Tyres for:
If you want to carry on enjoying driving all year round, you need to think about preparing your car for winter. The following checks are easy to do and don’t require any special mechanical knowledge.
Without really thinking about it, we naturally prepare ourselves for winter. We put our summer clothes away and dig out our jumpers. We order logs for the fire or get the electric heater out of storage. We even change the sorts of food we eat. In fact, we do all we can to ensure that live carries on as normal, despite the drop in temperature.
The first step in preparing your car for winter is to check your oil, windscreen wiper fluid and water/engine coolant levels. Park your car on a flat, level surface and wait until the engine is cold.
The water/engine coolant level needs to be between the minimum and maximum lines on the gauge to stop your engine freezing or overheating. If you need to top it up, make sure you use the correct ratio of water to coolant/antifreeze.
With the windscreen wash, it’s as simple as checking the levels on the bottle, topping it up with water and screenwash additive and replacing the cap.
Finally, the oil. Remove your dipstick, wipe off the excess oil with a rag, refit the dipstick and remove again. You’ll see some minimum and maximum marks on the end of the dipstick. If you find your oil needs topping up, remove the oil cap and add the oil bit by bit, rechecking with the dipstick as you go. It’s very easy to overfill so take it slowly.
When you’re preparing your car for winter, it’s important you make sure your tyres (including your spare) are in good condition and that they have plenty of tread to last you through the season. Look out for any uneven wear, cuts, bulges or damage to your wheels and, if you spot anything you’re worried about, ask your local Uniroyal dealer to check it over. As always, check your tyre pressures regularly.
Your wipers will get lots of use in the winter, so it’s important that they’re in good condition. Run your fingers along the length of the rubber blade to check for any splits or cracks. Replace if necessary.
Again, lights are used more during winter than at any other time of the year. And it may be the first time for a while that you need to use your fog light. Ask a friend to help you check all your lights and replace any bulbs where necessary. Finally, make sure the lenses are clean with no cracks.
One last thing – and this may require a trip to your local garage – it’s a good idea to have your battery checked. Your mechanic should be able to see how much life it’s got left in it and can change it if it’s likely to let you down.
