Winterization

“Everyone is pressed for time, especially around the holidays, and the vehicle often gets neglected… until something happens. Winterizing is a proactive step that helps ensure safe and reliable driving during one of the busiest times of the year,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council.

Winterizing your vehicle is always a beneficial step to preserving the life of your vehicle and maximizing its performance during the winter months. According to The Car Care Council, 70% of drivers do not winterize their vehicles and highly increase their risk of costly damage. Many upsetting issues can be avoided when the proper steps are taken to protect your vehicle and your wallet during the cold.

Below is a suggested checklist to use when having your vehicle winterized, all of which Tire Factory technicians will gladly be able to assist you in completing.

How to Winterize My Vehicle:

What are these precautions for?

Brakes

Brakes are a component that is always good to have inspected. The safety and performance reliability they provide are something never to be risked, especially in the winter months. Bring your vehicle to us at Tire Factory and we will make sure your brakes are at top performance before you need them. We will inspect and advocate maintenance on all the braking elements and guarantee your ABS is operating correctly before you encounter that treacherous ice.

Tire Pressure

Tires are responsible for your traction, the ride of your vehicle, comfortable handling, and provide much of the safety you rely on during winter. The cold weather and constant contact with cold concrete, ice, and snow drops the pressure of your tires. Without this pressure, you lose many of the safety aspect that tires provide. Frequently drop by our shop and our technicians will check and adjust your tire pressure for you at no charge.

Antifreeze Balance

Surprisingly, the proper balance of antifreeze and water creates a much more effective anti-freeze and anti-boil solution for your vehicle than 100% antifreeze. The 50:50 ratio of antifreeze and water also helps protect against corrosion. Our technician will make sure balance is correct to protect your engine and its cooling system.

Low Viscosity Motor Oil

The cold temperatures thicken your motor oil, as expected. Changing to a low viscosity oil, from 10-W30 to 5-W30, will allow the oil to move more freely in your engine and engine parts. The thick characteristic of oil created in the winter makes it more difficult for the engine to turn over when starting up, which is why a healthy battery is also crucial.

Battery Inspection

First, if your vehicle’s batter is three years old or older, it is time to have it replaced! Having a reliable battery during the winter months is not something to be jeopardized. The colder temperatures drain energy from the battery. With this energy reduction, it is imperative that the battery connections are secure, clean, and free from any damaging deterioration. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak with one of our technicians.

Wiper System Inspection

It is always a good idea to replace your wipers with specialized winter wiper blades that combat snow and ice from getting inside the assembly. Have your nozzles checked to see if they are clean and need adjustment and also check the windshield fluid reservoir to make sure it is topped off. Deicer solutions are available for wiper fluid reservoirs that keep your window clear.

What to have in my Emergency Kit During the winter months, we recommend always having these items stored in your vehicle: