Winter is just around the corner, with parts of New England receiving snow as early as the start of November this year. Make sure your car is ready for the winter season by taking the proper precautions. There’s a lot you can do to make your vehicle safer during the winter. Here are the top four things you can do to make your car ready for the colder months ahead.
1. Keep an Emergency Kit in Your Car
No matter what you do to make your car ready for winter, you absolutely need a winter emergency kit in your car. A few critical supplies in the trunk of your car can keep you comfortable if you find yourself in an emergency situation. It should contain emergency blankets to stay warm if you find yourself stranded without any kind of heat. First aid supplies are also essential.
Other crucial items to include in your vehicle emergency kit include a flashlight, road flares, and a change of clothes. Another good thing to keep in your car, but not necessarily in your kit, is some high-energy snacks. They will keep you going if you find yourself in a situation where you won’t be getting help for several hours.
2. Check & Replace Fluids
Winter driving can put your car through rigorous conditions day in and day out. Make sure to check the fluids in your car and make any replacements necessary. Antifreeze, oil, and coolant are all good places to start. Running the engine cold puts a lot of stress on the engine, so make sure you keep the oil clean throughout the winter season.
3. Switch to Winter Tires
The importance of winter tires can’t be understated. They have a more aggressive tread pattern which makes navigating in snowy, slushy weather much easier to do. Winter tires are softer overall which helps give better grip and traction on the road. This is why winter tires still perform better than all-season tires with more aggressive tread patterns. Another benefit winter tires have is stopping power. When talking about winter tires, the first thing people think about avoiding is losing control while driving, but stopping quickly is also important. Winter tires stop significantly faster than even brand-new all-season tires.
4. Change Your Wiper Blades
You’ll want to have good visibility when you’re driving in the winter. Change out your wiper blades to make sure they are up to the test of winter weather, which will bombard your windshield with, dirt, mud, and ice build-up. Swapping out your blades at the beginning of the season means you won’t have to worry as much about if you’ll be able to see during a storm or in post-storm conditions.
Winter driving is challenging enough if you haven’t made sure your car is up to the challenge. Take these four precautions to get your car prepped for winter driving. You won’t regret it, and you’ll love the peace of mind and control you get from doing so.
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