AC WOW Tire & Auto

08/21/2026

🍁 Is your car ready for cooler weather, Ashland?

Don't let the sudden drop in temperature catch you off guard! Summer heat takes a heavy toll on your vehicle, but a few quick preventative checks can save you from a major breakdown this autumn.

Family-owned and serving Hanover County since 1994, our team is known for honesty, integrity, and fair pricing.📞 Call us today at (804) 798-2552 or stop by 425 S Washington Hwy to get road-trip ready!

05/20/2026

☀️ Is your car’s AC blowing nothing but hot air? 🥵

Summer is right around the corner, and nobody wants to turn their daily commute into a sauna. If your car is feeling more like an oven lately, it’s time to bring it into AC WOW Tire & Auto!

Whether you just need a quick refrigerant top-off or a full system diagnostic, our team will get you cooled down and back on the road in comfort.

❄️ Our AC Services Include:

Complete system performance checks

Leak detection and diagnostics

AC recharge (refrigerant top-offs)

Component repair and replacement (compressors, condensers, and more)

Don't wait until you're sweating out the summer traffic. Let the pros handle it!

📅 Drop by or call us today to schedule your AC service!

05/11/2026

Master the Wand: Get the Most Out of a Self-Serve Car Wash
There’s something satisfying about doing it yourself. Maybe you don’t trust the "giant blue bristles" at the automatic wash, or maybe you just enjoy the precision of getting every last bit of grime out of your wheel wells.

Whatever your reason, the self-serve bay is an art form. To help you get that AC Wow Tire & Auto shine without the professional price tag, we’ve put together the ultimate DIY wash guide.

1. The Golden Rule: Pre-Soak is Your Best Friend
Don’t just blast the car with high-pressure water immediately.

Why? Dry dirt is abrasive.

The Fix: Use the Pre-Soak setting first. Let it sit for a minute to break down the bond between the road grime and your paint.

2. Top-Down Strategy
Gravity is working against you, so make it work for you. Always start spraying at the roof and work your way down. This prevents dirty water from running over sections you’ve already cleaned.

3. The "Brush" Caution
The foaming brush is great for stubborn spots, but be careful. If the person before you just washed their mud-caked off-roader, that brush is full of sand and rocks that can scratch your clear coat.

Pro Tip: Give the brush a quick blast with the high-pressure wand before it touches your car to rinse out any lingering debris.

4. Don't Skimp on the Rinse
Soap trapped in door seals or mirrors will leave unsightly white streaks once it dries. Spend the extra minute using the High-Pressure Rinse to flush out every crack and crevice.

5. The Finishing Touch: Spot-Free Water
Most bays offer a Spot-Free Rinse (usually deionized water). This is the secret to avoiding those pesky white water spots. Even if you don't hand-dry your car, this step ensures it dries clean.

🏎️ Why DIY?
Precision: Focus on the areas an automatic wash misses (like inside the wheel arches).

Control: You choose the pressure and the chemicals used.

Budget-Friendly: You only pay for the time you actually need!

Is your car looking a little rough after a long road trip? Swing by a local bay this weekend and show your ride some love.

And remember—while you handle the shine, AC Wow Tire & Auto handles the spine! If your car is vibrating, pulling to the left, or just needs a check-up, give us a call or DM us to book an appointment.

Call now to connect with business.

04/16/2026

Always on Guard (TMPS)

One of the most important things you can do to keep your vehicle running safely is to make sure your tires are properly inflated. If one or more is vastly over- or underinflated, that has the potential to cause major handling problems and may result in a dangerous accident.

All vehicles in recent years are equipped with Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems, or TPMS. One system uses small sensors in the tires that continually check the pressure in each tire. That sensor sends a signal to computers in your vehicle which turns on an instrument panel light warning of low pressure when at least one is very low. Or it may update a numeric reading on your instrument panel which gives you an approximation of how many PSI (pounds per square inch) of air is in each tire.

Another system works with your antilock brake system to measure the size of your vehicle’s tires. When one wheel is going faster than another, it will spin faster. A computer sees that and alerts you that tire’s diameter is smaller than the others and therefore must be underinflated.

No matter what system you have, it’s also helpful for you to know how much pressure each tire is supposed to be inflated to. You can find that on a label on the driver’s side door sill. In addition, the TPMS system should not be used as a substitute for checking your tires with a tire gauge since the TPMS accuracy usually isn’t quite as precise. Keep in mind that tire sensors can fail, so each system acts as a backup for the other.

Since many vehicles these days don’t have spare tires, it’s good to know that your TPMS can warn you if you have a leak in one of your tires. If you get a low-pressure warning, many systems will tell you which tire is low, so you can do your own visual check. Often you can see if you’ve picked up a nail or a screw if it’s sticking out of the tread or near the sidewall.

Being able to receive an early warning from your vehicle of abnormal tire pressure may give you a chance to safely drive to a service center before your tire slowly goes completely flat (which can ruin the tire and badly damage the rim). It also may ultimately prevent you from being stranded somewhere with a flat tire or, most importantly, having a sudden blowout on the road.

AC WOW Tire & Auto
425 S. WASHINGTON HWY
ASHLAND, VA 23005
804 798 2552
www.acwowashland.com

03/23/2026

PCV Valve Replacement At AC WOW Tire & Auto

The PCV valve is a little, inexpensive part that does a big job. PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation. The crankcase is the bottom area of the engine that holds the oil. When the engine’s running, fuel is burned to generate power. Most of the exhaust from combustion goes out through the exhaust system. But some exhaust blows by the pistons and goes into the lower engine, or crankcase.

These hot gases are about seventy percent unburned fuel. This can dilute and contaminate the oil, leading to damaging engine oil sludge. It can also cause engine corrosion. At high speeds, the pressure can build up to the point that gaskets and seals start to leak.

Over time, the vented gases will gum up the PCV valve and it won’t work well. That can lead to all the problems I’ve already described, oil leaks, excessive oil consumption and wasted gas.

Fortunately, it’s very easy to test the PCV valve and quick and inexpensive to replace. Even so, it’s often overlooked because many consumers don’t know about it. Check your owner’s manual or ask your service advisor. If this is the first time you’ve heard of a PCV valve, you might be in line for a replacement.

Please ask us about your PCV valve. For the price of a couple of burger combo meals, you can avoid some very expensive deep engine repairs.

Give us a call

AC WOW Tire & Auto
425 S. WASHINGTON HWY
ASHLAND, VA 23005
804 798 2552
www.acwowashland.com

03/09/2026

AC WOW Tire & Auto Maintenance for High Mileage Vehicles

Reports say that the median age for cars on the road is over nine years and that two-thirds have over 75,000 miles. In recent years those numbers have continued to rise.

Many people are keeping their vehicles longer. The economy has influenced that, but the fact that modern cars and trucks are more durable and reliable means that owning a high mileage vehicle doesn’t have to be a painful experience.

Consumers with over 100,000 miles on their vehicles often ask how what service intervals they should follow. Let’s start with the special needs of the older vehicle.

The reality is that time and mileage will take its toll. The engine and transmission will have more sludge. The fuel, steering and brake systems will have gum and varnish built up. There’ll be more dirt and contaminants in the fuel tank. Corrosion and deposits in the cooling system. And seals and gaskets will start to dry out.

All of this, plus normal wear and tear, means that the engine might not be as strong as new, so it just must work harder to get the job done.

So, we need to compensate. Consider high-mileage formulations for oil changes, transmission service, etc. These special formulations contain additives that condition the seals and gaskets to prevent leaks. They also have more detergents to clean sludge and other deposits. They cost a bit more, but they’re worth it.

In general, if a service was recommended every, let’s say, 15,000 miles when the car was new, you should continue to get the service done every 15,000 miles.

Talk with your service advisor about the condition of your engine. See if he thinks you should adjust your service intervals for oil changes or other maintenance to account for the older engine working harder.

If anything, following recommended intervals is more important in a higher mileage vehicle. Skipping oil changes or other services can lead to problems much more quickly than with a newer vehicle.

So, have your service advisor help you with an assessment of your older car or truck. If you haven’t gotten around to a fuel system cleaning, or replacing power steering or brake fluid, a differential service or transmission service – it’s time to start taking care of those things. It’ll help keep you on the road for many more happy miles.

Give us a call

AC WOW Tire & Auto
425 S. WASHINGTON HWY
ASHLAND, VA 23005
804 798 2552

Home Hours of Operation are Monday through Friday 7:30AM to 5:30PM For the best prices on Tires, give us a call at (804) 798-2552 25k Cars repaired 40k Satisfied customers 40+ Years of experience 9 Certified mechanics Expert Auto Repairs from ASE Certified Mechanics Trust us with your vehicle for aw...

03/02/2026

Wiper blades may not be the most exciting topic – but they are pretty important. Most of us have had an experience when a sudden snow or rainstorm hits while we’re driving; then when we turn on the wipers – nothing but streaks. This can be especially disconcerting at night when the glare of on-coming headlights distorts your vision.

Simple answer: change your wiper blades before they fail. Check them out every couple of months just to see how they are working. Of course, the more you use your wipers, the sooner they’ll wear out. People living with lots of storms or those who drive a lot where there are bugs and road grime will use their blades more.

But even when you’re not using your blades, they are exposed to sunlight, ozone, soap, and extreme hot and cold temperatures which lead to deterioration. Your blades can just rot away and fall apart before you need them. Of course, using your wipers when the blades are torn can lead to scratches in your windshield. You don’t want to risk a windshield replacement over the cost of a couple of wiper blades.

Now let’s talk about wiper blade upgrades. You can upgrade both the design and the wiper material. Let’s start with the material. Traditional black rubber blades do a great job of clearing your windshield when they are new. Over time all the conditions mentioned above damage them and degrade their performance. Silicone blades are far less affected by environmental conditions and will simply perform better for a longer time.

There are two elements to the design. First, the wiper blade itself: Some have a single wiping edge. Others have multiple edges – kind of like a multi-blade razor. The idea is to maximize wiping power during both swipes of the blade. The other design element is with the wiper frame. This is the structure that applies pressure on the blade as it passes over the windshield.

A conventional frame has four to six contact points on the blade. These apply pressure used to clear water and snow. A beam frame provides uniform pressure along the entire surface of the wiper. Their shape catches the wind passing over the vehicle to provide additional downforce to help get a clean swipe. A hybrid frame has four to six contact points as with a conventional blade, but also incorporates an airfoil to provide additional downforce as with beam blades.

So which blade is right for you? Well always use at least the grade and design that came with the vehicle from the factory. Upgrade for better performance and longer lasting blades. The extra cost of premium blades is a good value for this important safety system.

While you’re at it, make sure you have plenty of windshield washer solvent (use a winter formulation when temps drop below freezing) and that your washer nozzles are working well. Talk with your service advisor about upgrading your wiper blades.

Give us a call

AC WOW Tire & Auto
425 S. WASHINGTON HWY
ASHLAND, VA 23005
804 798 2552

Home Hours of Operation are Monday through Friday 7:30AM to 5:30PM For the best prices on Tires, give us a call at (804) 798-2552 25k Cars repaired 40k Satisfied customers 40+ Years of experience 9 Certified mechanics Expert Auto Repairs from ASE Certified Mechanics Trust us with your vehicle for aw...

02/23/2026

PRNDL
You probably figured out those shifty letters. They're what you see on your automatic transmission shifter and stand for Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive and Low. Your automatic transmission is one of the great automotive inventions; here are some ways you can keep yours working well.

Maintain your transmission regularly. A technician will check your transmission fluid's level and even its appearance and smell. If it's dark or has an unusual odor, that could be a sign of trouble.

Change from one transmission direction gear into another only when your vehicle is stopped. So many drivers want to switch from Reverse to Drive quickly or the other way around. If you do that when the vehicle is moving, you can damage your automatic transmission.

Keep your vehicle's cooling system in top shape. What does the cooling system have to do with the transmission? It helps keep the transmission fluid from overheating.

Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for maintaining your transmission. Some recommend at least an annual checkup by a trained technician.

Let your powertrain warm up a little before overtaxing it. Especially in cold weather, don't step on the throttle too aggressively before all components are warmed up. That way both your engine and transmission will last longer.

Transmissions can be costly to fix. If you treat your powertrain with respect and regularly maintain it, you'll not only avoid expensive repairs, but you’re also much less likely to find yourself stranded because of a transmission problem.

AC WOW Tire & Auto
425 S. WASHINGTON HWY
ASHLAND, VA 23005
804 798 2552
www.acwowashland.com

02/17/2026

Rotation Explanation (Tire Rotation Patterns)

You may notice that when you get your vehicle's oil changed, your service adviser may recommend that you have your tires rotated at the same time. The reasons are simple. That will allow your tires to wear more evenly and reduce the noise your tires make as you drive down the road.

There are different ways of rotating tires. If your vehicle has non-directional tires and the same size wheels at each corner, here are the different rotation patterns.

For all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive vehicles, one is called the rearward cross pattern. The rear tires are moved to the front and stay on the same side of the vehicle, and the front tires are moved to the rear on the side opposite of where they were on the front.

For all-wheel and four-wheel drive vehicles, use the X pattern. The rear tires are moved to the front on the opposite side of the vehicle, and the fronts are moved to the rear on the opposite side of where they were on the front.

For front-wheel drive, there's the forward cross. The front tires are moved to the rear wheels on the same side of the vehicle as they were on the front and the rear tires are moved to the opposite side of the vehicle than they were on the rear.

If you have directional tires (they only can be mounted in one direction) and the same size directional wheels, the rear tires are moved to the front on the same side of the vehicle where they were, and the front tires are moved to the rear on the same side they were on the front. And if you have tires with different sizes of non-directional tires and wheels on the front and rear, rotation will be from one side of the vehicle to the other.

If you have a spare, it's put into the rotation using a forward cross or rearward cross.

Yep, that's a lot to keep straight. So, we suggest letting your service advisor recommend the right rotation pattern for you at the interval your vehicle's manufacturer specifies.

AC WOW Tire & Auto
425 S. WASHINGTON HWY
ASHLAND, VA 23005
804 798 2552

Home Hours of Operation are Monday through Friday 7:30AM to 5:30PM For the best prices on Tires, give us a call at (804) 798-2552 25k Cars repaired 40k Satisfied customers 40+ Years of experience 9 Certified mechanics Expert Auto Repairs from ASE Certified Mechanics Trust us with your vehicle for aw...

02/09/2026

Ever wonder how your vehicle is able to move over bumps, potholes and other irregularities in the road and you hardly feel a vibration in the cabin? It’s your shocks and struts doing the hard work along with the rest of your suspension and tires. They keep the ride smooth and are important for your vehicle’s safe operation.

So, how do you know when your shocks and struts are wearing out? One way is to look at the surface of your tire (where the rubber meets the road—where the tread is). You might see some little indentations in certain spots, known as tire cupping. If your vehicle takes longer to stop than it used to, takes a dive when you hit the brake pedal or bottoms out (scrapes) on a big bump in the road, that’s another sign, as are loud, odd noises.

You may also notice your vehicle sways more than it used to. Every once in a while, look around at your shocks to see what shape things are in. If you see the rubber cover cracked or worn out or see a fluid outside your shocks, those are signs to bring your vehicle in to us so we can see what’s going on.

Since shocks and struts contribute to the safe operation of your vehicle, this service is important. Shocks and struts are what help your tires stay in close contact with the road and help stabilize your vehicle. They also help electronic safety systems work properly, including anti-lock braking, stability control, and collision avoidance. Bad shocks and struts are just going to get worse with time.

It's best to have regular maintenance done before anything goes wrong with your struts and shocks. Your vehicle’s manufacturer has guidelines for how long those intervals are. If you do start to see some of the warning signs, head on over so we can evaluate any problems. We’ll replace the parts your vehicle needs and have you strutting your stuff once again.

AC WOW Tire & Auto
425 S. WASHINGTON HWY
ASHLAND, VA 23005
804 798 2552
www.acwowashland.com