Preparing your car for the colder months ahead is essential to practicing safe driving during the holiday season. Cold weather is hard on your car, but there are steps you can take to prevent any major problems. Our team at MAIF Insurance Provider offers affordable car insurance to Maryland drivers. Learn our best tips for car winterization below:
Inspect Your Tires
Your tires are affected by the declining temperatures. Often, you will notice that your low tire pressure dashboard symbol appears when the colder months arrive. This occurs because of the way temperature affects the air in your tires. Colder weather makes the atoms in your tires huddle together as opposed to drifting freely around. This impacts how much of your car tire is touching the road at once. Drivers should have their tires inspected before any holiday travels to ensure their tire pressure is level. Additionally, the tread on your wheels is important to evaluate. Snow and icy road conditions affect Maryland drivers every year, so it’s important that your tires have enough grip to keep you on the road. Consider purchasing snow tires, which are specifically designed with more tread for more grip on the road.
Replace Your Wiper Blades
Being able to see properly during the winter months is a challenge. Between challenging weather conditions and a decreasing amount of sunlight, many drivers will find themselves driving through dark, icy conditions just to get to the grocery store or to visit a relative for holiday meals. It’s important that your wipers are prepared to combat challenging weather conditions. You never know when you may find yourself in need of a crystal-clear view of the road. A good rule to follow is to replace your wiper blades every six to twelve months. Beyond that, your wipers may begin to not perform as well as they once did, leaving streaks behind after use. Remember- never use your windshield wipers to remove ice, snow, or frost from your windshield. Instead, use an ice scraper or run your vehicle’s defroster to melt the layer of snow before attempting to wipe it off.
Prepare An Emergency Kit
Drivers face many challenges when operating their vehicles during colder weather. Even if you are practicing safe driving, there is still a possibility that something may go wrong. It’s important to be prepared just in case of an emergency. Creating an emergency kit with everything you may need in a pinch will help ensure that your holiday road trips are not caught off guard. Include in your kit jumper cables, a tire pressure gauge, tire inflator, tire patch kit, ice scraper, and brush. Additional items like blankets, a cell phone charger, or a first aid kit are also good to include. And remember, before you head out on the road this holiday season, you will need the proper insurance to keep you covered. If you are a Maryland Driver, request a free car insurance quote from MAIF Insurance Provider today. We hope you enjoy your holiday season!