Run flat tires are all the rage, but they aren't right for everyone (or every vehicle). Here is a list of the pros and cons, so you can make an informed choice.
Ok, we all know winter is coming… or maybe it’s already here! We also know that we are about to be doing a ton of holiday travelling. Despite this, we always wait until the last minute to get our car ready for winter and leave ourselves in a lurch when the busiest time of year is upon us. Below is a quick checklist of things you should do to get ready for winter driving. Some of them only take a few minutes and many can be done for you if you are just too busy to take care of them. Let’s dig in and get this stuff sorted before the third week of December hits, shall we?
Interior Cleaning
This one is easy. You need to switch out your floor mats for rubber ones anyway, so while you are in there, give the carpets and upholstery a cleaning. Then, open the trunk and clear out all of the junk that has been piling up. In the winter we tend to need more storage space for things like skis, emergency kits, gifts, and luggage. Get it all cleaned out to make travel a snap instead of a drag.
Wax Before Winter
Take your vehicle for a wash to get all of the built-up dirt and mud from summer off of the body, then give it a quick wax. You can do it with a simple spray wax or you can use your elbow grease and use carnauba wax. Wax is a great line of defence against the salt that will be covering it in the next few weeks. Don’t have the time? There is a great detailer around the corner from us who will do it for you with a same-day appointment.
Time for a Tune-Up
If it’s been a while since you’ve taken your vehicle into the shop, don’t keep putting it off. The cold weather can make existing problems worse and delaying a repair can potentially cost you more money down the road. You can bring it into Parkside to check out your battery (which needs to be in great shape for cold weather), defrosters, heaters, coolant, wiper fluid, wiper blades, and an oil change before you pile on the winter miles. We top up your fluids and check for burnt-out bulbs too, and we will switch over to your winter tires to keep you safe on the Malahat during the icy season.
Grab Your Winter Tools
Keep a set of gloves, a snow brush and ice scraper in your car at all times. Try to find a brush with soft bristles to prevent any damage to the paint or glass on your car. It’s also good to have a set of jumper cables in your trunk just in case you or a fellow motorist needs a boost on a freezing day.
Emergency Car Kit
This one we wrote about way back. Grab the essentials yourself or pick up an emergency kit from the Red Cross. You will be very glad you did.
Frozen Door Prevention
Prevent frozen locks and doors by adding a little lubricant ahead of time. You can spray a graphite-based lock lubricant into keyholes, using short blasts. You don’t want to do this more than once a year as you could risk jamming the lock if you’ve got too much lubricant in there. You can apply a silicone-based rubber lubricant on weather stripping that’s located on car doors to prevent the seals from sticking together. This also works on the trunk and hood seals.
Related Posts
