Driving in winter can be a scary proposition if you have never done it before but there are some simple tips you can follow that will help you be less afraid. However, just reading this will not automatically make you a better winter driver, you are going to need to get out and do the things this article suggests before you will really be better at driving in winter.
If you move to a cold weather climate like Seattle and know you will need to drive your vehicle in the winter time, there are some things you need to do to plan ahead so that you will be prepared when the first winter storm hits.
You should always keep your tires properly inflated. Contrary to how it may seem, a tire that is under inflated will actually lessen the size of the contact patch between the tire and the road. The smaller the contact patch, the less traction your car will have in normal conditions. This means it will be even worse in conditions where hydroplaning could take place.
If your tires are old and the tread is worn, you should get them replaced as soon as possible. When you do get them replaced, you should consider getting tires that are designed for handling wet weather.
Even if your tires do not need to be replaced, they may still need to be rotated. If you fail to properly rotate your tires, you may have unbalanced tread. Unbalanced tread can be very dangerous. If one tire is able to grip the road but another is not, the car can be more susceptible to hydroplaning.
Once you have taken all the proper steps to prepare your vehicle to prevent hydroplaning, you still need to know what to do when you are actually out driving on the road.
Additionally, tire chains can really come in handy if the weather really gets bad. Tire chains can help you find traction on even the worst of roads. In fact, some mountain passes get so treacherous during winter that you are not even allowed to drive on them without chains on your tires.
The single most important thing you can do to be a better winter driver is to practice! This can be a little hard to do in the summer, but you need to know how to handle the first scary situation you find yourself in. When it snows, you should take your car to an empty parking lot nearby so that you can learn how to control your car if it starts to slip and slide. When your car does start to slide, do not slam on your brakes, make sure you look in the direction you are trying to steer the vehicle, and calmly steer out of it.
Last, don't forget to take a look at your auto insurance in Seattle to make sure you have the right coverage for the conditions you might find!
If you move to a cold weather climate like Seattle and know you will need to drive your vehicle in the winter time, there are some things you need to do to plan ahead so that you will be prepared when the first winter storm hits.
You should always keep your tires properly inflated. Contrary to how it may seem, a tire that is under inflated will actually lessen the size of the contact patch between the tire and the road. The smaller the contact patch, the less traction your car will have in normal conditions. This means it will be even worse in conditions where hydroplaning could take place.
If your tires are old and the tread is worn, you should get them replaced as soon as possible. When you do get them replaced, you should consider getting tires that are designed for handling wet weather.
Even if your tires do not need to be replaced, they may still need to be rotated. If you fail to properly rotate your tires, you may have unbalanced tread. Unbalanced tread can be very dangerous. If one tire is able to grip the road but another is not, the car can be more susceptible to hydroplaning.
Once you have taken all the proper steps to prepare your vehicle to prevent hydroplaning, you still need to know what to do when you are actually out driving on the road.
Additionally, tire chains can really come in handy if the weather really gets bad. Tire chains can help you find traction on even the worst of roads. In fact, some mountain passes get so treacherous during winter that you are not even allowed to drive on them without chains on your tires.
The single most important thing you can do to be a better winter driver is to practice! This can be a little hard to do in the summer, but you need to know how to handle the first scary situation you find yourself in. When it snows, you should take your car to an empty parking lot nearby so that you can learn how to control your car if it starts to slip and slide. When your car does start to slide, do not slam on your brakes, make sure you look in the direction you are trying to steer the vehicle, and calmly steer out of it.
Last, don't forget to take a look at your auto insurance in Seattle to make sure you have the right coverage for the conditions you might find!
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