5 Tips to Prepare Your Vehicle for Safe Winter Driving

Most of us, who don’t live in Arizona, Florida or Hawaii, will probably wish over the next 3 months that we could at least visit one of those warmer climates. But if you can’t flee the cold and snow make sure your car or truck is ready to deal with the elements Old Man Winter is about to unleash. Here are 5 tips that can help keep you safe.

1. Make sure your tires have enough tread to grip whatever you are driving on.
Nothing will keep rubber from sliding on ice, but if the rubber has groves then the length of the slide can be significantly reduced. Passenger car tires come with 10/32’s of an inch of tread when new, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration advises that tires are not safe and should be replaced when worn down to 2/32’s of an inch. You can use the old Lincoln penny trick to determine if you meet that minimum; place the penny with the top of Lincoln’s head pointing down into the tread of your tire. If the tread covers any portion of his head your not there yet. However for safe winter driving a minimum of 4/32’s in tread depth would be what you want to see. Substitute a Washington quarter for the penny and apply the same test criteria. As long as a portion of George’s head is covered, so are you.

2. Make sure your vehicle’s battery is up to the task of cold winter starts.
Your vehicle setting in the driveway with a dead battery is a real inconvenience. Your vehicle sitting in a deserted parking lot with a dead battery is potentially life threatening. Cold weather doesn’t kill your car battery it just asks it to perform at a higher level; if the battery is too weak to meet that demand it can’t provide enough voltage to power the ignition system. Skip the home test and drive to your nearest Auto Zone Auto Parts Store, they will perform a battery test for free.


3.
Make sure your vehicle’s anti-freeze will actually not freeze.
To determine the quality of your vehicle’s antifreeze or coolant does require a special tool. This is one you should probably buy; Preston makes a tester that can be purchased for less than $10 at many discount stores with automotive departments. A simple cooling system inspection at some repair shops could cost you 5 times that amount. Just follow the directions on the package, especially the one that warns to “test when the engine is cool.” Should your antifreeze need changing; it’s probably best to let the professionals tend to that repair.

4. Make sure your wiper blades are up to the task of handling the winter slush and snow.
Reminisce for a moment about last summer’s beautiful weather. Even that shower that caught you without an umbrella, drenching you as you ran to your car, was nothing compared to the 3 inches of snow that fell last night. If your wipers streaked at all during that summer shower replace them now. When warm soft pliable rubber is unable to squeegee your windshield it doesn’t stand a chance when the temperature is below freezing. If you’re at all intimidated about changing them yourself, call around until you find a local auto parts store that will agree to assist with the job in exchange for your business.

5. Make sure to pack a cold weather emergency kit and leave it in your vehicle for the duration of winter. Should your vehicle slide off the road or become disabled in some other manner it may be hours before help can reach you. A cardboard box packed with a couple of fleece blankets, some “shake to activate” warming packets, a few granola or candy bars and a word or number puzzle book will make the time sitting in a cold car pass much more comfortably. Don’t forget to add in a couple of warning flares, nothing is more visible in a whiteout than that red burning stick. If you are up to the task add in a folding shovel and a small package of ice melt. Many cars allow access to the trunk from inside the vehicle, if yours doesn’t consider storing your box in the back seat.

It is impossible to foresee every possible winter driving or vehicle performance issue. But don’t miss the obvious ones and prepare for the worst, just in case. Travel smart and travel safe this winter season as you go over the river and through the woods to wherever your destination may be.


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