Winter driving can quickly become dangerous and hazard-filled. When the temperatures drop, roads become icy; winter sun bounces off the road and through the windscreen – surprise snow storms and hail.
All drivers should ensure they have their cars ready for winter weather. Keeping in mind that people are more likely to get into accidents in the winter due to poor visibility and poor road conditions, it’s essential your car is ready for whatever lies ahead.
Here are some things to get your car winterized and road ready!
Clean it
Since the winter throws down a lot of rain, many people skip cleaning the outside – but cleaning the car removes the build-up of salt from the deicing vehicles, dirt-packed water, and more. All of these things build up and coat the underside of the car – over time, they can erode certain parts of the car.
Double-check all windows for chips or any signs of damage; if there are any, make sure you get the glass replaced.
Once the car is clean, put a car cover over it if it is not in a garage when not in use.
Brakes
Due to frosty roads, you are much more likely to skid and slide in the winter. This is more true for those who live off the beaten path and on roads that people don’t travel along often. The combination of rain and grit creates a corrosive and slick layer of moisture on the road. As you drive along, this gets kicked up into the crevices of your car and can cause issues with the rotor too. This is why it is important to check your brakes beforehand.
While we often consider the winter to be just ‘cold,’ you are more likely to experience more than a single type of weather. Going between low winter sun in the morning to doors being frozen shut completely.
Tires
Even in the best condition, tires that are not well maintained can cause your problems. In reality, just a small amount of tire touching the road at any point during driving. When bad weather comes, tire pressure and grip and non-negotiables. As the weather slowly gets worse in the winter, it becomes more important to buy BF Goodrich tires that are designed for use during the winter.
Low air pressure, bald tires, or old or damaged tires mean that you will have a suboptimal grip on the road, which can cause a disaster.
Battery
When the temperature drops in the winter, it can cause havoc with the battery; many people find that during the winter, more than once, the car struggles to start – or won’t start at all. If you don’t drive daily, this is more likely to happen. Investing in a battery that offers winter protection is a great idea and will help your battery last through the colder months – even when not used often.
Keep a close eye on the cables and the battery fluid too. Before driving off immediately after starting the car, allow enough time to warm up sufficiently.
The dash light will go off after your car has warmed up enough. Motor oil thickening in cold weather makes your motor work harder, which has one of the most significant effects on car batteries.
By not taking those extra few minutes to let the car warm up, the vehicle will need to work twice as hard to run.
Lights
Clean all the lights on your car; even the smallest amount of grime on the light can reduce visibility. Look for cracks, smudges, or any damage, and make sure that you have some spare bulbs to hand so that it’s much easier if you need to change them.
Before you drive, check fog lights, indicators, and full beams before you leave the house, even just for a short drive.
Getting your car ready for the winter will ensure that it is in safe working condition, and you are less likely to skid or slide and won’t be a danger to yourself or other road users.