GRANDVILLE, Mich.––The bitter cold temperatures, the heavy snow fall and lake effect snow, and ice along the backroads can all make Michigan winters a pain to deal with. Whether you like the winter or not, driving in inclement weather can be scary, and even scarier in a car that's not equipped for it. If you're a Michigander, chances are there are some small steps you took to make dealing with winter driving easier like putting an ice scraper in your car, creating an emergency kit, and maybe even having winter tires put on your vehicle. We're here to help keep you safe on the road, help you deal with winter on the road, and keep your car running well through the cold weather with Winter Car Care and routine auto maintenance tips from RiverTown Honda.


We've got some informative pages on our website that highlight the components on your car necessary to take care of during the winter season because of their safety factor, complete with tips on how to do so and advice that'll help you extend the life of your vehicle! Explore these Winter Car Care pages by clicking the links below and let our team of auto experts at RiverTown Honda know if you have any questions.

Tire Inspection and Installation

Maintaining the health and longevity of your tires consists of inspection, inflation, and rotation. During the winter, these tasks are especially important. If your tires aren't inflated enough, or are lacking in tread wear, they may not be able to provide the traction you need. Check this page out for how to take care of your tires, check out our "should you invest in winter tires?" page for more information that might help with your next tire purchase.

Battery Tests and Replacements 

Although this is a simple part of routine maintenance, this is a critical part to dealing with winter driving. Have you ever gone outside in the morning only to find that your car won't start immediately? It could be because of your battery! Check this page to learn about when to replace your battery and how cold weather affects it.

Brake Inspections

Your brakes are what allow your car to stop - simple as that. Without properly working brakes in snowy and icy conditions, you're putting your safety at risk. There are ways you can ensure they have enough stopping power throughout the year by having inspections done and service as needed. See this page for more information and signs you need brake service.

Oil Changes 

Oil changes are an integral part of routine maintenance year-round, but are especially important in the winter. As the weather gets colder, your car works harder to run. To ensure your engine is running well an oil inspection and regular oil change every 3,000-5,000 miles is necessary. See this page for more oil change tips and schedule your next $24.95 oil change online!

Wiper Blade Replacements

These two rubber blades are responsible for keeping your view of the road clear. This is especially important to your safety this winter because of the snow, ice, and dirty slush that can cloud your windshield. It's also a good idea to have your washer fluid topped off. Learn more about wiper blade replacements and fluid top offs at RiverTown Honda on this page and our routine maintenance pages.


With these Winter Car Care and routine auto maintenance tips, you've got the tools to safely drive through the cold weather season. See our website for more seasonal maintenance tips and schedule your auto service online. Our team at RiverTown Honda is more than happy to help you find the perfect vehicle and take care of it throughout your time of ownership. It's our goal to provide you the best dealership experience of your life!


Give RiverTown Honda a call at (877) 236-9113, or visit us at 4260 Kenowa Ave. Grandville, MI 49418, one mile west of RiverTown Mall.

Visit Us Online: RiverTownHonda.com

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GRANDVILLE, Mich.––We live in West Michigan, which is a place that unfortunately experiences the worst of winter conditions. The lake effect snow and bitter cold temps can take a toll on our roads and our safety. At RiverTown Honda, we truly care about your and your vehicles well-being. Since the weather is finally here, we've got some driving tips to get you through the winter season safely. If there is any auto service you need that'll help keep you safe on the road, we'd love to help!

1. Pack Your Winter Emergency Kit

Your winter kit should definitely include an emergency kit (with first aid items) and an ice scraper. You can pack other things like extra clothing, gloves, a snow shovel, hand and foot warming packs, etc. While we never want anything bad to happen to our customers on the road, we do want them to be prepared for any situation, especially in inclement weather.

2. Properly Clear Off Your Vehicle

We understand that it might be easier to clear only the space you need on your windshield when you're in a time crunch, but properly clearing your vehicle  is necessary for your safety. When the weather is bad, your clear vision of the road is so important. This also helps avoid snow from falling onto your windshield from the roof, and from snow flying into others' windshields on the road.

3. Slow Down

This is a no-brainer, but it's worth mentioning because of the high level of importance. If it's snowing, hailing, sleeting, etc. slow down past the speed limit. Slowing down can help improve your stopping distance and allow you to focus on what's happening on the road, especially if visibility is bad.

4. Start Slow and Leave More Room to Stop

When the roads get slippery from snow and ice, it can be difficult for your vehicle to get going. Instead of stepping on the gas like you normally would at a stop sign or red light, slowly press the pedal and work your way up to the speed limit from there. Also make sure to leave more room for stopping than you normally would, as your car might not have the traction it needs on the slippery surface of the road.

5. Keep Your Lights On 

Even if it's not dark outside, your lights still serve a purpose. They allow you to see the road better, but more importantly, allow others to see you! If it's sunny outside (we wish) you probably don't need your lights, but if it's overcast, foggy, snowing, etc. keep your lights on so others know where you are and where you're headed.

6. Take Care of Routine Maintenance

7. Consider Investing in Winter Tires 

Winter tires aren't necessary, but we think they're well worth the cost for your safety! West Michigan winters can get pretty nasty, cold, and snowy. Winter tires are built to be more flexible in temperatures under 45 degrees, providing more traction on the cold roads. They're also designed to better channel slush and snow for easier driving. And not to mention, they can help a FWD vehicle perform better than an AWD vehicle with all-season tires. Check out our guide to winter tires for more information.

Our Honda and non-Honda customers are important to us, so use these driving tips to get you through the winter season safely, and come see us at RiverTown Honda for Winter Car Care services! Our team of Certified technicians will help you stay safe with tire rotations, winter tire installations, oil changes, wiper blade installations, full vehicle inspections, and more at our Service Center or Express Service Lane. Make sure to check out our Winter Car Care tips online for more information on what to do to keep your vehicle running well throughout the winter season. Remember, you're not that far from the best dealership experience of your life! We're located only 12 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids off I-196 in Grandville.

Give RiverTown Honda a call at (877) 236-9113, or visit us at 4260 Kenowa Ave. Grandville, MI 49418, one mile west of RiverTown Mall.

Visit Us Online: RiverTownHonda.com

Follow Us on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, YouTube

GRANDVILLE, Mich.,––Halloween has quickly come and gone. Now many of us are stuck with extra candy. While this may be exciting for your kids, it's not always the best option to just let them eat it all. There are plenty of fun ways you can put your excess treats to use this holiday season! See a few ideas on how to use your leftover Halloween candy below and get creative.

1. Store it in your car for a quick sugar fix! 

Put your favorites in a small Ziploc bag in your center console or glove box and treat yourself to a little sugar fix. This especially comes in handy for handling the chaos of Christmas shopping. You can also keep the baggy in your purse to reward your kids with good behavior while you're running errands.

2. Make candy cookies for your Holiday guests

Remember those oh-so-delightful peanut butter blossom cookies that dominate the Holiday season? Instead of the chocolate Kiss, use a bite size piece of candy. Try this recipe from Betty Crocker. If your kids of guests have peanut allergies, try this recipe from Cha Ching Queen.

3. Use it as a teaching tool with built-in rewards

Whether math is your child's or children's favorite subject or not, they'll enjoy solving problems with candy. You can also It's a different, more interactive way to do math and they can be rewarded with a sweet treat when they solve a problem correctly. Check out these fun activities you can do at home.

4. Host a Fall/Winter bonfire & make candy s'mores 

Have you tried a s'more with a bite size piece of candy instead of plain chocolate? We highly recommend giving it a go the next time you have a bonfire with friends and family. Too cold to host a bonfire outside? Try toasting your marshmallows over a gas stove OR purchase an indoors s'more maker like this one for $20 from Target.

5. Save it for Gingerbread House decorating

Even though most kits come with candy to decorate with, you can use your own candy. Have it as a backup or just go crazy with decorating the gingerbread house and landscaping! Having some extra candy will allow the kids to enjoy a few bites as they decorate.

6. Donate it to Operation Gratitude

There are plenty of ways to donate in your community, and giving candy back to our troops is one of them! Through the 2017 Operation Gratitude Halloween Candy GIVE-back, you can drop your wrapped, unopened candy donations to the Academy of Music of Grand Rapids (the closest drop off location to Grandville). Search for other drop-off locations online or make a donation by mail!

7. Make an art piece or Christmas gift 

Get creative and "style" your candy. Try gluing pieces on a poster board or canvas in a fun pattern. Make a scene with various candies on the kitchen table. Make a fun bouquet of candy to give as a gift. Use the wrappers to make jewelry or other types of art. The possibilities are truly endless.

8. Store it in the freezer

If you have a recipe you'd like to try that involves pieces of candy like a milkshake, cookies, etc. or you just want to have some candy around for when you really need a sweet pick-me-up, you can store it away in the freezer. You can safely store and consume candy in a Ziploc freezer bag, for up to a year!


You can always scrap these leftover Halloween candy ideas and keep it all for yourself - just make sure to hide it well enough from the kids! We hope you had a safe and happy Halloween this year, and wish you an even happier Holiday season. We want to help you enjoy this Fall and Winter to the fullest, so make sure to check out our Winter Car Care tips and have your vehicle inspected and serviced before the snow arrives. If you or someone you know is hoping the big guy in red will bring you a new car this Christmas, stay tuned to our website and social media for great deals on new Honda models.

GRANDVILLE, Mich.,––The weather has grown cold and the leaves are continuing to fall, which means it's the perfect time to snuggle up at home with a good book! November is National Picture Book Month and was started as a literacy initiative for young children. Visual literacy is based around the idea that pictures can be read, and can be used as an introduction to this very prevalent form of communication. If you have kids at home, you can celebrate National Picture Book Month together with these 9 classics:

1. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown 

"In this classic of children's literature, beloved by generations of readers and listeners, the quiet poetry of the words and the gentle, lulling illustrations combine to make a perfect book for the end of the day."

2. Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

3. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak 

"Maurice Sendak's Caldecott Medal-winning picture book has become one of the most highly acclaimed and best-loved children's books of all time. A must for every child's bookshelf."

4. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. 

"A big happy frog, a plump purple cat, a handsome blue horse, and a soft yellow duck--all parade across the pages of this delightful book."

5. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

"Since it was first published fifty years ago, Shel Silverstein's poignant picture book for readers of all ages has offered a touching interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another's capacity to love in return."

GRANDVILLE, Mich.––This time of year can feel brutal. The consistently blowing snow, the cold temperatures that bite at your fingers and toes, and the lack of vitamin-D filled sunshine can take a toll on us all. Although winter is rough, we do benefit greatly from cuddling up, catching up on our favorite Netflix shows, and relaxing at home with loved ones. To help you get through these tough times, we've got 7 hot drinks to keep you toasty warm this winter that you can enjoy with family, at your next get-together, or by yourself for a cozy night in. If your New Year's resolution is to cut down on the sugar or lose weight, beware these drinks are decadent. Enjoy!

1. Red Velvet Hot Chocolate

2. Sugar Cookie Hot Chocolate

3. Snickerdoodle Hot Cocoa

4. Toasted Marshmallow Hot Chocolate

5. Raspberry White Hot Chocolate

6. Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

7. Elsa White Hot Chocolate 

Give RiverTown Honda a call at (877) 236-9113, or visit us at 4260 Kenowa Ave. Grandville, MI 49418, one mile west of RiverTown Mall.

Visit Us Online: RiverTownHonda.com

Follow Us on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, YouTube