Winter driving: Help your car cope

When the winters arrive, they come with unique problems for motorists. The handling and maintenance characteristics of a vehicle change. To cope with these changes they need to change the ways he/she handles the common problems. The better-equipped one is to handle the changes brought in by the winters the easier it will be for them to ensure maximum safety and comfort while driving.

Let us take a look at the things one can do to make their vehicle better adapted for winter driving.

Check the battery and electricals.

Winters bring with them increased load on the battery and other electrical systems in the car. The extended use of headlights, heater and wipers drains the battery. In such a situation if you leave the car parked for long periods the battery will die. To avoid this, get the battery checked at the onset of winters. During the cold days, hop in the car and switch on the engine for a while to ensure that the battery gets its required charge from the engine.

Change into winter tyres.

When the winters arrive, snow and rain are never far away. To ensure that your vehicle has the best possible safety while driving in wet conditions with decreased grip, change into winter tyres. Winter tyres are made of a compound better suited for handling slippery conditions. So changing into them should be your top priority. For great deals on tyres visit Winter Tyres. They have the best quality tyres which are more than adept at handling cold conditions.

Anti-freeze for the engine.

Most modern cars come with anti-freeze to ensure winters do not wreak havoc on the car. When the temperatures fall, make sure the levels of anti-freeze in your vehicle are checked. Remember if the engine freezes it can cause damage worth hundreds of pounds.

Keep the windscreen and the mirrors clean.

As the skies darken visibility will take a toll. Heavy snow and rain can be very dangerous situations to drive in so make sure that scratches or cracks in the windscreen are fixed in the best possible way. Also, ensure that wiper blades are in good enough condition to handle the added workload.

Keep a piece of carpet or cardboard in the boot of the car.

If you get stuck in the ice due to reduced grip in the tyres, place a piece of carpet or cardboard in a way that it provides friction to the tyres. May not sound much, but in times of need, they can be saviours you can rely on. Even if the conditions are not too bad you should ensure that the tyres on your vehicle are in good condition. For good quality tyres and check-ups to ensure tyre health visit any garage.

Make a list of things that you should keep in the car.

Making a list of the things you may need while driving or in case of an emergency is a good idea. Keeping them in the vehicle will ensure that you have all the items you may need. Your list should include the following items:

Sunglasses- to ensure protection against the low winter sun.

Spare bulbs- bulbs fusing is a nuisance, in low visibility of winters it can be catastrophic. So carry spares.

Extra jackets and warm clothes- in case of an emergency you may have to exit your vehicle, for such situations carry an extra jacket.

Driving is not child’s play, during the winters it even more difficult. But, like with everything precautions and preparations can increase safety levels. So get good quality tyres from Tyres, maintain checklists of necessities and maintenance of your vehicle. The more attentive you are towards the changing conditions the better will be your adaptability. The better the adaptability the easier it will be for you to ensure safety for your car and for yourself.