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Winter survival kits can be lifesavers in the case of a home disaster, auto breakdown or auto accident on the highway, especially in the cold winter months. At Jeff Smith Kia, we want you to be an informed driver and ready to safely tackle the winter months. Come see us and let us help you supply your winter survival kit.

When making your survival kit, you want the most important things to keep you not just safe but also occupied, especially if you have young children.  

At Jeff Smith Kia, we want all drivers to be safe when driving during the winter months. With the right winter tires, you can safely navigate all roads with confidence. Winter tires come either with studs or without studs. Studded tires are ideal for icy road conditions as they dig into it and provide additional traction.

However, it may not be necessary to buy tires with metal studs in them. This is because they can damage the road when not covered in ice, and they also have a tendency to create a loud and rough ride.  

When it comes to the world of motor oil, there are a lot of myths and half-truths flying around. As such, the team here at Jeff Smith Kia has decided to correct the record so that our friends and neighbors can be as well-informed as possible about the running of their vehicles.

It is not at all uncommon to hear people claim that synthetic oil can cause oil leaks. However, this simply isn't true. Though some instances of leakage were noted when synthetic oil was first introduced in the 1970s, improvements in oil technology mean that this just isn…

While there are so many critical components in a vehicle, tires are some of the most important. There are a few things you can do to make sure they're ready to take you around town and beyond.

With the correct tire pressure, you'll be able to drive safely and efficiently. If a tire is underinflated, the outside edges will be working harder than they should be. If a tire is overinflated, the load won't be evenly distributed across the entire tread. In just a few seconds, you can use a tire gauge to check your pressure. 

Have you ever heard your mechanic say that your differentials need to be checked? What does that mean? The differentials are located at the front or rear axle assembly. These parts are important pieces that help your car’s wheels rotate around so you can drive properly. While differential oil doesn’t need to be replaced as often as oil, it’s important to have it checked, especially if it feels rough turning your car. 

All cars have moving parts. To keep these parts separate, oil is used as a lubricant that creates a thin film of protection between moving parts. Without the lubricant, the parts would grind together and break. No matter where you look inside your engine, the moving parts demand oil to keep them from breaking. Manufacturers of automobiles test their engines to find the right viscosity, or thickness, of oil to lubricate the parts properly.

The Society of Automotive Engineers began testing oil viscosity in 1911. The Society passes oil through a "viscometer" to determine its viscosity.  

Today, many automakers equip their vehicles with compact spares rather than full-sized tires. The compact spare increases interior room. Saving space is an important part of the design of compact vehicles. The difference between the compact and full-sized spare also involves driving. Compact spares have limits on speed and distance. Automakers design them as an emergency tire to get the vehicle back on the road.

Most drivers know it is essential to have a spare in good condition. A full sized spare works like a regular tire.  

When you are in a position where your car payments are too much for you to handle, you have the option of refinancing your car or trading in your car for something that will give you payments that are within your current budget. There are positives and negatives to going either way.

If you refinance your vehicle, you may be able to get a better interest rate than you originally had. This will help reduce your payments. However, you may not be able to refinance an older vehicle. You also have the option of trading in. 

Jeff Smith Kia wants you to be smart as you are picking out a vehicle for a teenager. As a parent, you probably worry about your teenage driver, and we are here to help you get that kid into a safe vehicle.

When you are searching for a vehicle for your teenager, you want to give special attention to vehicles that are big and heavy. Those can protect your child and help them stay safe. When you are shopping for a vehicle for your teenager, you should pay attention to the safety ratings of each option that you come across…

Gathering before sporting events for food, refreshment, and discussion has long been a source of goodwill and fun times. It's an opportunity to create some great moments and experience great food from the tailgate of your pickup. There are a number of tips to know that can make tailgating more pleasurable.

There is a lot that goes into a great tailgating event. Planning ahead can be advantageous in helping things run smoothly. For instance, you should slice and pack your burger toppings to avoid having to do so at the event.