Winter means harsh weather conditions for those of us who live in northern climates. Ice, snow, sleet, freezing rain, and freezing temperatures can make driving more dangerous, so vehicle owners should be prepared when the temperatures drop. Here are a few ways to winterize your vehicle and alter your driving habits to stay safe.
How to Winterize Your Vehicle
Winterizing your vehicle can help protect its internal parts and extend its lifespan in addition to keeping you safer on the road. Here are some steps you can take to prepare your car for harsh winter weather conditions.
1. Check Tire Tread
Inspect the tread of your car’s tires and replace them if they have worn down. Worn-down tires can be dangerous during any season, but driving on ice or snow-covered roads with worn tires is especially hazardous.
The easiest way to check tire tread is by doing the penny test. Simply hold a penny so that Lincoln’s head points down and place it inside a tire groove. If you can see Lincoln’s entire head, your tires need to be replaced.
2. Inspect Battery
Cold winter weather can be tough on car batteries, as they function best in warmer temperatures. Batteries need to work harder to start vehicles when temperatures are low.
If you have had the same battery for several years, give it an inspection and look for problems such as broken connections and electrical issues. Consider having your vehicle inspected by a professional mechanic who can identify any underlying problems that may not be obvious to the untrained eye.
3. Regularly Check Air Pressure and Fill Tires
Tire pressure drops more quickly in colder temperatures. For every 10-degree drop, tire pressure decreases by 1 pound per square inch. Checking your tire pressure regularly is important year-round, but consider checking it more frequently in the winter and always refill as needed. Driving on underinflated tires can result in a blowout.
4. Consider Switching to Snow Tires
If you live in an area with especially harsh winters, consider swapping out your tires for snow tires. These are specially built to better handle cold temperatures and hazardous road conditions. They are built with softer rubber compounds, which stay flexible in the cold and are better able to grip roadways. Special winter tire tread patterns are also better at repelling water and snow and keeping traction on slick roads.
5. Check Antifreeze
Antifreeze lowers the freezing temperature of water in your vehicle’s engine. Water and antifreeze work together to keep the engine running in cold temperatures. Most mechanics recommend maintaining a 1:1 ratio of water and undiluted antifreeze during the winter.
Adjustments to Make for Winter Driving
Winterizing your vehicle is just one part of driving safely during the winter. You will also need to make some adjustments to your driving habits.
1. Drive Slower
Hazardous road conditions call for slower driving. During times of snow or ice, you should adjust your speed—it is often best to drive under the speed limit to account for the dangerous conditions. Faster-moving vehicles take longer to stop, which can be especially dangerous on slick roadways.
2. Give Yourself More Time
You should expect your commute to take longer when the roadways are slick or covered in ice or snow, as traffic moves slower in such conditions. Leave the house earlier than usual so you can drive at an appropriate speed and reach your destination safely and on time.
3. Remove Snow and Ice
Always check all sides of your vehicle for snow and ice and remove them before driving. Keep an ice scraper in your vehicle at all times so that you can do this easily at any time.
4. Accelerate and Decelerate Slowly
While you should accelerate and decelerate gradually in any weather condition, you should do so even more slowly during the winter. Pounding the gas pedal and slamming on the brakes can easily cause a vehicle to spin out on icy or snow-covered roads.
Winter Emergency Kit Items
All drivers should always keep an emergency kit in their car. Some of the items in this kit can be used year-round, but there are additional items that should be added during the winter months.
Winter-specific items that should be included in a car emergency kit include rock salt for melting ice, warm blankets, a shovel, an ice scraper, and hats and gloves. Items that you should keep in your emergency kit year-round include jumper cables, emergency flares, a flashlight, extra batteries, tire chains, reflectors, water, and non-perishable food, a chain or towing rope, a map, and a cell phone charger or battery pack.
These items can help prepare you for winter driving emergencies, such as getting stuck in a snowbank or becoming stranded in a severe winter storm. A well-stocked emergency kit can be a lifesaver for drivers who get into a dangerous situation during harsh weather conditions. When such an emergency does arise, call for help immediately.