How To Keep Your Nice Cars In Good Shape In The Winter

Winter can be a rough time on cars. Temperature extremes, poor road conditions and the presence of corrosive materials on the roads can all add up to problems. Fortunately, there are a number of things that car owners can do to keep their rides in great shape through the cold months of winter.

Washing and Waxing

Keeping a car washed and waxed does more than make it look good. Washing removes dirt and other debris that can scratch paint and waxing provides a protective layer to protect a car’s finish from damage from sand, cinders and other objects on the road that are thrown up by other cars. Washing and waxing is especially important during the winter months when there is more debris on the road surface that can end up on a car.

Underbody Washing

While maintaining a clean and well waxed exterior is important, winter is also a time to focus on the underbody of the car. Road salt and other corrosive materials are constantly being splashed under a car onto frame components, CV joints, brake lines and other parts. Left alone over time these materials will cause parts to corrode and fail. For this reason, it is important for car owners to thoroughly clean the underbody of their cars during winter. It is important to spray off the bottom of the car as well as focusing on the wheel wells, bumpers and other areas that collect debris.

Tires

If a car owner plans to drive his or her car during the winter months, a tire inspection is mandatory. Tires should have at least 50% of its original tread depth for safe winter driving. An even better idea is to purchase winter tires to be used only during the cold months. Studded tires are still available in most areas, but modern winter tires that do not use studs perform better in most winter driving conditions. Car owners who choose to buy winter tires can have them taken off when warm weather returns in the spring and stored until next winter.

Storage

Car owners who want to protect their cars from all of the problems that winter can present should consider renting storage units to protect their car during the cold months. This is a particularly good idea for those people who do not have access to off street parking. Parking on the street in winter is especially hazardous for a nice car as snow plows, sliding cars and the splash of salty street slush provides an unending array of hazards for a parked car.