All Tech Automotive: Ballston Spa NY. Local European Specialists

Winter, and the associated snow, ice, cold and climatic nastiness that goes with it, will be with us Canadians shortly. You know that winter tires will make your ride safer if you’re driving in winter. You know that you should probably install a set, because they’re a good idea. If you ask someone you know who owns winter tires, they’ll tell you they make a big difference for grip, handling, traction and all-around confidence. They’ll tell you, as well, that winter tires pay for themselves the first time you stop clear of an accident situation, rather than winding up in it. Here’s a look at a few key benefits you can expect by installing a set, especially on your newer car, truck or SUV model. Compromise-free: Winter tires have both a flexible rubber compound and unique tread design that’s made exclusively for use on snow, slush and ice and in cold temperatures. With no compromises made for other seasons, drivers will bene ... read more

Winter is just around the corner. For many drivers, that also means the challenges of winter car ownership are just around the corner, too, like salted streets, icy roads, freezing temperatures and heavy snow. How can you make sure your car is well cared for during the difficult winter months? We've listed eight simple car care tips that can go a long way toward making sure your car stays in great shape all winter long. Lighting One major hazard with winter driving is that the sun sets earlier in the day, which means there's less daylight, especially on your commute home. As a result, you'll want to do everything you possibly can to make sure all of your vehicle's lights are in excellent shape, providing the brightest possible illumination they can. If a bulb is out, fix it before winter starts, and if there's snow covering any exterior light, make sure you remove it before setting off to drive anywhere. If your headlights are foggy or yellow, consider replacing t ... read more

What’s the condition behind the almost universal attraction for drivers to watch snow blow off their cars and trucks as they head out on winter roads?  Is it something akin to a child’s fondness for splashing in mud puddles or sticking their tongues to frozen metal gate posts?  Is it laziness or from being rushed? No matter what the reason, we’ve all seen vehicles on the road covered in snow with barely a porthole-sized section of unfrosted glass through which we see the driver huddled down, chin on the steering wheel, desperately trying to navigate his or her course, and sometimes, more than we’d care to admit, it’s us behind that wheel. If you haven’t been given enough reasons to take the few minutes required to clear your vehicle of snow and ice before pulling out of your parking spot, here are a few you might not have considered. It’s illegal Police services have quite a few tools in their fine-books to address ... read more

Although the whole, “Jetsons,” thing hasn’t seemed to pan out just yet, there are some pretty spectacular technology trends to hit the auto market next year. See which top five are invading 2017’s auto industry! 1. Apple and Google Takeover There’s been a lot of debate within the auto industry about whether or not Apple and Google are about to take over our cars as well. Rumors are swirling that Apple is working under the guise of “Project Titan,” in order to create a new Apple car. Can you imagine the pressure to fit in? You’d need to buy the latest model of an Apple car every year and a half, which almost looks identical to the one you already have. My anxiety over this is almost the equivalent to Eli Manning watching Petyon win the Superbowl. We’ll have to wait a little later than 2017 to fi ... read more

  It's a perennial issue with extra sets of tires and/or wheels: What's the best way to store them when they are not being used? Many people store tires improperly, and this can often shorten the life of your tires. The essential problem here is outgassing: as the rubber ages it loses volatile oils through the outer layers of the tire. Normally, the flexing motion of the tire tends to keep the oils evenly distributed throughout the rubber, so that outgassing is a minor issue. But when tires are stored for long periods of time without that flexing motion, outgassing must be kept to​ a minimum to avoid drying out the outer layers of rubber to the point that they begin to crack instead of flexing. We call this pattern of cracking rubber that develops over time “dry-rot” and it's a sign of approaching doom for your tires. Here are the best ways to avoid it if you are storing your tires or even a whole car over a season or longer. Get the Weight Off ... read more