The temperature in Atlanta is dropping and your car may not be up to the weather. If it’s going to last through the colder months, you’re going to have to winterize it.
No matter if you’re mostly driving only the surface streets or all around I-285, you’ll need to prepare your vehicle for the cold.
How To Winterize Your Car The Right Way
Because road safety is #1, winterizing your vehicle is important. And a lot of people (in Atlanta) don’t know what that entails, we’re going to walk you through it.
1. Switch To Winter Windshield Wipers
Visibility is your top priority when driving around in the winter. You’ll need to change out your wipers if you don’t have the special kinds for winter. You can pick them up at your local Advance Auto Parts, O’Reilly Autoparts or Autozone.
You can also buy them online here:
- Extreme Winter Wiper Blades
- Bosch Icon 24A Wiper Blade
- ANCO 30-22 Winter Wiper Blade
- Wiper Blade 22” METO Polymer
2. Buy Some Winter Tires
Winter tires hold traction much better than regular tires. Unless conditions get uncharacteristically bad, motorists driving in places like Atlanta and other parts of the Southeast shouldn’t really need winter tires.
But make sure your all-season tires have the correct tire pressure, especially during the colder months.
If you find that you need some winter tires, here are some of our favorites:
- Cooper Evolution Winter Studable Tires
- Sumitomo Ice Edge Snow Tires
- Bridgestone Blizzak Winter Radial Tires
3. Keep Your Gas Tank Half Full
Because you never know how traffic has been affected by the driving conditions, it’s a good idea to always keep your gas tank half full.
It’s not going to take anymore money than it does to fill it up, believe it or not. Keeping a half-full tank gives you peace of mind and ensures you have enough fuel for a moderate journey.
4. Keep A Winter Safety Kit In Your Trunk
Purchase
Because you never know what could happen, you should keep a winter safety kit in the trunk of your car. What should this kit include? It all varies, but here are some must-have basic items:
- First-Aid Kit
- Basic Tool Kit
- Emergency Flares / Reflectors
- Jumper Cables
- Couple Quarts of Motor Oil
- Gallon of Engine Coolant
- Blanket
- Flashlight
- Batteries
5. Take It To The Shop
Your local mechanic knows how to get your car prepared for winter driving conditions. These would include switching to a thicker oil for your vehicle and other modifications.
Another thing they’ll be able to check is the strength of your battery and whether it needs to be replaced.
No matter what you do, remember to drive safety and take as many precautions on the road as you can. Be safe!
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