How to Prepare Your Car for Winter

Winter is slowly making it’s way to the Lone Star State and unfortunately, the weather in Texas can be incredibly unpredictable. One thing is for certain — you must be prepared for this season!

Icy windshields

Waking up to a sparkling glaze on your windshield is one of the initial signs of winter approaching. Pour room temperature water on your windshield (make sure it’s not hot water, the extreme temperature change can cause the glass underneath the ice to crack). The water will gradually help melt the ice. Alternatively, you can speed up the process by turning on your car defroster and cleaning up the ice with a towel or scraper to help push the watered down ice out of the way.

Adjust your tire pressure

With colder temperatures, the air inside your tires contract and causes the pressure to decrease. This is completely normal and you’ll oftentimes see this with a sudden drop in the temperature. Make sure to keep the air pressure at the appropriate levels especially during this time.

Check for sustainable tire treading

Aside from increasing your tire pressure, it’s important to look at the depth of your tire tread to ensure that you have enough left to take on the roads. Essentially, both the air pressure and tire tread help to grip onto icy roads or pavements to avoid a loss of friction.

Inspect your brakes

Surely, we all know that the brakes on your car are essential year-round and need to be checked periodically, but during the winter, there are many more reasons to be proactive for an inspection. Without the proper brakes in place, you risk the ability to safely come to a stop and steer your vehicle; especially on icy roads, hydroplaning can be very common.

Winter can sure take a toll on your vehicle, especially in areas like Texas where your vehicle is not necessarily used to such temperatures. Don’t forget to have a thorough vehicle inspection to check your tire pressure, fluids, battery, etc., this will all come in handy in the long run.