Planning for winter includes making your vehicle ready too!
It’s never fun if your vehicle lets you down, but it can be downright miserable or even dangerous if it happens on a cold winter day.
Just as we’ve cleaned our windows and raked up the leaves in preparation for winter, so too should your car we winterized. Here are a few things you should know about “winterizing” your vehicle: We’ve had a nasty taste of winter already and even though much of the snow has melted it will be back.
Winter tires: Make sure you have a good set of winter tires. They’ll improve traction, but if they are severely worn, you’ll have trouble braking, accelerating and handling, especially on slippery roads. Many people opt for “all-season” tires. Depending on your local climate, they can be an adequate compromise for average year-round weather conditions but won’t perform as well as genuine winter tires in the worst ice and snow. Whatever you choose, buy them before winter arrives.
Exhaust system: Be sure to check the muffler and exhaust pipes for leaks and for their general condition each fall. Corrosion or perforations in the exhaust system can permit leakage of lethal carbon monoxide fumes into the passenger compartment. When there’s snow on the roads, ensure your exhaust tailpipe isn’t obstructed by it when starting the engine, and never back into snow banks.