Getting Your Car Ready for Winter

We’ve already seen our first preview of winter here in Kitchener, but like it or not, there is still months of snowy weather to come. A question we get asked year after year is what car owners can do to get their car ready for winter. We’ve put together a list of the top 5 things you can do to winterize your vehicle.

1. Snow Tires
Snow tires are an expensive investment, but they will help keep you an your passengers safe on even the snowiest of days this winter. Winter tires are made of a special rubber compound that is designed to stay flexible in cold weather. This means that, unlike all-season tires, when the weather drops below 7 degrees C., they will be able to maintain traction on the road.

2. Different Floor Mats

Having a dedicated set of floor mats for the winter will help make sure that you keep your car clean and dry. When choosing winter mats for your vehicle, we recommend choosing a set that was deep grooves to hold any slush or snow that you track in.

3. Undercoating 

Living in Southern Ontario means that we deal with lots of salt on the roads during the winter. Getting undercoating will prevent the salt from eating the underside of your vehicle, causing it to rust. Undercoating can be done annually at your mechanic or you can purchase a DIY kit at stores like Canadian Tire.

4. Winter Wiper Blades

Switching from your “all-season” blades to heavier winter wiper blades will help make sure that you can always see the road. Winter wiper blades are designed to be heavier, making them better able to push snow and ice to keep your windows clear.

5. Winter Windshield Washer Fluid 

In Canada, winter windshield washer fluids are rated from -35 C to -49 C and are made from a mix of water and alcohol. This allows them to stay liquid even in our cold Canadian winters.

Following these five steps to winterize your vehicle will help make sure you and your passengers stay safe while driving this winter.