Tips on getting your car ready for winter
November 19, 2020
Most EWU students aren’t strangers to Eastern Washington’s wild winters by this point. EWU’s campus saw a dusting of snow in Sept. last year, and got hit with almost seven inches of snow this Oct.
While those inches melted off within a little over a week’s time, winter is coming and the snow is looking like it soon might be here to stay.
For many, driving in the snow never gets easier, and with a La Niña winter predicted this year by meteorologists, EWU students can expect the possibility of snow being here well into spring.
So what should EWU students do to get their cars ready for winter driving? The Easterner compiled a list of tips to make sure students’ cars are well-equipped to face the next few months.
- Check your tires
Check your tire pressure often to ensure you’ll have the best possible traction in the snow.
Consider buying tire chains if you are planning on driving over a pass or in extreme
weather conditions. Buy a set of snow tires. If your car is two-wheel drive, winter tires
may play a big role regarding your safety. Winter tires have a wider tread pattern that
helps maintain traction on snow and ice.
- Check your windshield wipers
Being able to see through your windshield while it’s snowing is a pretty useful way to
stay on the road. Some brands, such as Trico and Duralast, make specialized winter
windshield wipers that prevent snow and ice from sticking to them.
- Keep an eye on your gas tank
Having enough gas in your car to keep you warm is essential, especially if you happen to
slide off the road. Making sure you don’t drop below ¼ tank in the winter could ensure
you stay warm in case of an emergency.
- Emergency kit
Storing an emergency kit in your car will also be beneficial if you happen to get stuck
anywhere in your car. Useful things to pack are: a flashlight, a car phone charger, hand
warmers, a notepad and pencil, a simple tool kit, a small shovel and food such as granola bars, beef jerky, and hard candies.
- First aid kit
A first aid kit is always a good thing to have in your car year-round. This kit could come
in handy should an accident occur. Minor wounds could be fixed with a
bandaid and some gauze.
- Extra pair of warm clothes / blanket
Getting stuck in the snow is never fun, but it’s even worse if you aren’t dressed
for the cold weather when waiting for help to arrive. Store an extra jacket, gloves, a hat
and a blanket in your car to keep you warm in case you happen to get stuck.
- Ice scraper
Keeping an ice scraper / brush in your car is extremely useful for getting snow off your
car and scraping ice off your windows.
- Jumper cables
Cold weather can be hard on car batteries. Keep a pair of jumper cables in your car in
case it has trouble starting on the colder days of winter.
- Kitty litter/sand
Having materials like kitty litter or sand in your car could save you time and money if
there is an incident in the snow. Putting kitty litter or sand on the snow / ice around your
tires can help give your car some traction. You may be able to get yourself unstuck rather
than calling a friend or waiting for a tow truck for help.
A very informative article.
Thank you for the insight . A lot of new information that could help me.
A very useful post with the quick tips. You really focus on the very important subject.