When winter comes, it is necessary to prepare specific equipment for your car to drive safely in winter. It can have some consequences if you don’t get it ready for the cold spell before it hits.
The good thing is that you can do most of the preparation yourself and it won’t cost you a fortune. We’ve put together a list of the four most important things you need to do to get your car ready for winter, but of course, that doesn’t mean they’ve covered every segment of preparation.
Depending on how much money you are willing to spend on your car’s “health,” this list can be longer. It consists of the basic steps you must take so that winter does not surprise you.
It’s Time For Winter Tires
The first thing you need to do is buy winter tires. It is advisable not to skimp on them because they are the only thing standing between you and the wet pavement, and it is even less advisable to buy used winter tires.
Buy four matching winter tires with the winter tire symbol, usually mountains or snowflakes, with a tread depth of at least 4 millimeters.
Recently, M+S (mud and snow) tires have become increasingly popular. However, it is necessary to know that they do not provide the same level of performance as winter tires for severe weather conditions because the M+S mark can be on tires for all seasons. Winter tires improve driving safety by providing better road grip and snow traction in slushy and icy conditions.
It is very important to note that you should check your tire pressure regularly during the winter, as it decreases when it is cold. Improper tire pressure always reduces vehicle control, and it is especially important to take care of it in bad weather conditions.
Provide a First Aid Kit for the Road
You need to carry a few things in your car to secure yourself in case of unforeseen circumstances. This list can be quite long, but the essentials should include water, a first aid kit, a camping shovel, a set of basic tools, a battery starter, a full cell phone battery, and, of course, car batteries with longer life spans because it gets dark early in winter. If your car breaks down during the night, use a flashlight to find out what’s wrong. It will also make you visible to others.
If you get stuck on an icy road, it doesn’t hurt to have extra winter clothes to keep you warm. Wearing gloves and other warm clothing will make the task of cleaning your car easier. It also doesn’t hurt to keep a few hand warmers in the car. Always be prepared to prevent frostbite! You’ll do a better job of cleaning your car when you’re warm.
What to Pour Into the Car Before Winter?
When you wonder how to prepare your car for winter, the first thing that comes to mind is to fill or replace the antifreeze. Antifreeze is a coolant that helps regulate the engine during extreme temperatures. You should check the coolant level at least twice a year, ideally before the summer heat and winter cold.
Preparing your car for winter also includes windshield fluid. Since good visibility is a prerequisite for safe driving, you must pour a liquid that is manufactured to withstand extremely low temperatures, down to -25°C. The fact is that your car will generally be dirty in the winter, even on some slightly warmer days. Due to melting snow, ice, and sporadic rain, there will always be at least some water left on the asphalt, mostly full of mud, dirt, and salt that has been sprinkled on the sections. Driving behind another car in these conditions, you will inevitably have a constantly dirty windshield, so this liquid will help you clean it in no time.
Spray the Lock with Graphite to Prevent Freezing
Freezing is the natural enemy of your key entry. Water finds its way to the lock and freezes, creating a big problem for you during the winter.
A simple way to avoid this problem is to spray graphite spray inside the lock and then insert the key several times so that the liquid fills the entire hole.
This, however, only applies to cars that use a key. Most modern cars have a lock on the driver’s side, so you should make sure it doesn’t freeze because you never know when the contactless system might fail you.
Winter is an unpredictable period, and just as we prepare ourselves by buying quality winter clothes, we also need to provide our car with appropriate winter equipment, so that we can enter the coldest period of the year prepared. We hope that with our advice, you will do it easily!