Winter driving tips – preparing for winter

By the time the first snow arrives, you’ve left it too late to start thinking about preparing your car for winter. While the variability of UK weather makes it hard to predict when winter weather will set in, the start of November is generally a good deadline date to set yourself for completing your winter driving preparations.

Servicing: If a service is almost due, then there is no better time to do it than on the run in to winter, when your garage can combine wear and tear work with winter preparations so that you go into the holiday period, and the coldest part of the year, knowing your car is fully prepared.

Tyres: Start off by doing a visual check on your tyres. If there are defects visible in the tyre wall, have the affected tyres replaced. You should have a minimum of 3mm tread all round in winter, as this helps your car to ship away the extra water lying on the road. If you have anything less than 2mm remaining on a tyre, then replace it.

In rural areas, and even in urban areas, winter conditions can make it difficult or impossible for emergency services to reach you quickly. Knowing how to change a wheel yourself and making sure you have all the right equipment can make the difference between sitting in a freezing car for several hours, and being back on your way within 30 minutes. If you are a younger driver who has never attempted this, then find a clear, dry place on a fine, dry day, get out your owner’s manual, find the jack and wheel brace supplied with your car or buy good quality replacements, and go through the whole procedure of removing and replacing a wheel. If you are an experienced driver, but have never had to change a wheel on your current vehicle, this may still be of benefit. Jacking points on modern cars are not always easy to locate in the rain, at night, on a hard shoulder. (While doing this, you could consider replacing a nut on each wheel with locking nuts for increased security, though remember to store a key for the nuts safely in the car if you do so.)

Do not underinflate tyres in winter weather. The notion that a softer tyre will give you better grip is incorrect, and the stability of your vehicle is actually reduced. If you live in a part of the UK that experiences particularly bitter and extended winter conditions, think about fitting winter/all season tyres. These have additional silicone in their tread composition, and harden less in winter weather so you do get more grip in the cold and wet.

Snow chains are a similar choice. Most drivers in the UK will never need these, but if you live in a cold and remote area where snow is not cleared from the roads, you should consider obtaining these from a main dealership, or specialist supplier, and practice fitting and removing them on a warm, dry day. Don’t however drive in them if it isn’t or hasn’t been snowing.

Cooling system: Have the concentration of antifreeze in your coolant checked and brought back to the correct level in time for winter. Unless you are certain that you know how to top up your antifreeze correctly, ask your dealership or garage to do it for you. You will damage your engine if you add the wrong kind of antifreeze to the long-life antifreeze used in most modern cars.

Electrical system: A car battery will eventually lose the ability to store charge effectively. This usually happens after four to five years. At the first sign of trouble, replace the battery and forget about it again for a few more years. (You can have your garage check battery condition for you.)

Buy a mains trickle-charger with good, long battery leads, and a suitable outdoor extension cable, and keep them where you can use them easily to place your battery on charge if necessary. If you don’t use your car for a few days in cold weather (even over a weekend), it’s a good idea to give it a top up charge for a few hours before use.

When you do start up in winter, especially if the car hasn’t run for a few days, keep your heaters, wipers and any lights that are not absolutely necessary switched off until you are safely started and your battery is gathering charge.

If the car doesn’t start, do not turn the ignition repeatedly and ceaselessly. This will simply run down the battery, reducing the number of attempts you will have. Turn the ignition once, for four or five seconds. If the car doesn’t start, turn it back to the off ‘position’ and wait for thirty seconds before you try again.

Throughout your journey, turn off all electrics that you do not need, including heaters, fans and lights.

Lights: Check all your light bulbs are working properly, and replace any that have blown. Check that you have a compete set of replacements and keep these in the car, even if you would usually be able to return home to replace one.

Door locks: Spray WD40 into your doorlocks every few days (or spray your key before inserting it). This will prevent moisture accumulating which then freezes the lock.

Our winter driving tips – day-to-day driving page will help you make sure every journey you make in winter passes without incident.

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