subject: Preparing You And Your Car For Winter [print this page] The winter months are a cold and frigid period of time when the roads are a dangerous and damaging place to be. Snow and ice make driving a hazard, and the cold can severely impact a vehicle. This is why it's crucial when this season is approaching to prepare your car and yourself for it. Many people prefer to put their vehicles into storage, however most people cannot afford it considering they need to get to and from their work, the grocery store and other places on a regular basis. But the winter months are not something to be feared by those with the proper preparation, something that's quite easy to do and only takes a few days and a little bit of money to accomplish.
Getting Your Car Ready
The most important preparation one can do for the upcoming winter months is preparing their car. For the most part this is merely purchasing some winter tires for your vehicle, making an appointment and getting them installed. Winter tires are thicker than normal tires and lined with studs that give increased traction on ice and snow. Granted this doesn't mean the vehicle can function perfectly in these conditions, but they help the driver maintain control over their vehicle. Seasonal tires do exist for those who don't want to have to worry every year, or are unable to get to a garage or a mechanic, however they do not have the same quality as true studded winter tires.
Preparing a Safety Kit
Most cars should be equipped with a general safety kit. These kits include all the necessary items one might need in the case of breaking down, an accident or getting stranded. The general kit should include flares, jumper cables, a flashlight, a first aid kit, the tools necessary to perform minor maintenance, extra fluids to fill your tanks (including oil, coolant, antifreeze, etc.), rags, an aerosol tire inflator and whatever's necessary to flag down help. This may seem like a lot of things, however most of them can fit into the trunk or glove compartment of a vehicle without being noticed and are actually quite compact in size.
Winter Safety Kit
With the dangerous conditions that come with the season, it's vital to practice winter safety and prepare yourself for any situation that may arise. Along with all of the stuff found in a standard safety kit, a winter safety kit contains a few extra necessities to survive the cold: blankets to keep you and any passengers you might have warm, candles, a whistle, tire chains, a container of sand or some other material the melts ice and gives traction, gloves, some food and water, a tow cable, survival book and, of course, something to do. Waits in winter weather can be long and monotonous if you're trapped in a snow bank or on the side of the highway waiting for someone to come along in a storm to help. Again, all of these things can fit into the trunk or somewhere in the vehicle, such as under the seat, quite easily without being a bother.
