While winter has a couple of fun holidays, and can make for some great photography, it’s not so nice to drive in. When the roads are covered with ice and snow, it can be pretty hard to enjoy driving your car, even for the biggest auto nuts among us. However, there are certain things you can do to make driving in foul weather safer and easier. Here are a few to think about…
Check on Your Tires
You may not pay much attention to your tires when you’re actually driving. However, when winter peaks and the roads become so hostile, the condition of them could suddenly become extremely important. Yes, a new set of tires isn’t exactly going to be cheap, but you can’t put a price on your safety, can you? If your tires are balding, it can cause the whole car to skid on icy roads and have a serious accident. Having to change a tire in the middle of a blizzard isn’t all that fun either! The easiest way to check the condition of your tires is called the “penny test”. Simply take a penny in your thumb and forefinger with the head upside down, and slot it into a groove on the tread. If you can see above the head, it’s time to get a fresh set of tires.
Check Your Brakes
When the roads are so slippery, a second’s delay in your brakes’ responsiveness can make the difference between a perilous accident and a near miss. I’m pretty sure of which one you’d rather have! Your brakes are one of the most important parts of your car, and it’s essential to keep them in a good condition all year round, but especially in winter. If there’s a harsh grinding noise coming from the chassis whenever you apply the brakes, a pulsing, jerking rhythm to them when you apply them, or you’re noticing that you need to apply more pressure to get them to work, then it may be time to start looking at some reputable brands like Hawks brakes. With a fresh set of brakes, you’ll have much less to worry about whenever you’re out on those icy roads.
Consider Getting Snow Chains
By and large, a high-quality set of tires is all you’ll need to ensure you have enough grip on the road as you drive. However, if you live in a mountainous area, or somewhere that simply gets a lot of snow, it may be a smart move to buy some snow tires or snow chains to fit onto your tires. Snow tires, if you weren’t already aware, are made with a softer kind of rubber, and have shallower treads, which assure you get better traction. Snow chains, bundles of steel chain links designed to fit around a car’s tires, can also be great for giving your vehicle more grip when the weather is less than ideal. Just make sure you look up local regulations regarding these. Some areas won’t allow snow chains, as they can damage road surfaces.
