What should I check on my car before winter?

A few helpful driving and safety tips from Kogarah Tyrepower

Autumn is the perfect time to give our vehicles a thorough check before driving off into the winter months.

It’s as simple as a quick walk around your car, looking out for any obvious signs of tyre wear and tear.

Badly worn, bald or damaged tyres can be extremely dangerous to you and other motorists on the road. Not to mention that the driving conditions in winter can be atrocious, so why make it worse?

To help keep you safe on the road leading into winter, Kogarah Tyrepower suggests taking the time to take a look at the following checks this Autumn.

• Tyres
• Fluids (wiper, engine oil, radiator fluid)
• Brake condition (rotors, pads and/or drum)
• Wiper blades and external mirrors

Tyres

Tyres are the most important safety feature when it comes to our vehicles. At the end of the day, they are the only thing connecting us with the road. So it makes sense to make sure they are in good condition.

Tyre tread depth can be visible using the tread wear indicators located in the longitudinal grooves of the tyre. It's important to not let your tread wear past these bars. Once reached, it's time to replace that tyre.

If you don’t have (TWI) then a simple depth gauge from the service center will do the job. The legal requirement in Australia is 1.5mm of tread depth.

Cold weather also means cold tyres. This results in lower air pressure, allowing more rubber to come in contact with the road, which could result in irregular tread wear.

A simple tyre rotation might be all you need in which case, come into Tyrepower Kogarah for a quick inspection and rotation.

Vehicle fluids

Vehicle fluids including wiper, brake, steering, engine and radiator fluids all need to be checked regularly. You can have these done by your mechanic during logbook servicing or simply check your owner’s manual for more information.

Antifreeze is extremely important during cold weather. You simply should not fill your radiator up with water, as water has a tendency to freeze under extreme conditions. Water in modern radiators could also be detrimental to your engine. Check your user manual before topping up.

Brakes

Your brakes, in conjunction with tyres make up a large part of your car's safety components. It’s important to take some consideration into how your brakes are performing. Noisey discs or peddle chatter under your foot is a sure sign of brake issues that could result in failure.

It’s best to refer to a professional to assist in brake advice and servicing.

Wiper blades and all external mirrors

Making sure your wiper blades are in correct position and working properly is vital in unpredictable weather conditions. Pull your wipers up from the windshield and give them a wipe using a damp cloth. This will remove any debri that may have built up overnight.

Cleaning your mirrors regularly, when cleaning your car, will ensure good visibility in any driving condition.

Let your vehicle warm up before driving

It’s very important during the colder months to let your car warm up properly before you drive off. This allows time for your engine to circulate enough oil and begin to warm up.

Idling for at least 30 seconds to a minute before driving will allow enough oil to begin circulating. Longer wait times for older vehicles without electronic fuel ignition (EFI) may be required. EFI makes up for a lack of oil during start up.

Plan your trip in advance

Having a clear and precise plan for your trip means less likelihood of becoming stranded after a break down.

Letting someone know where you are going and in some instances, providing them with a copy of your planned trip is essential for long distance trips.

Kogarah Tyrepower stocks the latest all-season tyres, capable of handling Australia’s wintery conditions from all the leading brands like Pirelli. Our store is conveniently located at 7 Lindsay Street, Rockdale or call us today on (02) 9587 3366