5 Tips For Getting Your Car Prepared For Winter*

With Autumn well and truly under way, it won't be too long before Winter's here and as much I'm here for it, they are my two favourite seasons after all, there can be a lot to think about. One thing we need to consider is making sure our cars are prepared for any bad weather we could come across. Driving in bad weather conditions can not only be uncomfortable but also extremely dangerous at times so here are 5 tips to ensure you're covered this Winter.

Get Your Car Serviced

Winter is when your car requires the most care so making sure you book it in for a service at regular intervals is incredibly important. Breakdowns become more common and potentially more dangerous during the colder months so trained technicians can check over several things for you such as overall condition of tyres, exhaust, battery, oil and more.

Tyres

With Winter, comes rain and sometimes even snow if we're lucky but that does make driving tricky, therefore it's vital your tyres are fit and compatible to drive on dewy roads. One thing you should be checking is that your tyres are properly inflated. If they are, this can have lots of benefits aswell as helping ensure you're safe. It means lower fuel consumption and also less wear and tear which therefore means replacing your tyres less often. You should also check they have sufficient tread. Tyre treads are the grooves on your tyres and they enable your car to better grip the road surface. You can check your tyre tread with a simple 20p coin too! 

Wheel Alignment

Wheel alignment might not be the first thing that springs to mind when it comes to preparing your car for Winter but making sure your wheels are set to the optimum position can make sure for a safer and smoother drive. If you're wheels aren't aligned properly which can easily happen because of simple things such as hitting the kerb or driving over a pothole, it can result in rapid tyre wear.

Air Conditioning 

This is another thing that may not seem like a priority at first when it comes to Winter but it's actually extremely important. There is a misconception that air conditioning refers to cooling only but it's also used for heating. Modern air conditioning systems do much more though than just blow warm and cool air, they're actually increasingly used to keep the environment within our cars clean and fresh and it's recommended that every two years it has a service. You can recharge your car's air conditioning system with fresh gas and lubricant and this will ensure that it's working to it's optimum performance meaning when you're driving you'll be more comfortable, alert and safer.

Brakes

Your car's braking system is one of the most vital aspects when it comes to safety, not just for you but also for other road users and pedestrians. Safety must come first so to secure your cars with reliable brakes, look no further than Calmac Autocentre in Northampton. Calmac Tyres are a family owned, and family run garage who were established in 2007. With many years of experience, they are the place to go if you're in Northampton or the surrounding areas. A periodic check of brakes and shock absorbers is recommended to maintain their safety aswell as handling of the vehicle and reducing wear and tear. There are usually many signs if there is an issue with your brakes and if you're worried make sure you get them checked over. Things to look out for are - a grinding noise when braking, brakes making a high-pitched squealing noise, the brake pedal having to be pushed harder and finally the car pulling to one side or another when braking.

Safety when driving is important all year round but the weather conditions we can sometimes be faced with in Winter really can cause problems. These tips are all to ensure your car is prepared in the best way possible for whatever could arrive in the next few months.

Do you have any other tips?

*This post is in collaboration with Calmac Tyres

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