Author: Thrive Admin

Break out those windshield scrapers and antifreeze, Texas, because it’s that time of the year when you’ll have to drive in the snow.

No, that’s not a joke, or a typo, it’s an inevitability – while not all parts of Texas get snow (and certainly not consistent amounts of snow like other parts of the country), it’s not unheard of to get some pretty impressive accumulation overnight. Like last year, when Western Texas got more snowfall overnight than Minneapolis – including a staggering 7 inches (!) in Corpus Christi.

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January is here, and with it comes the common question: Do I need snow tires? Turns out there isn’t really a short answer, because the answer depends on a variety of factors. Let’s dive right in and find out if you should shell out for snow tires this winter.

Question One: Where Do You Live?

The most obvious component to this answer – and most impactful – is local climate. If you live in a place like Vermont or Michigan – or any state that sees a lot of sub-40 degree temperatures and regular snow – you might want to dig into your checking account and get a new set of tires for your ride.

Snow isn’t the only reason to get snow tires. After all, they’re commonly referred to in the industry as “winter” tires rather than snow tires, as it’s a more accurate term – the rubber compounds and tread patterns are made to handle better in colder and wetter settings. Even if you live in a dryer state that doesn’t get a lot of snow, but do a lot of driving in cold weather (or at night in states that are generally considered ‘warmer’), you may want to make the investment, because you’ll see plenty of benefit.

Question Two: What Kind Of Car Do You Have?

Driving a Miata all winter? Hey, props to you if you’re brave enough to do that, just know that you will absolutely need more traction than a lightweight, rear-wheel drive car can provide in wintery conditions.

If your car has all-wheel drive, you might be fine on all-season tires, but will still see an added benefit by going with winter/snow tires instead.

SUVs, pickup trucks and wagons are where things get a bit iffy, especially if you don’t have all-wheel or four-wheel drive. While you may have more grip when accelerating or turning thanks to the added weight, stopping could be a big issue, especially in wet and icy conditions. Winter tires can help avoid all of the issues that come with that.

Question Three: Can You Afford Them?

Listen, in an ideal world, everyone would have winter tires for months like January and February, but even if they’re something most people *should* have, they may not be something that everyone can afford.

A good set of winter tires can run you anywhere from $65-120 per tire (so, $260-480 for a full set) – and buying a partial set is a bad idea as it gives you different grip levels in the front and back – so it can be a hefty investment for many drivers. If you’re comfortable driving in the snow, have the right kind of car and are willing to drive far more carefully in wintery conditions, you can probably get by without.

That said, if you can afford them and live in a state where they’ll get enough use, you should consider them an important investment, both for your safety and the safety of others on the road.

The new trend in sports cars isn’t all that new. Reimagined classic sports  cars (or recreated, in some cases) are all the rage, with the new Toyota Supra set to join the long list of classics to be revived in the coming months.

That list already includes the Nissan GTR (replacing the Skyline after a brief hiatus) and the Honda/Acura NSX. It’s not just sports cars – even luxury cars are getting in on the fun – in a different way, of course – with Jaguar and Aston Martin offering rebuilds of classic cars (in the case of the DB4 GT, you’ll need a paltry $1.9 million) that are surely out of just about everyone’s price range. Even Lancia (!!) recently got in on the action with a remake of the Delta S4.

So, let’s get inspired by that new Supra. What classic affordable sports cars would you like to see revived? Here are our picks:

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https://www.berrymanproducts.com/7067-2/

Have you noticed your car slowing down with age? Most drivers don’t push a car to its limits on a track, but that doesn’t mean that a slip in engine performance isn’t noticeable – especially when merging onto a highway. For true gearheads, the root cause isn’t usually that hard to diagnose, but for day-to-day drivers, it can be a bit tougher, and even result in higher maintenance bills.

Noticing a lack of get-up-and-go in your ride? Here are a few potential causes:

Old, Dirty Air Filters

It’s called a combustion engine for a reason – and that combustion requires oxygen. A clogged or dirty air filter can cause decreased or even contaminated airflow into the engine, both of which can restrict performance. Make sure you’re regularly cleaning out and replacing your oxygen filter – if you don’t, your car can even have trouble starting up, as the dirt the filter is *supposed* to be catching can pollute the rest of the engine and even affect the spark plug.

You wouldn’t run very well without oxygen. Your engine is the same way, only made of metal and a lot cooler.

Carbon Deposits On Valves

So, you cleaned up that old air filter and now your engine has all the oxygen it needs to perform. Great job! That still might not do the trick, though.

Here at Berryman, we know the value of having a pristinely clean fuel system – it’s the basis for our Chemtooler product. Remember that air we just talked about? Well, if your valves can’t close all the way (or as fast as they’re supposed to), that oxygen can escape during the compression stroke process. This is caused by buildup on the intake valves themselves, and can rob your car of power or cause backfiring. Nobody wants that!

Low Tire Pressure

This one obviously has nothing to do with the engine, but it can make a world of difference, especially as the leaves finish turning and the temperature drops around us. Noticing decreased acceleration and overall performance in the winter? That may be a tire pressure issue.

Getting into a car during the winter can be agonizing (at least when a cozy bed is just a few steps away), but it’s not just the interior of the car that’s been getting cold overnight – everything else is, too. That includes the air inside of the tires, and as we all know, when gases cool down, they contract. That means that your tire pressure may actually be lower than expected – and can lead to a surprising loss of performance.