The cold winter months can negatively affect your car’s performance due to many factors. These include low temperatures, icy and wet conditions, salty winter roads, and deep snow. To ensure your safety on the road during the winter months, it’s advisable to do some preventive maintenance. A few simple and affordable steps will ensure the longevity of your vehicle and may also prevent costly repairs.
Although it’s important that your tires have sufficient tread throughout the year, this is even more relevant during the winter months. Your tires need excellent grip to keep the vehicle stable when driving on slippery and icy surfaces. The easiest way to check whether your tires are worn is to do the penny test: place the penny, head first, into several treads of a tire. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, you should replace the tire.
Also remember to check your tire pressure more regularly during winter, as tires tend to lose pressure when temperatures drop. Under-inflated tires increase gas usage and also the wear and tear on your tires. But more importantly, you’ll have less control over your vehicle, especially when driving on icy or slippery roads. You can typically find the recommended tire pressure for your car in the owner’s manual or on a sticker on the driver’s side doorjamb; you can also find the recommended pressure on the tire’s wall.
If you live in an area that experiences heavy snowfall and icy conditions during winter, it’s advisable to invest in winter tires. Despite the fact that all-weather tires are made to perform well year-round, the unique tread design and rubber compounds of winter tires provide superior performance in icy and snowy conditions. All-weather tires also wear much faster in cold conditions than winter tires do.
Winter tires are made from malleable rubber, which remains soft in freezing temperatures, and their unique tread design channels water away and provides excellent grip in snowy conditions. When spring arrives, however, remember to swap your tires back to all-season or summer tires, as winter tires will wear quickly in warmer temperatures.
Batteries work harder during the winter, as the engine requires more power to start in colder temperatures. By just following a few simple steps, you can ensure that you won’t get stuck with a dead battery on a cold day. The first step is to check whether your battery is fully charged, which means that the voltage should read 12.7 volts or above. You can either invest in a battery tester and do your own tests, or you can ask your mechanic to check the battery for you.
Also, if you don’t drive your car often or drive only short distances, your battery will lose its charge over time. If this is the case, consider buying a battery charger so that you can occasionally recharge it. You should also wash the terminals with warm soapy water every now and then to prevent any buildup of acid or dust, which will cause the battery to discharge quicker.
These are just a few easy preventive measures you can take to ensure that you and your family remain safe on the road during the festive season!
