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1. "DO I NEED SNOW TIRES?" - Snow tires can be extremely important if you live in an area that gets snow, ice, sleet or freezing rain and temperatures of 40 degrees or colder. They are also a good idea if you are planning on taking road trips that will take you through snow or over mountains in the colder months. 2. "IF MY TIRES ARE MARKED 'M+S' ON THE SIDEWALL AM I GOOD TO DRIVE ON SNOW?" - You may see some tires marked with "M+S", this stands for mud and snow. While these are most likely decent tires, they only deliver better traction in wet conditions than non-M+S tires. In cold and/or slick conditions, these tires may not provide you the traction and control you need. If it is true snow tires you are looking for, look for tires with a Mountain Snowflake symbol on the side. This means they have been tested and certified to perform under winter conditions.3. "I HAVE ALL-SEASON TIRES, SO I DON'T NEED SNOW TIRES. RIGHT?" - Unfortunately, this is not the case. Only snow tires can give you the stopping ability and secure handling you'll need when driving on wet or icy roads. The difference is the rubber the tires are made of. Winter tires are made with a rubber that is softer and more pliable in winter conditions. The more flexible the rubber, the better traction you get on wet and icy roads. 4. "SHOULD I GET MY SNOW TIRES SIPED?" - Siping is the process of cutting thin slits across the surface of a tire to improve traction for driving in snowy, wet or icy conditions. Siping can also help manage tire heat when the road is overly hot. Most winter tires are already siped, but additional sipping may be needed for used or worn tires. 5. "IS IT OKAY TO BUY USED WINTER TIRES?" - It may take some work, but you can find some nice used snow tires. Here are a couple things to look out for though. One, make sure they are the right size. You can verify this by looking in your owner's manual for you exact tire size. Second, measure the tread depth with a tread depth gauge. You may want to pass if there are 6/32nds of an inch or less of tread left on the tire. Third, be sure there's not a problem with uneven wear. Did your tread gauge measurements show any tread depth difference between the four tires?6. "CAN I JUST BUY CHAINS INSTEAD OF SNOW TIRES?" - Chains are definitely important, and they definitely have their time, but chains are mainly for traveling at a slower rate on icy mountain roads. They aren't made for highway driving, or driving at high speeds. Snow tires are ideal for everyday driving is areas with icy/snowy conditions. 7. "DO I NEED STUDDED SNOW TIRES OR STUDLESS?" - You can work with your tire dealer to go over what your driving habits are, and they will give you their recommendations. Studless snow tires usually work best in slushy areas, or areas with pact snow. Studded tires are mainly used in icy areas with heavy snowfall. The studs in the tires dig into icy surfaces and create more traction. -

1. Drive less2. Warm up your car for shorter lengths of time - Idling your car for anything over a minute wastes fuel and omits large amounts of greenhouse gas. 3. Buy gas early or late in the day - Gas is cooler earlier in the day, and more dense. As temperatures rise, gas density falls and you get less of it when you pump.4. Slow down and drive steady - Driving fast increases drag, which increases fuel consumption. 5. Monitor when and how you brake - Braking excessively wastes gas.6. Turn off the engine - Turn off your vehicle you are waiting, excess idling is a major waste of gas.7. Eliminate wind resistance - Remove unneeded car racks and carriers.8. Avoid gas stations near the highway - Gas stations near the highway are usually the most expensive.9. Don't wait until your tank is almost empty to fill up - You'll be stuck paying for whatever gas you can find nearby.10. Monitor your tires - Under-inflated tires tend to wear out quicker and waste gas.11. Tune the engine - A properly tuned engine uses less gas.12. Change filters - Clean filters help to keep cars running more fuel efficiently.13. Use the correct motor oil - Using the wrong motor oil can cause the engine to work harder and waste gas.14. Turn off the A/C - Using you're A/C too much can make your car a gas-guzzler.15. Drive a manual - Manual transmission cars are more fuel-efficient than automatic transmission.16. Manage your speed - Use cruise control whenever possible to manage your speed and conserve fuel.17. Choose the best route - The shortest route isn't always the most fuel-efficient way to go. Use the route with the least stop signs and stop lights.18. Fill your gas tank near state lines - Due to different tax rates, you may save a bundle just by crossing into another state.19. Consider buying a fuel-efficient car - Even several models of affordable non-hybrids can get 40 miles per gallon.20. Download a gas app - Using an app can really help you save at the gas pump - sometimes more than $0.20 per gallon.

Picture this: You are calmly driving down the road, when all of the sudden your car starts to lose control as if it was on ice skates. The only thing is it is just raining, no ice in sight. This was most likely caused by a phenomenon called "Hydroplaning". Hydroplaning occurs when a vehicle's tires encounter more water than they can scatter. Water pressure in the front of the wheel pushes water under the tire, and the tire is then separated from the road surface by a thin film of water and loses traction. The result is loss of steering, braking and power control. Hydroplaning is one of the leading causes of fatalities in bad weather. If you find yourself hydroplaning, there are things you can do to help yourself recover. Take a look below and make sure you're prepared. 1. Do not use your brakes. Your first reaction may be to hit your brakes when you start to feel a loss of control. Unfortunately, this is a big no-no. Sudden braking on a wet roadway can cause your vehicle to skid completely out of control. 2. Gently turn your vehicle in the direction it is hydroplaning. Again, this is going to seem like the wrong thing to do, but this will realign your tires in the direction you are heading and help you regain control. 3. Wait to regain control. The driver will be able to feel when he or she has regained control of their vehicle. Too many adjustments too early can sometimes compound the effect.

Even if you have great luck and religiously lock your car doors, you still can fall victim to car theft. Every 45 seconds, a car is stolen somewhere in the U.S, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). Here are tips to prevent your vehicle from being stolen: • Keep your vehicle locked at all times, even while driving.• When parked, never leave your keys in the car. Close all the windows and the sunroof.• Never leave your car running and unattended.• Avoid leaving valuables inside your vehicle where passersby can see them.• Install an anti-theft system in your vehicle if it doesn't have one. Thieves are reluctant to steal vehicles if they know the cars can be recovered quickly.

Engines can overheat when they are being worked too hard, and other times they overheat because there is a problem with the cooling system. Summer weather can definitely contribute to the engine overheating so this is a great time to review before anything happens. Keep reading to learn what to do in the event your engine shows sign of overheating and be prepared before you hit the road for any long trips. Always have 1 spare gallon of coolant and 1 gallon of distilled water in your trunk. Keep an eye on your temperature gauge while driving. It takes a little practice but is worth it since many people don't notice until their car is overheating. If the gauge rises, pull over when possible. If you see the temperature gauge rising or steam coming from under the hood, pull over, shut the vehicle off, and open the hood to allow the engine to cool off faster. However, if it's unsafe or impossible to pull over, turn off your air conditioning and turn on your heat max hot and blower fan on high. This will cool the engine by pulling heat into the passenger compartment. Then, when conditions permit, pull over and turn the vehicle off. 1. Let the engine cool off before you do anything. 2. Check the radiator for leaks. 3. Refill antifreeze / coolant levels.4. Check radiator and hoses for leaks, blockages or bursts. 5. Carefully monitor the temperature gauge. 6. Keep a safety kit in your car with food, water, coolant, flashlight, blankets.

Engines need a thicker oil in the summer months because of the summer heat and its effects on thinning the oil out. When the weather cools down, you can switch back to a lighter, thinner oil, which will help preserve gas mileage in the winter months. Here's how to check your oil though and see if it's time for a change.

Now is the time to get your vehicle ready for those spring and summer road trips, and to check on those things that might have been ignored during the winter months. As drivers and vehicle owners, we do not want to overlook any important maintenance. Therefore, spring is a great time to focus on any vehicle maintenance that might need your attention. Follow our Simple Spring Maintenance Checklist below: Wash, Wax & Clean the Inside tooInspect the tires & Tire Pressure Change your Wiper Blades Check under Your Hood Check Fluid LevelsCheck Alignment & Suspension Consult your maintenance schedule If vehicle maintenance is not your thing, don't worry, stop by our service department today and our certified technicians are available and ready. OUR SERVICE CONVENIENCE SAVES YOU TIME and MONEY ON YOUR REPAIR as we work on all makes and models including Imports. Our guests will enjoy many amenities while waiting for their vehicle in service not to mention you are always welcome to bring in your vehicle without an appointment. We take the stress out of servicing your vehicle. Save money now and avoid expensive mechanical issues in the future. Trust us when we say that caring for your vehicle and following routine maintenance will ensure the safety and the longevity of your car!

Have you ever wondered what types of tax breaks you are eligible for? Want to learn more? Read on. On the off chance that you utilize your auto only in your business, you can deduct auto costs, as indicated by the Turbo Tax site. In the event that you utilize your auto for both business and individual purposes, you should separate your costs based on mileage. Auto deductions are for a car, van, and pick-up or board truck utilized for business as indicated by the IRS web site. It is important to be aware that the commute between one's home to work is a personal expense and not deductible. However, if you drive from your usual work spot to another work related site whether it be a meeting in a different office, the store to buy office supplies or the airport, those are tax deductible miles. However if your employer pays you back for mileage, your miles are not deductible.If you use your car just for work then you will be able to deduct 100% of your expenses are deductible. This includes parking fees, registration fees, gas, and insurance. It's important to keep your receipts to keep tabs on your expenses. If you unfortunately happen to be in a car accident and the other driver isn't able to fully reimburse you for the damage done to your car, you might be able to get a deduction for the amount you were reimbursed for as a casualty loss. This includes if the the value of your car goes down as a result of the accident. Please refer to refer to IRS Publication 463, Travel, Entertainment, Gift, and Car Expenses https://www.irs.gov/uac/car-and-truck-expense-deduction-reminders). For a list of current-year and prior-year mileage rates see "Standard Mileage Rates." There's is also a table included for those who lease their vehicles.

In light of the new year, we'd like to go over a few accident avoidance practices. Drive safe everyone. 1. Check blind spots. Side mirrors and review mirrors are not enough. Always do a head check before changing lanes. Also be aware of other vehicle's blind spots as they could not be looking. 2. Judge the driver by the cars condition. Typically a driver with an expensive car or a well-maintained car hints that they are cautious with their vehicle, which can also mean they are cautious drivers. Those who don't take care of their car might not be as cautious. 3. Know your car's limit. Understanding what your car can do is an advantage. Don't over do it - pushing it to drive through poor conditions if it can't handle it is dangerous. 4. Keep your car in good shape. Regular maintenance like oil changes, tire rotations and changing brakes not only help keep your vehicle in peak operating condition it also helps make you drive safer.

Prestige. It's the Cadillac way and the XT5 upholds that standard. If you want a crossover SUV that takes you out of the rough world and into a world of comfort and elegance, you want to experience the XT5. You make your own world - choose to make it elegant with the XT5. Keep reading to learn more. 1. The Engine The XT5 is powerful. A DOHC 24-valve V-6 engine outputs 310 hp. It's both fuel efficient and powerful so you can tackle a variety of terrains and haul more on your road trips. Active Fuel Management technology helps to limit fuel consumption which improves overall miles per gallon. 2. The Interior Don't fight over legroom. All passengers can be comfortable with the XT5. Furthermore, collapsible seating meets changing cargo requirements. You'll find plenty of leather-lined comfort to go around too with tri-zone climate controls. Meet real interior comfort. 3. The Control Driving shouldn't be stressful. It should be controlled and comforting. The XT5 works to achieve both of those statuses. With rear vision cameras and safety features like Side Blind Zone Alert and Pedestrian Collision Mitigation, you have further help identifying objects in your blind spots. Plus, all-wheel drive options and improved suspension make the XT5 a very responsive crossover in all different types of weather and terrain. 4. The Tech Class Tech is the future. The XT5 is the future. Available 4G Wi-Fi, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and the Cadillac Cue System with a touch screen is the future. Want to learn more? Reach out to Capital Cadillac.

On November 16th, 1936, a major United Auto Workers strike began at the Fisher Body plant in Atlanta, GA. It was a strike organized by the UAW with the hope of stopping GM from sending work to non-union plants - as well as to establish a fair minimum wage scale and a grievance system, plus safety requests for assembly-line workers. The Fisher Body Plant strike was followed by strikes in Kansas City on December 16, Cleveland on December 28 and a sit-down protest in Flint, MI on December 30, 1936. The Flint, MI plant was a pivotal factory strike as it contained one of two body dyes GM used on every vehicle. The strike lasted for 44 days and it resulted in GM and the UAW signing an agreement in mid-February that gave the UAW just about everything they asked for.

It's October and it's National Car Care Month. This month means it's time to prepare your vehicle for the winter season. Look below for a list of quick fall checks that can help you and your vehicle prepare for winter. The Battery A good battery starts your car and powers the vehicle's electronics. A bad battery leaves you stranded in a parking lot, shivering while you wait for a tow truck. You want a good battery, not a bad battery. If you notice a slow-starting engine, corrosion on the terminals or dimming lights you might want to have your battery checked, cleaned and charged or possibly replaced. The Tires Good tires make driving more controlled. Bad tires can leave you spinning, hydroplaning or make the ride a bit shaky. If you notice uneven tread wear, low tire tread or low air pressure, you'll want to either replace the tire or have them refilled with air. If you notice shaking when driving, that could be either wheel balancing or uneven wear. The Windshield Wipers Fall and winter brings increased visibility issues with the changing weather. Wipers are important to maintain maximum visibility. If the rubber on your windshield is cracked or ripped, it's definitely time to replace the wiper blades. Coolant levels Engine coolant serves two purposes. The first purpose is to keep your engine cool during summer. The second purpose is to keep your engine from freezing in cold weather. It's a good practice to check coolant regularly throughout the year.