Winter is coming and you should prepare for it. Some states historically have strong winter, which can severely damage your vehicles if you are not ready. It is always better to be ready for this challenging weather before it hits than try to come up with solutions right in the middle of it.
You can usually spend a day getting ready, prepping for the hard winter and that will be more than enough to give you peace of mind. Unless you have a snowmobile, take your vehicle for its regular maintenance before winter hits. Make sure everything is working as it should. Check the breaks, hoses, liquids, chains, etc.
There is a lot of hail damaged cars that come from this weather. But let’s try to avoid the damage. Actually, a great number of salvage cars come from extreme weather.
Check. Recheck. Be Ready For The Winter!
Check and rotate your tires. You definitely don’t want to forget to check the pressure. Are the tires bald? That’s a big no-no – every for all other types of weather! If you live in an area with a lot of snow and ice, you might want to get tires with deep treads, perfect for icy roads, once they provide a better grip when you use your breaks.
Don’t forget the floor mats! Prevent weather damage by getting rubber floor mats. They are easy to install, easy to clean and it will avoid the build-up of dirt on the floor of your vehicle. And how can we forget the safety kit? You can never be too prepared under extreme conditions. You never know when a strong snowstorm will hit and force you to improvise. Stay hydrated, warm and most importantly, safe. Have at your disposal a first-aid kit, small knife, matches, bag of sand help create traction if you get stuck, flashlight and road flares, ice scraper and a bottle of premixed alcohol and water, auxiliary gas, shovel, chains, blankets and clothes to keep you warm, crank radio, battery charger for your phones, jumper cables, potable water, and non-perishable food.
That may seem too much, but you want to be ready. The goal is to go through the winter unscathed. And visibility is a huge part of that. Purchase winter wiper blades and get wiper fluid designed to break down frozen precipitation faster. That will help you with a better view.
It doesn’t hurt to take a look at the most important steps for safety
Steps to Prepare For Winter:
- Put a “winter supply” box in your car;
- Check your engine coolant and antifreeze levels;
- Check your tire pressure and tread depth. Don’t forget the chain;
- Get proper tires;
- Use winter windshield wiper fluid;
- Switch to a winter-grade oil at your next oil change;
- Bring that emergency kit.