If you drive on rural or uneven roads, you may want to invest in some snow chains/socks or winter tyres. Don’t forget to check you have a roadworthy spare in your vehicle too. Worn tyres are dangerous at any time, but especially when driving in winter as safe stopping distances significantly increase in icy, snowy or wet conditions.īy law, tyres need a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm, but experts recommend you change your tyres at 3mm to maintain safe stopping distances. ![]() If you’re taking your car out after a few days left unused in the cold, set off gently in case the discs, callipers or handbrake have frozen up. Get them checked if they squeal, make other noises or generate unusual sensations. Your brakes need to be in tip-top condition, especially in winter. Check your brakesĪnother essential for your winter car maintenance, is your brakes. You could face a fine if your vehicle reg is unreadable.Ĭheck this out: How to stay safe driving on icy roads 5. ![]() And while you’re wiping, don’t forget your number plate. If your car doesn’t have headlamp washers, you can wipe them over with a cloth. You can lose an estimated 40% of luminosity in about 20 miles on a damp, gritted motorway, according to road safety charity IAM RoadSmart.Ī good clean is an important part of your winter car maintenance. Keep your lights and number plate cleanĬars can get dirty in the winter months, not least because of all the salt on the icy roads. But remember, too much oil can be dangerous too. Get your car ready for winter by checking the oil level when your car is fully warmed up as a cold car will look low on oil. In fact, RAC patrols report that 1 in 3 vehicles they attend are running dangerously low on oil. Your vehicle oil level should be between the minimum and maximum mark on the dipstick, or you risk engine damage and breakdown. How well do you know the warning lights in your vehicle? Test your knowledge with our warning light quiz. And, if an alert appears on your dashboard, get it checked out as soon as possible. You can find this info in your vehicle’s manual. So before winter closes in, take some time to understand what your car’s warning lights mean. Don’t ignore dashboard warning lightsĪ surprising number of people don't know what the warning lights on their dashboard mean.
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