Lafayette, Indiana weather can get pretty crazy during the winter months, with snow and ice causing dangerous driving conditions on the roads. If you don’t properly prepare your car for the winter, you could find yourself stranded at the side of the road when you least expect it.
The next time winter rolls around, make sure to use these 3 tips to prepare your car for the icy cold months ahead!
Get a professional’s advice from an auto repair shop in Lafayette, IN! Beck’s Auto Center is here to give you some winter prep tips!
1) Check Your Tires
Your tires are extremely important to maintain during the year, ESPECIALLY during the winter.
Before you head out, check your tires and make sure they have enough air.
You also should also keep an eye on your tread wear. This can be done by looking at the sidewall of your tires. Tires with less than half tread depth are considered unsafe to drive on, so it’s a good idea to replace them before winter arrives.
It’s also a good idea to install snow tires if you live in an area that gets a lot of snow. Snow tires provide better traction than all-season or summer tires because they’re made of softer rubber compounds.
Snow chains may also come in handy as they’ll provide extra traction when needed.
And finally, don’t forget to take off any objects hanging from your vehicle (e.g., tree branches) before driving through a snowstorm!
This drag will affect your driving experience, can damage your car, and can cause accidents if not addressed.
For all your tire needs, including affordable alignments Lafayette Indiana, we’ve got you covered at Beck’s Auto Center!
2) Maintain Oil and Air Filter
Regularly changing your engine oil and air filter will help extend the life of your car. If you are not sure about how often you should get these items changed, consult your owner’s manual.
Replacing a dirty air filter can save you money on fuel by reducing the strain on your vehicle’s engine. This is a cheaper maintenance job but an effective one!
Maintaining an engine with high-quality oil ensures that it will be able to do its job more efficiently in cold weather—which means more miles between fill-ups!
The last thing we want is your engine to lock up and leave you stranded on a snowy, cold winter day.
3) Windshield Wipers
Keeping your windshield wipers in good working order is always a good idea.
If they are not functioning well, it can be difficult to see what’s going on in front of you. Consider replacing them when winter weather sets in so that you don’t find yourself caught unprepared.
Also consider keeping some windshield wiper fluid handy so that if they get clogged or frosted over, you can keep driving and maintain visibility.
You’ll want to make sure the fluid container is full and clean because ice or snow may start to build up and coat the blades with slushy water that can freeze into a solid layer of ice if left unchecked.
Visit Beck’s Auto Center
Does the future winter have you shaking in your fall boots? No need to fear, we have got you covered.
Feel free to stop in to Beck’s Auto Center or schedule an appointment with us and we will help you get all set up for the cold season, or provide you with an affordable alignment if needed!
Contact us through our website or call us at (765) 563-5455 and one of our professionals will assist you as soon as possible!