subject: Preparing for Winter Driving [print this page] Preparing for Winter Driving Preparing for Winter Driving
Everybody doesn't enjoy winter driving as much as summer. You can make your winter ride safe by learning and applying some essential winter car care tips. Be prepared for the winter driving ahead of time and do not let the winter condition surprise you.
Safety should be your first priority and so make sure to get a seasonal tune-up and winterize your car appropriately for the weather conditions. Tuning your car helps to maintain it so that the necessary repairs are done on time and your car is in good condition to avoid any mishap while you are on road.
Apart from seasonal tune up there are a few other things you should consider while preparing for the winter driving. These include getting winter tires, testing your car battery, checking wiper blades, using synthetic oil and have a winter road kit.
Most people think that all season tires are great for winter too but in reality they start losing traction at low temperatures. Keeping this in mind, always use winter tires to avoid sliding in snowy or icy conditions. Winter tires have large grooves and tread blocks that grip the road better and thus avoid sliding in cold conditions.
If your car battery is more than three years old make sure to test it. The average life of a car battery is less than five years. Checking your battery life will help you avoid the possibility of battery failures in cold winter conditions while you are on the road.
Visibility is one of the very important things for safe driving. Choose good quality wiper blades which are designed to resist ice or snow build up.
Synthetic oil is the best to avoid any wear and tear on you engine so the use of synthetic oil is highly recommended.
Finally make sure to store a winter road kit in your car for emergency situations. Things you might want to have in this kit include snow shovel, first aid kit, flashlight, windshield washer fluid and extra clothing or winter wear.
