Auto shop shares tips during extreme cold, lingering snow

DON’T WORRY, BY OPENING DAY, MARCH 26TH. BACK TO THE COLD HERE. AND YOU KNOW, FOR NEARLY A WEEK, THE EXTREME COLD HAS BEEN PUSHING OUR CARS TO THEIR LIMIT. LOCAL AUTO SHOPS ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN REPAIRS AND CARS HAVING ISSUES WITH THE COLD AND THE LINGERING SNOW BUILDUP THERE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROADS. WLWT NEWS FIVE SEAN MACKINNON LIVE IN COVINGTON RIGHT NOW. AFTER GETTING A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT WHAT MECHANICS ARE DEALING WITH THIS WEEK. SEAN. MIKE SHEREE WITH TEMPS FALLING NEAR ZERO EACH NIGHT, SHOPS LIKE SMITH’S MUFFLER HAVE THEIR HANDS FULL. THEY’RE SWAMPED, BUT THEY DO HAVE SOME TIPS ON HOW TO KEEP YOUR CAR IN GOOD CONDITION DURING THE FREEZE. WHERE THE CLAY WADE BAILEY BRIDGE CONNECTS COVINGTON TO CINCINNATI. INSIDE SMITH MUFFLER, THIS ONE’S GETTING A BRAND NEW SET OF TIRES. IT’S THE BUSY SEASON, LONG HOURS SPENT WORKING ON 40 CARS A DAY. THE FRIGID WEATHER, SENDING THEM LOTS OF NEW CUSTOMERS. THEY’LL HELP YOU WITH WHAT YOU NEED, BUT ALSO HAVE ADVICE FOR KEEPING YOUR CAR OUT OF THEIR SHOP. YOU WANT TO CHECK YOUR WEAR BAR. IF IT’S DOWN TO THAT LITTLE BAR INSIDE THERE. IF THE TREAD IS EVEN WITH THAT, THAT’S ABOUT TIME YOU NEED TO START LOOKING FOR NEW TIRES. TOMMY SMITH, LEAD MECHANIC, SAYS IT’S NOT JUST THE COLD TEMPERATURES CAUSING ISSUES, BUT THE LINGERING SNOW. IF IT GETS STUCK IN YOUR WHEEL WELL, IT CAN THROW YOUR STEERING OFF BALANCE, SO IT’S WORTH TAKING THE TIME TO CLEAR IT OUT. DEFINITELY A GOOD IDEA. EVEN IF YOU CAN GO OUT THERE WITH A SHOVEL, BROOM, WHATEVER AND BRUSH IT OFF, MAKE SURE YOU CAN GET THE BUILDUP OFF OR PULL IT IN THE GARAGE AND LET IT MELT OFF. ANOTHER TIP IT’S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO CHECK YOUR OIL LEVELS AND ANTIFREEZE. YOU CAN BRING IT INTO A SHOP, LIKE WE’LL CHECK YOUR FREEZE PROTECTION ON IT. IF WE JUST DO A GENERAL SERVICE, WE’LL CHECK THE FREEZE PROTECTION ON THE ANTIFREEZE AND MAKE SURE IT CAN ACTUALLY HOLD UP TO THE SUBZERO TEMPERATURES. OTHER THAN BODYWORK, SMITH’S MUFFLER DOES EVERY KIND OF CAR REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE. THEIR WORK ON BEAT UP CARS ALSO CAUSING WEAR AND TEAR ON THE MECHANICS. ALL OF OUR HANDS ARE CRACKING. WE’RE USING OUR HANDS CONSTANTLY. I TRY TO WEAR THESE THE WINTER TIME. IT’S REALLY HARD SOMETIMES TO START A BOLT AND GET YOUR FINGERS UP BEHIND SOMETHING. WHEN YOUR FINGERTIPS ARE FROZEN. IT GETS BRUTAL, ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE TRYING TO FIX SOMETHING OUTSIDE JUST TO GET IT IN THE SHOP. THEY ALSO SAY IN GREATER CINCINNATI, ALL WEATHER TIRES SHOULD DO THE TRICK RATHER THAN WINTER TIRES. AND THE MOST IMPORTANT REMINDER IF YOUR ALIGNMENT FEELS OFF. THEY SAY MOST AUTO SHOPS SHOULD CHECK THAT AT

Auto shop shares tips during extreme cold, lingering snow

Updated: 11:13 PM EST Jan 30, 2026

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Extreme cold has been pushing vehicles to their limits for nearly a week, leading to an uptick in repairs at local auto shops like Smith’s Muffler, where mechanics are offering tips to keep cars in good condition through the freeze.Tommy Smith, lead mechanic at Smith Muffler, said, “This one’s getting a brand new set of tires.”He noted that it’s the busy season, with long hours spent working on forty cars a day. The frigid weather is sending them lots of new customers. They will help with what you need, but also have advice for keeping your car out of their shop.”You want to check your wear bar, if it’s down to that little bar inside there, if the tread is even with that, that’s about the time you need to start looking for new tires,” Smith said.He explained that driving over snow or having it stuck in the car’s wheel well can throw the wheel out of balance, making it worth taking the time to clear it out.”Definitely a good idea, even if you can’t go out there with a shovel, broom, whatever and brush it off, make sure you can get the buildup off or pull it in a garage and let it melt off,” Smith said.With temperatures this week below freezing and sometimes below zero degrees, it’s more important than ever to check your oil level and antifreeze. “You can bring it into a shop, like we’ll check your freeze protection on it, if we do just a general service, we’ll check the freeze protection on the antifreeze and make sure it holds up in subzero temperatures,” Smith said.Other than body work, Smith’s Muffler does every kind of car repair and maintenance. The winter rush is only made worse by the weather.”All of our hands are cracking, we’re using our hands constantly,” Smith said. “The wintertime, it’s really hard sometimes to start a bolt and get your fingers up behind something when your fingertips are frozen. It gets brutal, especially if you’re trying to fix something outside real quick just to get it in the shop.”

Extreme cold has been pushing vehicles to their limits for nearly a week, leading to an uptick in repairs at local auto shops like Smith’s Muffler, where mechanics are offering tips to keep cars in good condition through the freeze.

Tommy Smith, lead mechanic at Smith Muffler, said, “This one’s getting a brand new set of tires.”

He noted that it’s the busy season, with long hours spent working on forty cars a day. The frigid weather is sending them lots of new customers. They will help with what you need, but also have advice for keeping your car out of their shop.

“You want to check your wear bar, if it’s down to that little bar inside there, if the tread is even with that, that’s about the time you need to start looking for new tires,” Smith said.

He explained that driving over snow or having it stuck in the car’s wheel well can throw the wheel out of balance, making it worth taking the time to clear it out.

“Definitely a good idea, even if you can’t go out there with a shovel, broom, whatever and brush it off, make sure you can get the buildup off or pull it in a garage and let it melt off,” Smith said.

With temperatures this week below freezing and sometimes below zero degrees, it’s more important than ever to check your oil level and antifreeze. “You can bring it into a shop, like we’ll check your freeze protection on it, if we do just a general service, we’ll check the freeze protection on the antifreeze and make sure it holds up in subzero temperatures,” Smith said.

Other than body work, Smith’s Muffler does every kind of car repair and maintenance. The winter rush is only made worse by the weather.

“All of our hands are cracking, we’re using our hands constantly,” Smith said. “The wintertime, it’s really hard sometimes to start a bolt and get your fingers up behind something when your fingertips are frozen. It gets brutal, especially if you’re trying to fix something outside real quick just to get it in the shop.”

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