Hugo Griffiths

Got any car queries? Hugo_ Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @ Ae_ consumer

Is annual service needed?

MY Toyota Prius needs servicing every year or 10,000 miles, whichever comes first, but I don’t do anywhere near the mileage limit. Isn’t an annual service a false economy? Ian Collins, E-mail

WHEN a car has both mileage and time-based service intervals, you should go with whichever comes first. Even if you’re not driving much, fluids like oil age, plus parts like rubber bushes wear. Cars that have variable servicing, which can allow for longer intervals, rely on sensors that can detect oil quality, for example.

Changing tyres on a 4x4

THE front tyres on my Volkswagen Tiguan 4MOTION need replacing, but I’ve heard all-wheel-drive cars must have all four tyres changed at the same time. Is that right? Jacek Twardowski, E-mail

CARS with full-time 4x4 need all four tyres changing simultaneously, because tread wear means old tyres are slightly smaller than new ones; this makes them turn at different rates, creating drivetrain stress. As your Tiguan has part-time 4WD, VW says there is no need to change all four. Just replace them in axle sets.