Car wheels are one of the most important safety features of your vehicle. When you’re driving in winter conditions, they can be even more crucial than usual – so if you want to get through winter safely, it’s crucial that you maintain and care for your car’s wheels accordingly. Here are 5 easy tips to help you keep your car’s wheels in top condition this winter.
Why should you look after your car?
In the winter months, we Brits tend to spend more time in our cars as we travel to and from work, run errands, and visit family and friends. With colder temperatures and wetter, icy roads, our tyres and wheels have to work harder. Plus, the cold can affect tyre pressure. That’s why it’s important to take care of your car and give your wheels a little extra TLC this winter. Here are five tips to help you do just that:
1. Check your tyre pressure regularly.
2. Keep your tyres clean and free of debris.
3. Inspect your tyres for any signs of wear and tear.
4. Rotate your tyres every 5,000 miles or so.
2) Check your wheel alignment
One way to help your tyres last longer and improve your car’s handling is to make sure the wheels are properly aligned. You can check this yourself by looking at the tyres to see if they’re pointing straight ahead, or if they’re ‘toeing in’ or ‘toeing out’. If they’re not pointing straight ahead, then your wheel alignment is off and you should take it to a garage to get it fixed. Next, buy some winter-specific tyres: A lot of people forget that their all-season tyres will wear more quickly on wet surfaces during winter months because of their tread design. So instead, swap them for winter-specific tyres with more tread – these will grip better on icy roads too. Be aware that all-season tyres might need to be replaced more often in winter so keep an eye on them contact at Selge bilen!
(See our blog post Four Tips for Safer Driving) Take good care of your brakes: In the cold weather there’s a greater risk of grit becoming lodged in brake discs and pads which can lead to reduced braking power – so make sure you use your brakes less as well as giving them regular checks and cleanings.
3) Buy good quality tyres
It’s important to invest in good quality tyres. Not only will they last longer, but they’ll also provide better grip and handling – essential on wet and icy roads. When buying tyres, look for the ‘winter tyre’ symbol – these have been specifically designed to perform well in cold weather.
Check your tyre pressure regularly (five sentences): Cold temperatures can cause your tyre pressure to drop, so it’s important to check it regularly throughout the winter months. You can find your car’s recommended tyre pressure in the owner’s manual or on a sticker inside the driver’s door. Remember that your tyres should be inflated to this pressure when they are cold, not when they are warm.
Some cars come with an air compressor that plugs into the cigarette lighter socket; if you don’t have one of these, you may need to purchase one separately.
4) Invest in wheel protection
You can’t always avoid potholes, but you can take measures to protect your wheels from damage. One way to do this is to invest in wheel protection. There are a few different ways to go about this, but one option is to get wheel well guards. These will help deflect any debris that could potentially damage your wheels. And they’re not just limited to keeping them safe; they also protect the tyres and the car’s bodywork too. Plus, it looks good! Wheel wells have been an essential part of cars since the beginning of time (they’re even mentioned in the Bible!), so if you don’t already have them, it might be worth investing now. You may also want to consider getting winter tyres, which are specifically designed for colder weather conditions. It’s important to keep an eye on tyre pressure as cold temperatures make them harder to maintain.
5) Keep your car warm
When it’s cold outside, the metal components of your car expand. This can cause issues like flat batteries and seized engines. So, if you can, keep your car in a garage or at least shelter it from the elements when you’re not using it. You should also think about getting a winter car cover. It will protect your vehicle against moisture that could seep into it while parked outside. If you have to park on snow or ice, give yourself plenty of space and leave time to stop before hitting the brakes.
Don’t forget to check tyre pressure as well – even just one pound less pressure than usual could affect how much grip your tyres have on slick surfaces! Next, clean off any salt and grit from your wheels with soapy water. Then dry them off with a cloth and apply some rust-inhibiting oil or spray paint – this will make sure they don’t rust prematurely during winter. Finally, get some help lifting up those heavy wheels onto their hubs: you’ll need to be strong in order to maintain the condition of your wheel bearings all through the year!
Be replaced more often in winter
So instead, swap them for winter-specific tyres with more tread – these will grip better on icy roads too. Be aware that all-season tyres might need to be replaced more often in winter so keep an eye on them! (See our blog post Four Tips for Safer Driving) Take good care of your brakes: In the cold weather there’s a greater risk of grit becoming lodged in brake discs and pads which can lead to reduced braking power.
Essential part of cars since the beginning of time
These will help deflect any debris that could potentially damage your wheels. And they’re not just limited to keeping them safe; they also protect the tyres and the car’s bodywork too. Plus, it looks good! Wheel wells have been an essential part of cars since the beginning of time (they’re even mentioned in the Bible!), so if you don’t already have them, it might be worth investing now. You may also want to consider getting winter tyres, which are specifically designed for colder weather conditions.