Early December temperatures are forecast to be a little lower than average and colder conditions are on their way as the month progresses, the Met Office's early forecasts say.
Wintry weather can impact how your car operates, while the chances of icy or wet roads mean it is not a season when you want your vehicle's performance to drop.
"As the temperature begins to drop, you may notice some changes in the way your car operates," says Simon Wayne, a technical engineer for ATS Euromaster.
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"It’s important to be aware of the impact of cold weather and know how you can protect your car from damage. In doing this, you can ensure your car is the safest it can be when you are travelling in hazardous weather conditions."
Six ways to winterproof your car
Simon and the ATS Euromaster team have provided six top tips for 'winter-proofing' your car on a budget so you can give yourself the best chance of avoiding breakdowns and malfunctions
1. Check your brakes
When driving in weather such as rain, snow or ice, the road can become slippery. In wintery weather, vehicle stopping distance increases which means it is even more important to keep your brakes in tip-top condition to help ensure your safety on the road this winter. Be sure you know how to spot failing brakes, or you can get a brake inspection from us at ATS Euromaster.
2. Keep your battery running regularly
Cold temperatures can affect an engine battery and even cause it to lose power. We suggest running the battery for a couple of minutes to keep the engine ticking over. If you live in a particularly cold area, you can use a battery cover that prevents it from freezing. If you are concerned about your battery’s health before the winter months, you can also get a free vehicle health check with ATS here.
3. Keep windscreens defrosted
In cold temperatures, windscreens and wipers can freeze quickly and can affect your visibility if you don’t have a quick solution to defrost your car. One very low-cost hack is to use warm water in a zip lock bag, this will quickly reduce the frost and allow you to drive safely. Make sure you do not use boiling hot water as that can shatter your windscreen or make chips worse.
4. Check tyre pressure
Fluctuating temperatures can impact the inflation in your tyres, the pressure decreases about 1 PSI (pounds per square inch) for every 10 degrees the temperature drops. If your tyres have deflated, they can cause sliding than usual, especially in heavy rainfall, ice, and snow. Therefore, it is important to check them regularly during cold months. You can also swap summer tyres with winter or all-season tyres as these work best at temperatures below 7 degrees. You can read more about the benefits and differences between all-season and winter tyres here.
5. Swap your tyres
Swap your summer tyres with winter or all-season tyres as these work best at temperatures below 7 degrees. All-season tyres are not only great for winter but perform well in most conditions, allowing the best handling on both warm and cold roads. Lots of drivers opt for this as not only can they use them all year-round, but they also help with saving money on changing them twice. You can read more about the benefits and differences between all-season and winter tyres here.
6. Avoid condensation on your windows
Condensation in your car can happen when the temperature in your car is different to the outside. Warm air inside the car and cold air from the windscreen causes vapour to turn into water, which can seriously affect your visibility when driving. To help reduce this from happening, you can buy condensation drip strips that go in your door for under £5.
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