Winter-Proof Your Ride With These Tips

man sits at the wheel of his car sunny winter day shoeing thumbs up gesture. Wintertime road trip.

Winter will be here before you know it, but you still have time to get your vehicle ready. The right winter-proofing strategies will help you overcome ice, tire traction problems, and more. Find out what you need to do to winter-proof your ride this year. Then, get started, so you’ll be ready for the first cold snap of the year.

Use Windshield Wash With De-icer

Did you know that you can get windshield wash that contains a de-icer? If you use this, you won’t have to spend time scraping your windshield before heading out each day. There are lots of options, but Mr. Clean Windshield Wash and De-icer leads the pack. It does a fantastic job of melting ice, so you can get on the road quickly.

Add a Frost Shield

Now, if it is an extremely icy winter, you might have to pair the windshield wash with a frost shield. For example, Prestone Ice and Frost Shield prevents ice from building up on your windshield. You just coat it on the windshield, and it’ll keep the ice at bay. However, your windshield might still accumulate frost, but the windshield wash can handle that.

Dilute Your Antifreeze

Antifreeze prevents your engine from freezing during the cold winter months. However, straight antifreeze can’t get the job done when it’s cold outside. Instead, you need to dilute it with water. If you already have a jug of antifreeze, mix it so it contains 50 percent water. On the other hand, you can buy a pre-diluted bottle of antifreeze if you prefer.

Make Sure Your Tires Are Ready for Winter

If you use regular tires, they’ll have trouble gripping the road when the temperatures drop. Thus, upgrade to winter or all-season tires. Also, make sure your tires have ample tread. You can use the penny test to determine if you need new tires. Take out a penny and drop it between the tread, with Lincoln’s head facing down. If you can see Lincoln’s hairline, it’s time for new tires.

You might also like: Save Your Pennies With These DIY Halloween Costumes For Kids

Prepare for Frozen Locks

Have you ever ended up with frozen locks in the winter? This happens when ice blocks the locking mechanism, so you can’t lock and unlock the door. You can prepare for this by having some Victor Lock De-Icer and Lubricant handy. Use this product any time the locks freeze. Make sure you do it immediately before the ice harms your vehicle.

Are you feeling less than enthused about winterizing your current ride? It’s not that you don’t want your car to be road-ready, but you just don’t love your vehicle. Head over to Barbour Hendrick Honda to solve your problem. After browsing our extensive lineup of new and pre-owned vehicles, you’ll find just what you need for this winter and beyond.

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