Is your car winter-ready? Top tips for winter-proofing your vehicle
Our tips and tricks for winter car maintenance
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Winter weather can be a real pain for you and your car. Cold temperatures bring new challenges that can put you at risk and add extra wear if you’re not prepared.
Staying on top of maintenance is always essential, but even more so when tackling wind, snow, ice, rain – or whatever else Mother Nature throws your way.
Here are our top tips to keep you safe on the roads this winter.
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Check your car's battery
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Your 12V battery can lose up to 35% of its strength at freezing temperatures, making it harder to start your car.
Signs it’s failing include when your car struggles to start, the electrics (e.g. lights and heaters) feel weak or if there's a rotten egg smell (which can mean a dangerous fault).
This is a job you can do yourself, but if you'd prefer a trained professional to handle it, one of our trusty technicians can help you out at your next cinch service.
Clean out those leaves
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No, we're not talking about the Nissan LEAF – those can stay. Instead, we're talking about fallen leaves, which might look harmless, but can cause issues if left trapped under the bonnet.
They can block drains, allowing water to seep into your car and leading to mould, smells and foggy windows. A quick clean-out saves a lot of hassle.
They can also damage your car’s paintwork as they break down, so you’re best off getting rid of them all, even if it means delaying your post-work hot chocolate by a couple of minutes.
Keep your windows and wiper blades clean
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The rain, snow and low sun of winter make it tricky to maintain good visibility on the road. And a dirty windscreen could even get you a £1,000 fine, according to the Highway Code.
Before you head off, use the air-con to demist your windscreen and clear condensation. You can use a de-icer on your windows if they’re icy and use a window scraper to speed up the process. If you're lucky enough to have a heated windscreen, this'll come in handy here too.
Likewise, you can preheat some modern cars right from their connected apps. Not only will it save you time before you set off, you'll jump straight into a warm car and get on with your day. This is typically offered on certain Teslas, BMWs, Volvos, etc.
Also, remember never to pour boiling or hot water onto your windows, as the sudden temperature change can cause the glass to crack.
Make sure your wiper blades are working properly, and keep your washer fluid topped up. This'll stop those pesky streaks on your windscreen from being a distraction.
Monitor your tyre pressures
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Tyres are the only contact patch your car has to the road, so you need to make sure they’re in good nick.
Legally, you need at least 1.6mm of tread across the middle three-quarters of each tyre, but at least 3mm will make your tyres perform better in wintery conditions.
You can quickly check this by inserting a 20p coin into the tyre’s tread grooves – you’ll be within the limit if you can’t see the coin’s outer band.
Don’t forget to check your tyre pressures either – cold temperatures can cause the air inside your tyres to contract.
A couple of last bonus tips are to check your tyres for cracks or bulges, as these can weaken them. Also, if your tyres are more than 10 years old, the rubber gets less sticky, so it could be time to swap them out.
Keep your fuel tank more than half full
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This isn’t a ploy to have you spend more on fuel – keeping your tank more than half full is a scientifically backed way to keep your car healthy.
When water vapour comes into contact with a hot surface, condensation occurs. If your fuel tank isn’t full in winter, this reaction can occur, diluting your fuel.
The build-up of water vapour and moisture can put some of your vehicle’s components under strain or even cause them to freeze.
It’s rare to experience freezing in your car, but keeping your tank well-stocked is a good way to keep your car's health in check.
How to de-ice your car properly
You know winter is here when the first annual windscreen de-icing event occurs. We've all been there.
It’s a pain, sure, but it’s so essential to de-ice and de-mist your windows for visibility and staying safe behind the wheel.
Not that we need any more motivation than that, but you could be landed with a fine if you drive with a dirty (or obstructed) windscreen.
Here's how to de-ice your windscreen as quickly as possible
Don't turn on your wipers straight away (they can sometimes freeze to the windscreen, leading to damage when you turn them on)
Start the engine and switch on the rear window heater and mirror heaters, plus the heated windscreen if you have one
Turn on air-con at a warm temperature – it might sound weird, but the AC reduces moisture
Brush off all snow, not just from the windscreen, but the lights, number plates, grilles, roof, etc.
Use de-icer if you have any (never hot water)
Scrape remaining ice from your windows with a proper scraper, but don't use it on your paintwork
Extra tips:
Park in a garage
Cover your windscreen with a towel overnight
Park facing east to catch the morning sun as it rises.
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How to stay safe while driving this winter
After putting in the prep, you’re nearly ready to hit the roads this winter.
But before you do, it’s worth brushing up on some helpful tips for staying safe on the roads when conditions get tough.
Speed and acceleration
Speed limits are limits, not targets, so slow down in bad weather. Braking distances are longer in wet, icy and snowy conditions and you'll have more time to react if you drive more slowly.
Also, accelerate gently to avoid wheelspin on icy or snowy roads.
Cornering
Keep your movements smooth and both hands on the wheel, and avoid entering a corner too fast. Aggressive cornering can increase your risk of losing traction.
Braking
Like cornering, you want to keep your braking smooth and progressive to avoid skidding. A sudden increase in braking pressure can unsettle the tyres and cause you to lose control.
Your car's anti-lock braking system (ABS) is a good safety measure, but it won't be as effective as learning to use your brakes in a controlled way to stop the ABS ever having to kick in.
A note about aquaplaning
Aquaplaning is when a layer of water gets between your tyres and the road, causing you to lose grip.
It can also lead to you losing control of your car because the brakes and steering no longer work properly.
Common causes of aquaplaning include accelerating during heavy rain and driving in the rain with low tyre tread or over- or under-inflated tyres.
Are you ready for winter driving?
It's the perfect time to start winter-proofing your car when the clocks have gone back and the long, dark nights are upon us.
Unlike many drivers, you’ll be ready to avoid getting caught out when severe weather rolls in this year by following the winter driving advice above.
Need more help?
If you've done all the above but still want to be 100% prepared, then we'd recommend booking a service for your car.
This way, our technicians can spot anything further you may need to change/prepare, as well as give your car the thorough service it deserves.