Car care guides for Ottawa drivers

Practical answers to the questions we get asked most, written for the way vehicles actually get used in this city: salt, potholes, cold starts, and two sets of tires.

• When to switch to winter tires in Ottawa

  Go by temperature, not by the first snowfall. Here is the rule most shops actually use, and when to book so you are not scrambling.

• Re-torquing wheel nuts after a tire change

  After any tire or rim removal, wheel nuts need to be re-torqued within 100 km. It takes a few minutes, we do it free, and it is genuinely a safety item.

• Signs your brakes need inspecting

  Not every brake noise is urgent, and not every urgent problem is loud. Here is how to tell the difference.

• Getting your car ready for an Ottawa winter

  Cold does not create most winter breakdowns. It exposes problems that were already there and merely tolerable in warmer weather.

• What to check after an Ottawa winter

  Winter here leaves evidence. Spring is when it shows up, and the cheapest time to deal with it.