Are you ready for the winter? More importantly, is your vehicle ready for snowy and icy conditions? According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 24% of all weather-related vehicle accidents occur on snow, slush, or ice pavement, while 15% happen during snowfall or sleet, which results in more than 116,800 injuries annually due to winter driving conditions.
Winter driving can be hazardous, but you can reduce your risk of accidents by taking the time to properly winterize your car, truck, or van.
This guide will cover what you need to know and the steps you need to take for safe winter driving.
What Does Winterizing Your Vehicle Mean?
Winterizing simply means that you take the time to properly prepare your vehicle for the colder months. It’s a combination of maintenance, some prep work, and packing useful items into your vehicle to ensure it runs efficiently and safely and that you’re not left out in the cold in harsh winter conditions.
Whether you’re winterizing just one car or an entire fleet of vehicles, a little winter prep can save you a lot of grief on the road.
Nine Steps to Winterize Your Vehicle
Preparing your car for winter is essential to ensure safety and reliability during harsh weather conditions. Winterizing your vehicle involves a series of steps to protect it from freezing temperatures, icy roads, and snowstorms.
Switch to Winter Tires
Don’t assume that your year-round set of all-season tires are good enough for the winter. If you’re one of the 70% of Americans who lives in a snowy region, then a good set of winter tires is the most effective way to winterize your vehicle. Also called snow tires, winter tires are your go-to choice for optimal driving in most winter conditions.
That’s because the treads of winter tires are designed to provide better grip on icy roads and in deeper snow. They’re also constructed of rubber compounds that stay flexible in cold weather, providing you with more grip on the road. Once the average temperature drops below 40°F, the rubber compounds in non-winter tires harden, reducing your grip and your stopping power.
If you’re not sure what types of tires you have, take a look at the tire sidewall. All-season tires have a Mud+Snow (M+S) marking, which indicates that the tire has been rated for rain, muddy, and light snow conditions. While these tires perform well in warmer winter climates, they lose significant traction on packed snow, ice, slush, and in very cold conditions.
Winter tires will have both the M+S marking and the three-peak mountain snowflake icon on the tire sidewall. The snowflake icon indicates that the tire can operate in up to moderate levels of snow and is designed to stay flexible in cold weather. That means even if you have an all-wheel-drive vehicle, a set of snow tires will benefit your performance, including handling, traction, and stopping power.
Just remember that even winter tires have little-to-no grip on hard-packed snow or slick ice. No matter how well you winterize your vehicle, you’ll want to drive carefully in severe weather conditions or on unplowed roads.
Inspect Your Tires
Whether you’re changing over to a set of winter tires or using your all-season tires, you should regularly inspect them throughout the winter. Even in warmer climates, colder weather will reduce air pressure and deflate your tires. Every 10-degree drop in temperature causes a loss of one pound of psi. You always want to avoid driving on low pressure tires, as it risks damaging your tires or your vehicle.
If your tire pressure drops, be sure to inflate them as soon as possible. The appropriate psi level for your tires can be found on the tire placard in the driver’s side door jamb or in your vehicle owner’s manual. Do not inflate your tires to the psi listed on the tire sidewall, as that is actually the maximum pressure that is safe for the tire.
Test Your Battery
Low temperatures also decrease your vehicle's battery power by slowing down the chemical reactions that generate electricity, making it harder to start your car in winter. That’s why it can take your vehicle more time to start up in the morning when it’s left outside during extremely cold temperatures.
Cold weather affects all types of batteries, making it harder for gasoline and diesel engines to start and reducing the driving range of electric and hybrid-electric vehicles. So, if your battery is old or having problems, have it checked or replaced.
Change Your Oil
Cold weather also thickens your engine oil, which can make it more difficult for parts to turn and the engine to start. You’ll want to make sure you’re running on clean oil in the winter, otherwise you’re putting even more strain on the starter and battery.
If you want to go the extra mile, you can use thinner oil for better operation in cold weather, and then change out to thicker oil in the summer.
Check Your Heating and Cooling System
Check the condition of your coolant system during the winter because if it freezes then your entire engine block could crack and damage. Antifreeze is what prevents your engine from freezing in cold temperatures and you’ll usually want to maintain a 50/50 ratio of antifreeze to water, though a 60/40 ratio can be better in climates where temperatures regularly drop below freezing.
Ask your vehicle technician about what antifreeze you should use for your vehicle and the appropriate coolant-to-water ratio for your climate. You should also ask them to check the coolant reservoir to ensure it's filled to the recommended level and the radiator and hoses for any leaks, cracks, or signs of wear.
You also want to make sure that your vehicle’s heating system is working properly for your own comfort and safety. Check that the heater is consistently blowing hot air and the front and rear defrosters can clear fog and ice from your windows.
Change Your Wiper Blades
You should be replacing your wiper blade every 12 months. If your current wipers are leaving large streaks or missing areas of your windshield, then your blades are too worn out and should be replaced.
If you do replace them, consider installing winter wipers, which are equipped with rubber that keeps ice from collecting on the blades. Also make sure your vehicle’s wiper fluid reservoir is full of high-quality de-icer fluid to improve your visibility.
Check Your Lights
It’s darker for longer periods of time during the winter months, so your lights are more important than ever. In addition to checking the condition of your turn signal, backup, and brake lights, be sure to keep your headlights clean and clear. You should also check your interior cabin lights to see if they need to be replaced.
Invest in Rubber Floor Mats
Standard floor mats not only wear out quickly from slushy winter conditions, but they won’t prevent moisture damage and can be slippery. Investing in rubber mats can protect your car floor from damage and provide your feet with better grip. They’ll also be much easier to clean and will last longer than carpet mats.
Just make sure they’re installed properly. Loose mats or ones that aren't installed properly can interfere with the accelerator or brake pedal.
Perform an Overall Inspection
Finally, consider giving your vehicle an overall inspection to look for any issues before winter. While belts, spark plugs, wires, and hoses can go bad any time of year, you want to avoid suffering a failure in winter weather conditions. You can either perform a visual inspection yourself or ask your vehicle technician for a general check-up.
Tips for Driving in Winter
Even after you properly winterize your vehicle, it’s important to be prepared for the worst. Black ice and white-out conditions are dangerous for any vehicle or driver, so follow these four tips to know what to do in case of an emergency.
Practice Safe Driving
Don’t drive as you normally would in warm or dry conditions. Safe driving in winter weather conditions requires added caution and consideration. Keep the following recommendations in mind:
- Reduce your speed to adjust for slippery conditions, and keep at least three seconds of following distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. Braking distances are longer on icy or snowy roads, so allow for extra space when stopping.
- Apply your brakes and accelerate gradually to avoid skidding. Abrupt movements can lead to loss of control. Apply gradual power as you go up hills to avoid spinning your wheels. Plan to gain some momentum as you approach a hill and try to avoid stopping on the incline.
- If you start to skid, ease off the accelerator and turn the steering wheel in the direction you want to go, not against the skid. It’s important to stay calm and in control, especially if you hit a patch of black ice.
- Always completely clear windows, mirrors, and lights before driving to maximize visibility. Be considerate to other drives and remove snow from your roof to prevent it from blowing off while driving — some states require it by law.
Make a Winter Travel Kit
Make yourself a winter kit of important tools and supplies. Well-prepared kits should have:
- Jumper cables
- An ice scraper
- A tool and vehicle repair kit
- A flashlight
- Batteries
- A portable phone charger
- A first aid kit
- A bag of sand or kitty litter
- A shovel
Additional considerations, especially if you’re traveling long distances or through rural areas, can include:
- Warm clothes or blankets
- Extra windshield fluid
- Signal devices such as road flares
- Non-perishable food and water
Be Prepared for Emergencies
Know the right techniques to get your car out of snow and be careful when working around your vehicle. Don’t exhaust yourself and pay attention to any passing traffic. Be sure to have and use the right tools, such as a shovel, sand, or kitty litter.
If the worst happens and you get stranded on the road, stay calm. Do not leave your car to look for help. Instead, use road flares or put bright markers on the antenna or windows and keep the interior dome light on.
If you can, run the car for short periods of time to stay warm and use your lights. However, don’t leave it running for hours as you can risk carbon monoxide poisoning. When running your car, make sure your exhaust pipe is clear of any snow or debris.
Fill Your Gas Tank Often
Whether your vehicle uses an internal combustion engine or is electric, you want to keep a full tank and charged battery. Full gas tanks have a reduced risk of condensation, which can prevent gas line freeze ups. If you do get stranded, you also want to be sure you can run your engine as needed to keep yourself warm and the lights on.
For electric and hybrid-electric vehicles, keeping your battery charged will help minimize the drain on the battery, especially in cold climate areas such as the Snow Belt. One way you can keep your battery at optimal temperature ranges is to plug it in at night during the winter.
If you have any questions about how to effectively winterize your vehicle, or are concerned about your vehicle’s condition, always consult with your mechanic or auto technician.
