Cold Snap Heats Up Business At Auto Shops

DENVER (CBS4) - The week-long cold snap has heated up business for local auto shops.

On Sunday some tire shops in Denver had lines out the door, and owners say business is booming.

Lawrence Sanchez was one of many who spent Broncos game time on Sunday waiting while his car got snow tires.

"Now is better than later," Sanchez said. "Colorado weather; and sliding around out there."

Back-to-back snowfall this week in Denver has kept roads slick.

"I go to work at 2:30 a.m., so they're pretty bad at that time. The snow plows haven't been out," Sanchez said.

Big O Tires store manager Timothy Sullivan says just within the first two hours of doors opening they had big business.

"Our normal Sundays is average 30 cars. We've already seen over 60 today," Sullivan said.

Sullivan says with each first snow of the season the shop bays fill up.

"Usually it's two to three days. This one, for some reason, this is seven, eight days in a row right now. And it has not stopped," he said.

Dozens of cars on standby have technicians backlogged for hours.

"It's been really cold, really icy, and people need to get to work," Sullivan said.

While new treads keep drivers safer in snow, the professionals say they are no replacement for cautious driving.

"Traction is one thing. Stopping and braking distance is another. So they need to be very, very careful," Sullivan said.

Experts say in addition to getting snow tires, the other big way to winterize a car is to get the brakes checked.