Do you hate driving in the snow? You are not alone. Driving during winter can be extremely dangerous, especially for those who do not have their car properly prepared.
With snow-covered roads and many hours behind the wheel, your vehicle needs to be ready for anything that winter might throw its way. There are a number of simple steps that can be taken to ensure your car is ready for this season’s weather.
Here are ten tips to get your car prepped for winter:
1. Check Your Tire Tread And Pressure
Your tire tread is what gets your car from point A to point B. If the grooves in your tires are too worn, introducing snow and ice into this equation can be a deadly combination.
In order to ensure that there is enough tread, you should have the tread on all four of your tires checked at least once before winter hits.
2. Check Your Wiper Blades
Don’t forget about your windshield wiper blades! When was the last time you replaced them? If it has been more than six months since you changed them, or if you notice streaks when using them, now would be the time to purchase new ones and replace those old wiper blades.
3. Test All The Lights
You don’t want to be stranded in the dark because you didn’t check your lights. Make sure all of your lights are working, including your headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and hazard lights. It is also a good idea to have an extra set of light bulbs for each light on our car in case one goes out unexpectedly.
4. Check Your Coolant Level And Antifreeze Strength
Everybody knows that it gets cold in the winter, but what many people do not know is that when it gets cold outside, water expands.
If there isn’t enough antifreeze in your coolant system, you might end up with a crack in your radiator or other problem if the engine freezes while driving down the road. In order to avoid this, you should have your car checked at a mechanic shop before winter hits.
5. Check Your Washer Fluid Reservoir
This step is especially important for areas that see a lot of winter weather! If there isn’t enough washer fluid in your reservoir, it can freeze while driving on the road, leaving you with no way to clean off your windshield and impeding visibility. Make sure to check this regularly throughout the winter months.
6. Add More Sealant To All Windows
Winter brings wind and various other elements that can wreak havoc on your car’s windows. To avoid a surprise headache come wintertime, you should check the seals around your doors and all of your windows for any cracks or holes that might let in chilly winds from outside.
In case of an accident, immediately call emergency windshield fixing services and make sure you replace them as soon as possible; we can assure you that it will be worth your time and money.
7. Check The Fluids Under Your Hood
Winter brings all sorts of new elements that can leave havoc on your car’s fluids, such as salt and sand from the road. Make sure to check under your hood every week for anything that might need to be topped off.
8. Get Blankets And A Shovel Ready For Your Trunk
If you get stranded in your car on the side of the road during winter, having emergency items like blankets and a shovel ready in your trunk can make all the difference. Make sure you check under your hood every week for anything that might need to be topped off.
9. Don’t Be Afraid To Take The Long Way Home
Driving in winter is dangerous, especially for those who do not have their car properly prepared. While you should always try to take the quickest route home to avoid ice and snow, it might be worth your time to take a long way home if it means getting there safer.
10. Test Your Car On A Slippery Road
Before winter hits, it is a good idea to test your car out on a slippery road where the chances of skidding and skimming are more likely. Driving in winter can be very dangerous if you do not know how to properly control and maneuver your car, so it is important to get yourself familiar with the road beforehand.
There are many things that you can do to get your vehicle prepared for winter, and we’ve listed 10 of them here. Follow these tips to avoid a surprise headache come wintertime!
