Today let's talk about your tires:
Check your tire pressure-
Your tires must be properly inflated to ensure you’ll have the best possible traction as you drive along — and traction is often severely jeopardized in wet, snowy or icy conditions. The air pressure in your tires has likely dropped as the weather has gotten colder, so it’s important to see where things stand now. (You can generally expect that you’ll lose 1 pound per square inch whenever the temperature drops by 10 degrees Fahrenheit.) Your trusty owner’s manual will tell you what your target tire pressure should be. It is also listed on the sidewall of your tires.
Snow Tires and chains-
Think about switching to snow tires. Do you live in a hilly place that gets its fair share of snow? Then you might want to improve traction even more by investing in winter tires and using them over the next few months instead of your usual all-season tires. When shopping around for snow tires, ask about all the fees that might come into play, such as fees for mounting and balancing. You can accomplish this easily and make accurate cost comparisons by asking each store for the “out the door charge.” If you live in a mountainess region or normally have long snowy winters, you may wany to consider snow chains... purchase them now and make sure they are the right chains for your car... many tire stores offer a "buy them and don't use them return policy". Second make sure you know how to install the chains before you leave the store. And remember... if you drive a front wheel drive car- the chains go on the front tires!
4 WHEELING-
Do you have four-wheel drive? If so, it’s important to check the status of your four-wheel-drive system and be sure it’s working correctly — especially because most drivers don’t use their 4WD systems in the pleasant summer months. Be sure that the system engages and disengages easily, and that all drivers in your household know how and when to activate the system. And remember- 4WD is great... but it doesn't have any better stopping capabilities than 2WD
1 comment:
Our temperature went from the 70's last week to 31 right now. I'll be sure to check the air in my tires this morning. Thanks for reminding me!
I'm really enjoying this series. It's the perfect time to get things ready for winter.
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