Getting Your Car Ready for Winter
7 Tips To Getting Your Car Ready for Winter
Winter is here and that means COLD days! It’s not too late to make sure your car is ready for the next few cold months ahead. Winter can impact driving in many ways. Poor visibility, icy roads, and cold temperatures are all things specific to winter that we need to be aware of. We’re here to help you drive safe, stay safe, and avoid auto insurance claims.
Check Your Wiper Blades
It’s hard enough to see the road during a snowstorm without your wiper blades not keeping up. It can easily turn dangerous if your blades are worn or warped, causing water and dirt to smear and affect your visibility.
Inspect Your Car’s Battery
Have your mechanic or local auto shop check the life of your battery. Another good thing to check is the connection points of your battery. Make sure there’s no corrosion. It’s also a good idea to make sure that the water level inside the battery is at the proper level.
Make Sure That Your Anti-Freeze is Ready for the Cold Weather
According to the pros, the best mixture for your anti-freeze in winter is a 60/40 blend. Anti-freeze at 60% and water at 40%. You can get your mix checked by your mechanic or whoever changes your oil. This is an important check you don’t want to miss - a radiator that freezes up is no fun.
Have an Emergency Kit in Your Car
Not just for winter, an emergency kit is a smart move year-round. Some items you’ll want to make sure you have are: a blanket, flares, jumper cables, a first aid kit, a flashlight, extra gloves, a protein bar or similar, water, ice scraper, small tool kit, towing chains or cables, spare tire (check to make sure it’s inflated), tire-changing equipment.
Throw In a Bag of Sand, Salt or Cat Litter
Why, you ask? Any one of these is great if you need something to provide grip over ice and snow. Losing control on an icy road and ending up in the ditch isn’t a pleasant experience but having one of these can prove very useful to helping you get back on the road. The added weight of the bag also helps if you're trying to get more traction.
Check Your Tire Tread
Before the icy, snowy weather hits, make sure you have good tread still left on your tires. Most all-weather tires can last between 1½ to 2 years but road factors like ruts and potholes can drastically reduce the life of even excellent tires. Taking your car to an expert to check the tread is your best bet.
Be Aware of Your Tire Pressure
You get better traction on the road if your tire pressure is at the correct level in all tires. Just be aware of when or if they get low and add air.
Forest Park Insurance is committed to bringing security to our partners lives with valuable tips and advice that you can apply in your daily life.
If you would like to receive a proposal for homeowners insurance, auto insurance, or farm insurance, please contact us at 765-762-5540.
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