Ways To Winterize Your Car For Winter Driving Safety in Belleville, IL
Winter weather can create many driving hazards. When snow and ice are covering the road, you’ll be glad you took the time to winterize your Belleville, IL automobile. Here are a few things you need to do with your car before the cold weather arrives.
Comprehensive Winter Car Service
Having your car, truck, or van serviced before the extreme cold hits can help it stand up to the challenges of winter driving.
Battery: When the temperature drops, your battery power drops with it. Make sure you always have the power you need to start your car on a cold night with a battery that is at least 600 CCA.
Brakes: Have a professional check out your brakes, so they are in optimal shape for winter driving.
Cooling System: During the winter months, you should keep a proper mix of antifreeze in your water. To avoid corrosion and the potential for freezing, you should keep a mix of between 50/50 to 70/30 of antifreeze to water.
Switch to Winter Driving Tires
While you can opt for all-season tires, for maximum performance you should change to winter tires. This is especially true if you live in an area with extremely low temperatures.
Tires that aren’t designed for the harsh winter weather can harden in freezing weather. This reduces the tire’s grip on the road. The special compounds in winter tires are resistant to hardening and provide improved traction on winter roads.
Maintain Proper Tire Pressure
It only takes a change in the ambient temperature of ten degrees to change your tire pressure by one pound per square inch (PSI). Winter weather calls for more frequent checking and filling to keep your tires in shape.
Switch to Winter Wipers
Winter weather calls for winter windshield wipers. They are specially equipped with rubber, which keeps ice from gathering on your wiper blades.
Keep Your Washer Fluid Filled
You should check your windshield washer fluid frequently. Your fluid level can be depleted by just one snowstorm. Also, make certain you are using a washer fluid that is designed for use in cold temperatures.
Make a Winter Driving Safety Kit
It doesn’t take long to prepare an emergency winter kit for your vehicle. Before you take off on a trip, make sure you have a few crucial items onboard.
Some good things to include in your automobile kit year-round are a first aid kit, road flares, matches, a flashlight with extra batteries, jumper cables, a jack, and necessary tools.
During the winter, you should also pack warm clothing and blankets, antifreeze, non-perishable food and drinks, and an ice scraper, along with a shovel and a bag of sand.
If you are in need of any other help or a professional to answer any of your questions, Rowan Tire & Auto Service is the place to be. Contact us at (618) 207-3247 today!
