Change of season approaching? Let's prepare properly! Switching to winter tires is essential, but it's not the only attention needed to maintain safe driving in the colder season. Let's look at a short list of important checks.
Tires – Excessive or insufficient pressure reduces grip and makes driving less safe, especially on wet surfaces; so, pay attention! Compared to the optimal pressure, winter tires are inflated by 0.2-0.3 bar more to compensate for the pressure drop due to the cold. Then, the tread. The law requires a minimum thickness of 1.6 mm, but our School recommends replacing it when it reaches 3 mm. But during the cold season, even more caution is needed: a minimum of 4 mm of tread allows you to safely face all weather conditions. In autumn and winter, rain is more frequent, and aquaplaning is a real risk.
Battery – It's important to check it before temperatures really drop. In winter, low temperatures and the continuous use of air conditioning and ventilation cause the battery to drain more quickly. Check for signs of corrosion and pay attention to signals such as dimming lights. If the battery is more than three years old, it might be advisable to go to a workshop for an electronic test of the battery and alternator's efficiency. If you're thinking of replacing it, it's best to avoid DIY.
Lights – Days are getting shorter, fog arrives, rain, mud, and snow dirty them more easily. Check the correct functioning of parking lights, low beams, high beams, fog lights, turn signals, hazard lights (the "four-way flashers"), and brake lights. Check the height of the headlights by parking the car in front of a wall: if the light is too low, you won't illuminate the road enough; if it's too high, you'll blind oncoming traffic. And of course, it's important to keep all lights clean!
Wiper blades – Lift the blades, check that they are clean and that the rubber does not show micro-cracks or wear points. If the rubber remains inclined, it means that the blade has been in the same position for too long and will therefore "skip" on the windshield without cleaning evenly. Manually clean the windshield often: foreign objects reduce the life of the blades. Regularly top up the windshield washer fluid using a specific cleaner: limescale from tap water could block the nozzles.
Fluids – Check the levels of engine oil, brake fluid, and coolant. If necessary, don't forget the antifreeze!
