Winter Tires vs. All-wheel Drive

Drivers facing treacherous winter driving conditions should pay close attention to the tires on their car. Efficient traction becomes more important for safety when driving through bad weather conditions. Be aware of the pros/cons when comparing the use of winter tires versus all-wheel drive.

Benefits of winter snow tires

Consumer tire testing is frequently conducted in Scandinavian countries on test tracks that lie north of the Arctic Circle. If a winter tire product can perform well under those extreme conditions, experts agree that consumers should choose similar tires for added safety, especially if they drive through extreme winter weather conditions. While there are pros/cons for winter tires, the traction pros outweigh any cost-savings if you don't have them. When you suddenly find yourself sliding across a sheet of ice while driving, your car can stop up to a full car length sooner if you have winter tires than if you have all-season tires.

Pros/cons of all-wheel drive (AWD)

An AWD vehicle distributes more torque to tires and gives the most traction to all four wheels when needed. This means your tires slip less and your vehicle has better acceleration. This feature benefits performance and should not be confused with a safety feature. Many AWD drivers prefer the cost savings when using all-season tires during winter. What they don't realize is that an AWD vehicle might offer less chance of tire slippage when power is applied, but this feature can mask the seriousness of an icy surface. AWD owners often find themselves in ditches because they under-estimated the road's slippery conditions and their tires didn't have the traction needed to help.

Do I need winter tires if I have all-wheel drive?

If you drive your AWD through extreme winter weather, the answer is "yes." Winter driving safety is not determined by vehicle acceleration, but by the traction of your tires. The better traction you have, the shorter the stopping distance. Most consumers don't realize that tire grip is but one function when tire tread meets the road surface. Quality grip is determined by your tire tread rubber compound construction and how this material reacts during cold temperatures, wears with age, size of grooves in the tread, and tire air pressure when your AWD comes in contact with a patch of ice.

Quality traction should always be your priority when it comes to safety. Engine power needed to push through slippery roads won't give your vehicle any more "gripping" traction when you need it most.

Low-Calorie Tweaks for Traditional Thanksgiving Dishes

Thanksgiving dinner is a time for a fun family feast—but it’s also a fat-eating fete where butter makes an appearance in almost every dish on the table, and indigestion is frequently part of the last course. A typical Thanksgiving dinner of turkey and sides can easily reach 2,500 calories and that’s not counting drinks and appetizers. For dieters, Thanksgiving is often a day of either self-imposed deprivation or I-ate-too-much remorse.

The good news is you can have a traditional turkey dinner and still stay within a reasonable caloric intake by tweaking your favorite recipes just a bit, reducing the size of your portions, and eating as slowly as possible. That way, you can enjoy everything on the table without guilt or regret.

Turkey Talk

You’ll consume fewer calories and less fat if you eat breast meat than if you dine on the dark, but the dark side of the turkey doesn’t deserve the poor reputation it’s earned over the years. The nutritional difference between servings of white and dark meat is really only 20 calories and 2 grams of fat, and dark meat actually contains predominantly heart-healthy fats and a healthier high mineral content.

So, what’s the real belly-busting culprit? Turkey skin. Keep the skin on during roasting to retain moisture, but skip adding it to your plate and save yourself hundreds of calories and a significant serving of fat.

Skinny mashed potatoes

This Thanksgiving, indulge in spectacular spuds, mashed to perfection, but banish the cream and butter and save a ton of gratuitous calories and fat grams. Instead, make your mashed with skim milk or chicken broth, and for less than 160 calories per serving, you can have a delicious mound of fluffy potatoes on your plate.

Good gravy

The key to cutting calories in gravy is to make sure you remove the fat. If you can make the gravy ahead of time, you can chill it and remove almost all of the extra fat that rises to the top. If not, pour the pan juices into a fat separator. Discard the fat, but keep all the tasty drippings. Don’t over-thicken the gravy. A thin gravy has fewer calories than a thick, gloppy gravy, and you’ll use less when you ladle it onto your potatoes or meat.

Simply superb stuffing

You can cut down on fat and calories in your turkey stuffing without cutting out flavor. Load up your stuffing with a ton of fruits and veggies and skip the sausage and butter. Use fat-free chicken broth to moisten the stuffing and chop up apples, onions, celery, mushrooms, apricots, cranberries, shallots, and parsley and mix with whole wheat cubes, similar to this recipe from SparkPeople.

Naturally sweet potatoes

You don’t need a ton of butter, sugar, and nuts in or on your sweet potatoes—and there’s certainly no need for marshmallows! Save the super sweets for the last course, and enjoy the naturally sweet flavor of a yam or sweet potato that is baked in its jacket.

Relish your cranberries

A half-inch slice of sweetened, canned cranberry sauce contains about 86 calories, but you can cut that number in half if you make your own homemade cranberry sauce. Search the Internet for a recipe you like, or opt for this recipe for a spiced cranberry sauce.

Dessert for the Deserving

You’ve saved so many calories this Thanksgiving by using lower-calorie recipes and flinging fat to the curb—now you can indulge in your favorite Thanksgiving desserts without worries. Pick two of the desserts at your table and take one skinny slice of each treat. Sure, you can make a dessert with low-fat ingredients or artificial sugar, but why not enjoy a small bit of something amazing instead of a huge amount of something ho-hum? Just make sure you think twice before going back for a second plate!

Fall/Winter Wardrobe Essentials

Dress them up, or dress them down, but dark wash, slim-cut jeans are easily the most versatile aspect of your wardrobe, for both women and men. If you’re going to invest in a good pair of jeans, these are them.

Cashmere/Big Knit Sweater

Another ubiquitous wardrobe piece is an all-purpose sweater. Whether this is a fitted cashmere sweater or an oversized cable-knit pullover, spend more on a good sweater that will carry you through the season.

Long-sleeve Layer/Flannel

The fall/winter season is all about layering, and you’ll always need good basic layers regardless of this year’s trends. Invest in good, light long-sleeve shirts and/or a plaid flannel that you love. You’ll be able to incorporate these staple pieces into any outfit once the weather gets cooler.

Chambray/Denim/Quilted shirt

A classic look for women is the Chambray button down. It’s like a denim shirt, but lighter, and wears like a lightweight flannel. The same goes for denim or quilted shirts for men. These heavier top layers will deliver optimum comfort and style, with little effort.

Bright Coat/Down Jacket

When shopping for a warm jacket, it may be tempting to go for black because it will go with anything. That’s perfectly fine, but also consider opting for a brighter color for your outer layer. You’ll appreciate the pop of personality during the grey days of late winter, and you’d be surprised how well the right color will coordinate!

Knee-high Boots/Work Boots

A good pair of boots is a must-have. This is one aspect of your wardrobe for which you should prioritize quality, because you’ll wear good boots for years if they hold up. For women, knee-high boots in a neutral color are essential, and for men a quality pair of work boots or desert boots will stand up to the elements and keep you looking suave at the same time.

Sweater Dress/Tweed Blazer

Who says dress season is over when it’s cold outside? Invest in a sweater dress or shift dress that will serve as your "little black dress" of the winter season. Men, your LBD will be a tailored tweed/neutral blazer. Throw it over a button-down with dark wash jeans for a more dressed-up look.

Cozy Scarf

Wind chill stinks, but it does give us an excuse to stock up on scarves. Both men and women should invest in a quality, warm scarf that will add both style and protection against the elements.

Out-of-the-Box Thanksgiving Recipes to Try This Year

Thanksgiving is the tastiest holiday by far, but sometimes serving the same dishes each year can get a little bland. Try these variations on some of your favorite Thanksgiving dishes – you and your guests are in for a delicious surprise!

 Turkey tenderloins with mushroom stuffing

Let’s face it. Turkey isn’t exactly the juiciest of meats, but it’s a must-have on your Thanksgiving table. This recipe incorporates interesting flavors and spices to take your turkey to the next level. Click here for recipe.

Sangria cranberry sauce

You can make this side dish several days ahead in order to save time on Thanksgiving Day – in fact, it’s recommended. Another bonus is that uses red wine, lemons and limes to enhance the flavors of the sauce. Click here for recipe.

Sautéed green beans with onions and bacon

It’s true what they say about bacon – it makes everything taste better. Even your kids will love eating their Thanksgiving vegetables if you use this recipe. Plus, it only takes about 15 minutes altogether. Click here for recipe. 

Mashed sweet potatoes with rosemary

If you’re getting a little tired of marshmallows on top of your sweet potatoes, try this recipe instead. It’s very simple, but sure to please the health nuts in your family (and without the hyper-sugary potatoes this year, they’ll be more likely to actually try the dessert you slaved over). Click here for recipe.

Pumpkin-pecan cheesecake

Your favorite fall flavors combined in one heavenly, rich dessert. What more is there to say? Click here for recipe. 

We hope you’ll try out some of these delicious recipes for your family on Turkey Day. From all of us at Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville, have a Happy Thanksgiving! 

Preparing Your Car for Cold Weather

If you haven’t had your car checked yet this month, it’s a good time to do so before the weather gets even colder, bringing with it the possibility of snow and ice. Winter weather makes your car work harder, so it’s important to be sure that all components of your vehicle are working properly.

Carcare.org shares these nine tips to prepare your car for the winter months:

1.      Because winter is particularly harsh on your battery, make sure your battery and charging system are in optimal condition.

2.      Put new antifreeze in the cooling system.

3.      Consider changing your windshield wipers if they are old; you could also invest in winter wiper blades and cold weather washer fluid.

4.      Check your car’s tire pressure and tread depth. Once wintery weather hits, check your tire pressure once a week.

5.      Have a technician check the condition of your fuel, air and transmission filters.

6.      Because winter weather amplifies existing problems with your engine, make sure to get a tune-up if you’re due for one.

7.      Get your car’s brakes checked.

8.      Make sure all your car’s lights work properly, both inside and outside your vehicle.

9.      Make sure the exhaust system does not have any carbon monoxide leaks.

Our service team at Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville would be happy to help you winterize your vehicle. Give us a call to make an appointment today.