While it may be a requirement and a necessity for you to own an automobile, caring for it and maintaining it year-round is crucial. For seasons like winter, it can prove quite hazardous to drive through ice-filled or snow-clad areas. Not only do you need to be up for driving in extreme conditions, but your car also has to be fully-maintained and in perfect working condition to handle winter roads.
Here are 5 easy steps that you need to follow, in order to be certain that your car is all set to take on the winter season-
- Consider opting for winter tires
- There are a few all-season tires that you can buy for your cars, but they don’t quite offer maximum performance for certain roads. If you use regular or all-season tires for the winter season, then the rubber compounds in non-winter tires will harden and decrease their ability to grip the road. Winter tires, on the other hand, have special engineered compounds that can resist hardening even in cold temperatures. This will give your car better traction in snow, slush, ice and even on dry pavements.
- Get your car serviced for winter conditions
- Right from checking the battery and brakes of your car, to checking the cooling system, it is very important to have an end-to-end service of your car. If the car is recently serviced, then you can be a little more confident about everything functioning at the optimum levels. It is also advisable to get your belts, spark plugs, cables, wires, and hoses checked and repaired or replaced.
- Install winter wipers
- Winter wipes come with rubber that will keep ice from collecting on the blades and covering your car screens. Remember, these winter wipes should be uninstalled for spring seasons, as it would not serve the purpose once winter is over. Besides, winter wipers are heavier than regular ones, and this would increase the load on wiper motor all year round if you don’t change them when the winter season is over.
- Keep washer fluid level full
- You should always make it a habit to replace your windshield wiper fluid. Driving through a single snowstorm can exhaust quite a lot of this fluid, and you will find yourself in a jam the next time you hit the road. If you are uncertain about the formula for washer fluids in low temperatures, then it is best to add a bottle of washer fluid antifreeze to your emergency safety kit.
- Maintain pressure of your car tires
- It is advisable to check the pressure of your car tires more frequently in winters as even 10° change in the temperature can lead to loss or gain of 1 PSI. You can refer to your car manual to know the appropriate pressure that your car tires need to maintain.
It is very essential to winterize your cars, trucks, and get them to run on the winter roads. Additionally, you can also pack a winter safety kit, which can ensure that you have all the necessary supplies and tools hand in case of any emergency. Everything from flashlight and batteries to flares and ice scraper should ideally be a part of your kit. It also won’t hurt to keep an emergency manual and car safety instructions handy when you are out for long drives.
If you are looking for help with servicing and getting your car winter-ready, or simply have more questions, then get in touch with winterizing car experts today. Everyone always wants to be safe than sorry later, and winterizing your cars will help you achieve just that.
