technicians will handle the rest. Whether you just need an oil change or a full engine rebuild, the expert technicians here at Avalon Honda can do it all. If your car needs maintenance and you don’t want to do it at home, come on down to Avalon Honda and we’ll take care of it for you. At Avalon Honda, we make servicing your car a breeze. Simply stop by our service center or schedule an appointment ahead of time on our website — it’s really that easy.

Winter is coming! That means it’s time to start preparing your vehicle for the cold temperatures and harsh weather to come. With harsh weather and cold temperatures comes car problems that could leave you out in the cold. Ensure you and your vehicle make it through the winter without any hiccups by following these wonderful tips on winterizing your vehicle. Not ready to winterize your vehicle on your own? Avalon Honda can help, as our service and parts professionals have the knowledge and product to help you keep your vehicle in tip-top shape during the winter months. Batteries Need Attention, Too One of the best ways to ensure you and your vehicle survive the winter is to check and maintain your battery. The battery in your vehicle is one of the most important parts of your car, as it not only helps the vehicle start-up, but it keeps all of the accessories running, including that precious heat system. As the temperatures drop outside, so does the cranking power and charge of your battery, so make sure to constantly check your battery to ensure it’s operating effectively. Checking the charge level on your battery is simple, just bring it to the service center here at Avalon Honda and one of our technicians can perform a voltage check on your battery. This voltage check can alert you to upcoming issues with your battery, as well as tell you if it needs to be serviced or replaced entirely. If you need to replace your battery, the technicians here at Avalon Honda can have a new one installed in your vehicle swiftly, and at a great price too! Avoid breaking out the jumper cables by having your battery checked before the winter comes, it could be the difference between a smooth winter ride and being stranded in a cold vehicle. Stop by Avalon Honda Service Center today to have your battery tested, serviced, or replaced. Check Those Tires A good set of tires goes a long way during the cold season, as it helps keep your vehicle on the road and under control during heavy braking. Before you embark on a winter journey, make sure to check out your tires, the cold months can cause cracking in the rubber, and low tread levels can be disastrous in icy conditions. Opting for a solid set of winter tires is also a fantastic way to stay safe while driving during the cold months, as they perform better in cold weather and icy conditions. Have your tires inspected, serviced or replaced in our service center, here at Avalon Honda located in Cape May Court House, NJ today! Wiper Blades Are you having a hard time seeing through the ice and the snow? Maybe it’s time to change out your wiper blades, so they can perform better for you this winter. There is nothing worse than trying to navigate a winter storm with streaky windshield wipers that miss large parts of your windshield. Most folks tend to overlook their windshield wipers when it comes to basic maintenance, only to scramble to replace them once winter hits and they can’t see through the blizzard. Routinely checking your windshield wiper blades for wear and tear is a great way to catch problems before they arise. Another good way to ensure long life out of your windshield wiper blades is to lift them off the car before a winter storm comes, this will prevent the rubber from getting frozen to the windshield while the vehicle sits. Avoid using your wiper blades as a means of clearing ice from your windshield, as this can cause premature wear and tear on your wiper blades. Keep your windshield clean and free of debris with a set of fresh wiper blades, installed by the professionals here at Avalon Honda. Top Off Your Fluids Keeping up with your fluid levels is always important when you own a vehicle, doubly so for those that live in places with harsh winter months. A car that lacks the proper levels of fluids will struggle to perform at its peak, making daily driving a hassle and potentially even dangerous. Some fluids to keep an eye on are: Coolant (Anti-Freeze): This fluid not only keeps your engine running at optimal temperatures, but it also helps keep fluids in the vehicle from freezing during the winter as well. Coolant goes in your coolant reservoir and runs throughout the engine to provide cooling, but it also can be added to your washer fluid to prevent those lines from freezing as well. Coolant is one of the most important fluids to monitor in your vehicle. Engine Oil: It may seem obvious, but having the proper level of oil in your vehicle is extremely important in keeping your engine and car running. Engine oil lubricates the necessary parts of the engine so it can run smoothly, as metal on metal doesn’t bode well for the life of your engine. Engine oil behaves differently in extremely cold temperatures, therefore you may need to use a special blend during the winter months. If you need help determining which engine oil is right for your vehicle, speak with one of our service technicians here at Avalon Honda today! Washer Fluid: Although washer fluid may not be the first fluid on your mind when it comes to maintaining your vehicle, it is an important one to remember during the winter. With most cities that get snow using a salt or brine mixture to keep roads clear, your windshield gets dirty quite quickly during the winter, and that’s why it’s important to keep your washer fluid full. One good snowstorm can see you running your washer fluid tank dry, so always keep an extra bottle on hand during the winter months to avoid disaster. Ensure you have a safe and easy winter, make an appointment today to get your winter car servicing performed here at Avalon Honda. Test Your Climate Control Testing your climate control systems before the winter hits is an absolute must if you want to survive the winter comfortably. Before you start driving this winter, make sure to check the defroster and heating functions of your climate control system, as you most likely haven’t used them since last winter. Check your climate control in just a few seconds, simply run your defroster and heat at each fan speed and temperature available. This simple action will tell you if you have any climate control issues so you can have them fixed just in time for winter. If your climate control system needs servicing, our service professionals here at Avalon Honda can help! Located in Cape May Court House, NJ, Avalon Honda’s Service Center is the best place to have your pre-winter vehicle inspection performed. Be Prepared It sounds cliche, but being prepared for the worst-case scenario is actually the best thing you can do. When it comes to being prepared for winter driving, the above tips are always great to follow but its also important to go a step further and have an emergency scenario bag packed and available in your vehicle. Keep a bag full of spare clothes, including winter clothes in your vehicle. Inside of this bag should not only be clothing, but a blanket, a first aid kit, a flashlight, jumper cables, a cellphone charger, and some snacks. You can feel free to add more to this bag, but this is the bare minimum we recommend keeping in each one of your vehicles. Imagine traveling down a back-country road in the winter, when suddenly you lose traction and skid off the road. Luckily nobody is hurt, but your car is disabled and needs to be towed out of the ditch on the side of the road. Waiting for that tow truck in below-freezing temperatures in a car with no heat is not ideal, however, it’s much easier when you have a winter emergency bag in your vehicle. Winter Servicing From a fluid top-off to new tires, and everything in-between, Avalon Honda is the place to have your annual winter vehicle servicing performed. Here at Avalon Honda, our highly trained service professionals are dedicated to making sure your vehicle is safe and ready to tackle any adventure you throw at it. Ensure you have safety and peace of mind each time you hit the road this winter, have your vehicle winterized by the service professionals here at Avalon Honda today!

Flat Tires are Deflating Stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire, you open your trunk and begin to look for the spare but wait a minute...it’s not there! Unfortunately this is a common reality in the 2020’s for all new vehicles as many new vehicles don’t come with a spare tire in the trunk anymore. You may be remembering times of the past in which a vehicle had a spare tire mounted in the trunk or underneath the vehicle and a small little jack to go with it. However those days, just like a vehicle’s spare tire, are gone. Nowadays modern vehicles tend to come with no spare and just a small can of flat tire repair gel, not exactly the most reliable or desirable way to handle an unexpected flat tire. Nobody wants to spend time on the side of the road, in the heat, rain, or snow waiting on a tow truck to come and take them to a local shop all because of a flat tire, and that’s why it’s imperative to carry a spare tire in your vehicle. Carrying a spare tire in your vehicle not only allows you to get back on the road quicker, but it provides peace of mind, allowing you to be confident that not even a flat tire can stop you on the road. There are a few different types of spare tires available on the market to suit every need, here’s a list of available types of spare tires. Full-Size Spare A full-size spare shares the same dimensions as the vehicle’s standard tire, the benefit being that it isn’t just a temporary fix until you arrive at your local mechanic to have a new tire mounted and balanced. A full-size spare also allows you to travel at regular speeds, which is something a smaller spare tire or “doughnut” would prohibit you from doing. A full-size spare is also one of the most effective and efficient options for a spare tire there is, making for minimal downtime of your vehicle so life can carry on as usual without interruption. If a full-size spare tire is the right option for you, call our parts professionals at Avalon Honda today to order your full-size spare. Temporary Full-Size Spare While a true full-size spare is the most effective option, the drawback of it taking up so much space in the vehicle is something to be considered. With that being said, a good option, if you’re unable to house a full-size spare, would be the temporary full-size spare. A temporary full-size spare tire is just like your regular, full-size tire, however, it has a smaller tread depth and less weight to it in order to save on space while remaining effective. A temporary full-size spare will allow you to safely drive to Avalon Honda's Service Center so you can get a new tire mounted and balanced on the car. A temporary full-size spare is a great option for those that carry a lot of cargo, or even those driving compact cars which don’t have a lot of room for a full-size spare. Compact Temporary Spare A compact temporary spare may not be the most effective option in terms of being able to drive on it for miles or at regular speeds, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely ineffective or useless. A compact temporary spare will allow you to travel a short distance at lower speeds in order to help you arrive safely at Avalon Honda's Service Center. The compact temporary spare is a bit smaller and narrower than a full-size spare but it’s still just as useful in the event of an unexpected flat tire on the side of the road. These compact temporary spares or “doughnuts” tend to be the traditional spare tire most think of when they think of flat tire repair. Folding Temporary Spare A folding temporary spare is a small spare tire, similar to the “doughnut” spare but it is even more compact by being deflated and being able to be folded for easy and efficient storage. While you may not be able to travel at regular speeds with this tire, you will be able to safely arrive at Avalon Honda to receive a new tire and get on your way. These spares do require inflation before usage, which is an important thing to keep in mind when selecting the right spare tire to keep on hand. Run-Flat Tires The most cutting-edge technology when it comes to spare tires is the Run-Flat spare tire which allows you to keep driving at regular speeds for up to 50 miles from the initial puncture. This incredible technology allows a driver to safely and effectively drive in almost any type of condition to reach their mechanic’s shop in the event of an unexpected flat tire. Run-Flats are one of the most expensive spare tire options, but also one of the most effective outside of carrying a full-size spare. Let's Get Rolling While flat tires are almost always unexpected and incredibly inconvenient, they are an inevitable part of owning a vehicle. Making sure you select the right kind of spare tire that fits all of your needs is a great way to help minimize the interference and inconvenience of an unexpected flat tire. Utilizing a spare tire properly can save you time, money and aggravation, but using one improperly could exacerbate the situation. When using a spare tire, keep in mind that the function of most spare tires is to help you arrive safely at a place of repair like Avalon Honda's Service Center, while maintaining mobility and freedom.

At the Tire Shop It’s 4pm on a Friday afternoon and you’re in line at the tire shop anxiously awaiting the enormous bill that you’re about to incur. “Next!” yells out the middle-aged service writer, motioning from amongst a whirlwind of paperwork, for you to come to the counter. At the counter you tell the service writer that you need four new tires and he asks you “Summer, winter, all-season?” and it dawns on you at that moment that you’re totally unprepared for this question. “There’s a difference in tires?” you think to yourself, and your mind begins to wonder how you’ve gone so long not knowing there were different tires, let alone what those differences are. Being in a position like this isn’t all that uncommon, unless you’re a car enthusiast or a mechanic yourself, chances are you were never told about the differences in tire compounds and why there is even a need for different tires. They say you learn something new every day, and today’s lesson is on the various tire compounds and their specific uses, so buckle in and come along for the ride. Different Tires, for Different Seasons Both the summer and winter are filled with their own unique wonders and magical times, but also filled with their own unique challenges at the same time. Winter can be cold, harsh, and unforgiving, both to humans and machines alike. While the summer may not come with ice and snow like winter, it can still be host to poor or dangerous driving conditions just like winter is. With the winter and summer being total opposites, it makes sense that there isn’t just one tire to handle both seasons. Tire manufacturers nowadays have tire offerings in three different categories, Summer, Winter and All-Season, each boasting their own advantages and disadvantages. Now you may be wondering, why not just buy all-season tires for all the seasons? Stick around and read about why all-season tires aren’t necessarily for all of the seasons, and why winter tires should be kept to colder temperatures. Summer Tires Summer tires are excellent dry and wet condition tires in warmer weather, making them perfectly suited for rainy summer evenings and sweltering hot afternoons. In order to gain superior traction and handling that summer tires are known for, they were designed with less grooving for water clearance and even have a more streamlined tread pattern which increases the amount of tire in contact with the road, ultimately providing better traction. On top of the increased traction and handling, summer tires also boast better fuel economy due to their reduced rolling resistance. While summer tires are great because of their increased traction and handling, the technology used to achieve those results ends up being detrimental to the car and driver if driven in cold weather conditions. Because of the summer tires' streamlined tread design, they become much more brittle in cold weather and therefore are considered unsafe in winter driving conditions. Purchase your summer tires and have them mount and balanced at Avalon Honda in Cape May Court House, NJ, then hit the roads in confidence with your new tires. Winter Tires Cold weather brings a plethora of problems, from snowfall shutting down roads to black ice causing accidents, the winter is no joke. That is why it’s imperative to head into every winter prepared for the challenges the cold weather forces you to encounter daily. One way to fight back against the cold, cruel beast that is winter is with winter tires. Winter tires are designed with more natural rubber in the tire compound, allowing the tire to maintain flexibility even in temperatures below freezing. In addition to the unique rubber compounding, winter tires boast more aggressive tread patterns that help dig into the snow and ice, providing traction and handling without having to stud the tire. While winter tires are great in cold weather, it’s not a great idea to keep them on during the warmer months as the softer rubber compound will cause accelerated wear and tear of the tire and pose handling and traction issues as well. After running winter tires during the cold weather months, make sure to switch off to a good summer tire or a set of all-season tires. Before winter sneaks up on you, make sure to drop by Avalon Honda's Service Center to get your winter tires and winter servicing. All-Season Tires All-season tires means they can be used in all seasons right? Unfortunately, that is a common misconception amongst drivers today, with most drivers believing they can run one set of all-season tires year-round with no issues. While all-season tires sound like they can do it all, they really just excel at being mediocre in all seasons. With winter tires sporting extra rubber to maintain a softer compound for the cold weather conditions, and summer tires boasting a stiffer tire that provides better traction in warm weather, all-seasons take a bit of inspiration from both which results in a hybridized version of summer and winter tires. All-season tires sacrifice a bit of the warm and wet weather traction in favor of being able to grip in ice and snow, making them a great choice for those that live in climates that don’t drop below freezing often or if at all. The true way to determine if an all-season tire is the right tire for you is to base it off of your local climate, a very neutral climate area is the best place to use all-season tires in. If you’re looking for a great middle ground between summer and winter tires, purchasing all-season tires at Avalon Honda is a great option. Which Tire is Best for Me? Choosing a tire seemed simple before all of this info, right? While there are many factors that go into purchasing a tire, you don't have to be an expert to make a choice, as our parts experts at Avalon Honda will guide you in choosing the right tire for your vehicle. In order to make it a little easier to select a tire, consider your climate and daily driving conditions first, then make sure to stop by Avalon Honda in Cape May Court House, NJ to speak with a parts professional and order your tires today!