Are you prepared for winter driving?
Discussion
Just got into an interesting conversation with a colleague that got me thinking - what do you do to prepare your vehicles for winter driving/riding? Just intrigued to know!
My colleague was explaining that she always made sure she had winter tyres, coolant flush every september, tools in the back, blanket, first aid kit, choccies and sweets in the boot, water and oil etc. She doesnt travel that far really, just likes to be prepared.
I have a 2010 tdci Fiesta Van that I use for work (not a work vehicle, I own it) - I personally just maintain mine as I would all year - check tyre pressures, water and oil etc. every couple of weeks or before a long journey, keep it clean but I don't feel that I go out of my way to 'winter prep' my car as such.
For context I drive between 55 and 80 miles most days on a mixture of B roads and country lanes
What d'you do?
My colleague was explaining that she always made sure she had winter tyres, coolant flush every september, tools in the back, blanket, first aid kit, choccies and sweets in the boot, water and oil etc. She doesnt travel that far really, just likes to be prepared.
I have a 2010 tdci Fiesta Van that I use for work (not a work vehicle, I own it) - I personally just maintain mine as I would all year - check tyre pressures, water and oil etc. every couple of weeks or before a long journey, keep it clean but I don't feel that I go out of my way to 'winter prep' my car as such.
For context I drive between 55 and 80 miles most days on a mixture of B roads and country lanes
What d'you do?
AdamIndy said:
I put a coat on before I walk to the car so yeah, I'm good to go!
I do that too, and this morning I made a mental note to find my gloves at some point over the weekend, ready for next week. Otherwise, I don't do any special checks just for winter with my current car, it has performed all duties necessary for the 4 winters I have had it so far and I expect it to do the same this year. I do have a small shovel that I keep near the front door and I might put that in the boot if there's a risk of snow/there's been snow.
I also know the two spots on my commute which are most vulnerable to ice and will either avoid them completely on really cold days, because one of them is on a nasty bend at the bottom of a hill and with adverse camber for oncoming cars, or drive appropriately. The car is already on well-rated "wet" tyres replaced earlier this year.
However, I also am fortunate in that I don't tend to venture far from civilisation in my daily life, if I got trapped in snow somewhere on my 8 mile rural commute to work I'm still never more than a few hundred yards from a house if I needed shelter from the elements.
Think this thread proves that the general lack of preparation (by most people) is why our country grinds to a halt at the first sign of "proper" winter weather, snow/ice etc.
I suppose it's only natural, most people will go years without any problems despite no prep, but then b
h and moan if they get stuck on a frozen road without food, warm clothing etc.
I can't say I do much myself either beyond running All Season tyres all year round. If doing a long trip in particularly bad weather then I'd probably chuck some food in, and make sure the tank is full of diesel, just in case.
I suppose it's only natural, most people will go years without any problems despite no prep, but then b
h and moan if they get stuck on a frozen road without food, warm clothing etc.I can't say I do much myself either beyond running All Season tyres all year round. If doing a long trip in particularly bad weather then I'd probably chuck some food in, and make sure the tank is full of diesel, just in case.
I live in East Yorkshire and drive around the authority throughout the year...
However in terms of prepared:
Car is serviced
Tyre's checked
Phone is charged
Coat is on
AND speed is adjusted to the conditions...
It's the last part people seem have issue with it would appear, both in terms of driving speed and how long they think they need to get anywhere!
However in terms of prepared:
Car is serviced
Tyre's checked
Phone is charged
Coat is on
AND speed is adjusted to the conditions...
It's the last part people seem have issue with it would appear, both in terms of driving speed and how long they think they need to get anywhere!
dionbee93 said:
Just got into an interesting conversation with a colleague that got me thinking - what do you do to prepare your vehicles for winter driving/riding? Just intrigued to know!
My colleague was explaining that she always made sure she had winter tyres, coolant flush every september, tools in the back, blanket, first aid kit, choccies and sweets in the boot, water and oil etc. She doesnt travel that far really, just likes to be prepared.
I have a 2010 tdci Fiesta Van that I use for work (not a work vehicle, I own it) - I personally just maintain mine as I would all year - check tyre pressures, water and oil etc. every couple of weeks or before a long journey, keep it clean but I don't feel that I go out of my way to 'winter prep' my car as such.
For context I drive between 55 and 80 miles most days on a mixture of B roads and country lanes
What d'you do?
Does your colleague commute from the Arctic Circle? Or is she a "prepping" enthusiast?My colleague was explaining that she always made sure she had winter tyres, coolant flush every september, tools in the back, blanket, first aid kit, choccies and sweets in the boot, water and oil etc. She doesnt travel that far really, just likes to be prepared.
I have a 2010 tdci Fiesta Van that I use for work (not a work vehicle, I own it) - I personally just maintain mine as I would all year - check tyre pressures, water and oil etc. every couple of weeks or before a long journey, keep it clean but I don't feel that I go out of my way to 'winter prep' my car as such.
For context I drive between 55 and 80 miles most days on a mixture of B roads and country lanes
What d'you do?
winters are vastly different across the country, I live in the frozen north so I always have winter tyres from Novemeber and if it looks really bad I will take either the landrover or if its really really bad I will take a tractor or Unimog
If I lived in the middle or south of england I wouldn't think twice about preparing
If I lived in the middle or south of england I wouldn't think twice about preparing
Steps include
- Winter Tyres fitted when the clocks change
- Tyre pressures checked weekly, but more frequently when temps are 0 deg or less.
- Use vaseline on door seals to ensure they remain as supple as possible (it helps the doors open when there's a hard frost)
- Check coolant & oil level on every fill up
- Pack boots, spare full coat/gloves/hat, sleeping bag, water, energy drinks, torch and digestives
- Check all of the lights are in good order
- Remove debris from shuts most weeks
- Apply glass protectant to help repel water, nano coating to wheel arch liners and give the underside a really deep scrub in prep
I'm sure there's other things but they've just become part of my routine. I travel frequently for work all over the UK and it's not uncommon to arrive at a client site at 0900 and leave in the evening, after a blanket of snow has fallen.
- Winter Tyres fitted when the clocks change
- Tyre pressures checked weekly, but more frequently when temps are 0 deg or less.
- Use vaseline on door seals to ensure they remain as supple as possible (it helps the doors open when there's a hard frost)
- Check coolant & oil level on every fill up
- Pack boots, spare full coat/gloves/hat, sleeping bag, water, energy drinks, torch and digestives
- Check all of the lights are in good order
- Remove debris from shuts most weeks
- Apply glass protectant to help repel water, nano coating to wheel arch liners and give the underside a really deep scrub in prep
I'm sure there's other things but they've just become part of my routine. I travel frequently for work all over the UK and it's not uncommon to arrive at a client site at 0900 and leave in the evening, after a blanket of snow has fallen.
All very interesting - As I said in the OP, i don't feel that I should prepare more at all, I was just interested really to see what others do!
I should probably have mentioned, too - I live in North Wales so not that subjective to snow and stupid weather really.. Just a normal winter!
Some seem very very keen on swapping over to 'winter' or M&S tyres at the first sight of cold weather, checking, over checking and just generally faffing in my opinion over 'prepping'! Realistically - how bad can it be here in the UK? You're never too far from anything, surely?
I should probably have mentioned, too - I live in North Wales so not that subjective to snow and stupid weather really.. Just a normal winter!
Some seem very very keen on swapping over to 'winter' or M&S tyres at the first sight of cold weather, checking, over checking and just generally faffing in my opinion over 'prepping'! Realistically - how bad can it be here in the UK? You're never too far from anything, surely?
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