Drivers like you may sometimes consider using winter tires all year. That would only be appropriate if we lived on Antarctica.

At Honda of Salem, we understand cars thoroughly, so we know that each tire model has a specialty. Winter tires drive well in slick, cold conditions. Summer tires handle nimbly on warm, dry pavement. And all-season tires should be forcibly renamed three-season tires. While winter tires are perfect for winter driving, they are below optimal in summer.

Snow tires and ice-rated tires feature tread patterns that fight slickness and find traction where 

At Honda of Salem, we note that some people do not maintain their tires as well as they should. To heighten your safety as you drive around Salem, we want to educate you about tire care. When you maintain your tires, they last longer, and tire maintenance is easy.

Routinely check your tires' pressure with an air-pressure gauge. Add or reduce air to the air-pressure value recommended in your automobile's manual. Over-inflated tires will poorly distribute your car's weight. Under-inflated tires will make your car handle badly. Both conditions can require early tire replacement.
 

 

Though your truck may be tough, it still has its limits. It's important to understand these limits to ensure you don't do permanent damage to your truck that could cost thousands to fix. To help understand your truck's limits, we at Honda of Salem offer this explanation of the differences between two of those limits: the payload and towing capacity.

Payload refers to whatever is inside the truck (including the bed) that is not a part of the truck itself. This is a limit that is closely related to the strength of the materials from which the…

Before your teen hits the road in their very own car, you first have to choose what that vehicle is going to be. While style, color, or "cool-factor" may be high priorities for your teen, there are better ways to choose a vehicle for a new driver. At Honda of Salem, we want you to be able to select the very best car for your teen, so here are a few tips to get you started.

First off, try to limit the horsepower in the vehicle you select for your teen. Whether a sports car or a high-performance SUV, great…

Deciding whether to trade in or refinance your car loan depends on whether you want to keep your current vehicle at lower monthly payments or use the equity in your vehicle to help with the down payment of a new car.

If you have earned significant equity from paying off your current vehicle loan, your monthly payments may end up being much lower than what you are paying right now. The downside is that you will have to pay on the loan for longer and will incur more interest charges. Trading in a vehicle is a good way to avoid…

The crossover vehicle occupies a space between the sedan and the truck. It combines the luxury of the sedan with the capability of a truck. The term is often used interchangeability with SUV though technically a crossover’s not an SUV.

Vehicle manufacturers combine truck bodies with box frames while sedans use unibody frames. Unibody frames enable a vehicle to have greater comfort and better economy. Crossovers offer unibody virtues with the off-road capability of a truck.

Crossovers turn to the minivan crowd for buyers. Minivans fairly burst with luxurious interiors and dynamic...

 

Glare is more than a nuisance to drivers. Even a small amount of glare creates a hazard risk to drivers. Taking steps to reduce glare should be something responsible drivers do.

A dirty or cracked windshield contributes to glare immensely. Make sure the glass is clean. In addition to cleaning it yourself, be sure to take the vehicle to a car wash at least once a week for regular service. And repair any damage to the windshield without delays. Avoid DIY repairs if you aren't capable.

Keep a pair of sunglasses in the car. If the sun ends up…

The occasional flat tire is part of the driving experience. At Honda of Salem, we want to prepare you to easily handle situations we all encounter on the road, so let's cover flat tire replacement tips.

If a tire goes flat with your car in motion, turn on your flashers. Slow your car. Proceed cautiously. You must find firm, level ground before you stop. Remove your spare tire from your trunk, then properly place your jack. Before raising your car, loosen each lug nut on your flat tire's wheel a half turn. This will help you quickly remove…

Salem is full of bicyclists sharing the road with drivers. This means drivers need to rethink the way they drive to keep bicyclists safe. The following are a few things you can do to increase safety.

No Dooring

You have probably seen someone open a car door in a movie or TV show and hit a passing bicyclist. This may sound funny, but it can seriously hurt someone. You need to check your mirrors and blind side before opening your car door. It may also be a good idea to open the door slowly.

Safe Distance

It is important that…

If you purchase a car and you start to feel like the payments are too much, there are a few options that you can turn to before things get out of hand. First off, you can always try to refinance with your loan company to see if the payments can be made smaller or change to a longer plan with smaller monthly payments. However, if you are finding that you want to get into a newer vehicle, then you can try to look at trade-in value for your vehicle and get into a car this way.

Most dealerships are happy…