The winter months can bring trouble for many of us. The snow, ice, and freezing temperatures that our cars go through present some potential obstacles every year. Both driving and car care have to be adapted to counter the conditions. To help you weather the weather (pun intended) we’ve put together a list of winter driving tips, tricks, and must-haves for the months ahead.
Winter Driving Tips
- Accelerate and decelerate slowly to maintain traction on icy streets
- Roll instead of stopping, if possible, to avoid having to start back up again
- Leave double the amount of room as you typically would between you and the vehicle ahead
- Warming up the engine fully before driving allows the engine to work more efficiently
Winter Car Care Tricks
- Keep antifreeze/coolant levels filled
- Keep a full gas tank to avoid condensations build up and frozen internal problems
- Repair windshield wipers if necessary prior to the first storms
- Consider snow tires for your vehicle to help you go through deeper drifts and unplowed streets
- Check tire pressure regularly, as the temperatures can cause it to fluctuate
- A bag of sand on back axle of rear-wheel drive vehicles can help maintain better traction
Winter Driving Survival Kit
- Tow Rope
- Blanket
- Jumper Cables
- Flashlight and matches
- Food and water
- Ice scraper
- First Aid Kit
- Small Shovel
Making sure you prep your car, and yourself, for the upcoming storms and weather can make a world of difference with how you fare through the winter driving challenges. Whether you get an inch of snow, or a foot of it, these steps and tips should help get you around safely and effectively.