Is Your Car Ready for Winter?

Before you hit any harsh winter conditions, have your vehicle serviced to prepare it for the challenges winter can pose. Here are a few things to take into consideration before the cold weather really hits.

Battery

Battery power decreases as the temperature drops, meaning that it takes more power to start your car in the winter. If your battery is already having problems, your risk of breaking down increases. It is recommended that your auto care provider installs a battery at or above 600 CCA for optimal winter performance.

Tires

It’s possible to use all-season tires in winter conditions however, this won’t offer you the maximum performance you may need in your environment. If you live in a place that experiences extremely cold winter temperatures, like we do, it is recommended that you install winter tires when winterizing your car. When the temperature consistently hovers around or below freezing, the rubber compounds in non-winter tires harden, decreasing the tire’s ability to grip the road. Winter tires use special compounds engineered to resist hardening in cold temperatures, providing better traction in ice, snow, slush, and even dry pavement.

Tire Pressure

Every 10° change in ambient temperature could mean a gain or loss of 1 PSI. This means you should check pressure more regularly during winter and refill your tires as needed. Appropriate pressure for your tires can be found on the tire placard in the driver’s side door jamb or in your vehicle owner’s manual.

Install Winter Wipers

These come equipped with rubber that keeps ice from collecting on the blades. Just be sure to remove them when spring rolls around. As winter wipers are heavier than regular ones, keeping them on all the time increases the load on the wiper motor.