Winter Car Care Tips

The winter months can be a dangerous time for drives all over the country. The roads can become extremely hazardous rather quickly. While it is always a good idea to prepare yourself to drive in winter conditions, you also need to ensure that your car is ready for winter weather as well. Here is a look at some of the things that you can do to ensure that your car is ready for the frigid temperatures this winter.

Check Your Tire Pressure Often

Once the outside temperature starts to get close to freezing, you need to keep a close eye on your tire pressure. As the temperature drops, so too will the air pressure in your tires. No matter what type of vehicle you own, you should be able to find the appropriate amount of air pressure for your tires by looking at the sticker that is placed inside of your door frame. If you do not find a sticker, you should be able to check the owner's manual

Invest in a Set of Winter Tires

Many people believe that all-season tires are good to have on your car all year long. And while they may be okay for people who live in areas where the temperatures stay mild all year, these specific tires are not made to perform in extreme temperatures.

Winter tires are specifically made to maintain good traction on snow or ice-covered roads. These types of tires have deeper tread and are made with a thicker rubber composite. In Quebec, you are required to have winter tires on your vehicle during the winter months. In all other parts of Canada, it is strongly recommended that you have winter tires on your car if the temperature reaches 7 degrees or lower.

Have Your Car Serviced

Before the really cold part of winter hits, it is always a good idea to take your car to a trusted service centre. There, a technician will check things, such as the cooling systems, brakes, spark plugs, hoses, belts, and wires to ensure that they are ready for the freezing temperatures.

Cold temperatures also put a lot of strain on your car's battery. When you take your car to get serviced, the technician will also check the battery to ensure that it has plenty of power to make it through the winter.

Install Heavy-Duty Wipers

The snow and ice can be very damaging to regular windshield wipers. It is recommended that you purchase a set of winter wiper blades when before the first snowfall. These types of blades are heavier than the regular wiper blades, so you should not keep winter blades on your car all year long.

Make Sure the Gas Tank is Full

During the winter, it is a good idea to keep the gas tank full. If you are unable to keep it full, you should at least try to keep it half full. You never know what will happen when you drive on a winter road. In case you get stuck or stranded on the side of the road, it is a good idea to have enough gas in the tank so that you can keep the car running until help is able to arrive.

Also, if the gas tank is full, the gas lines will not be able to accumulate condensation and potentially freeze, which could end up costing you a lot of money in repairs.