How to Prepare the Vehicle for Winter Driving Conditions
Winter driving in the UK presents quite a challenge to vehicles, one that summer conditions cannot even compare to. Cold weather, frost, ice, and poor visibility are all some of the factors that not only affect a vehicle's performance but also its safe handling. A vehicle that is ready for the changes of the season will have a substantially reduced risk of breaking down and will be safer on any trip, even if it is a spontaneous one. Why Winter Vehicle Preparation Matters When the temperature goes down, it is possible for a variety of vehicle systems to be impacted at the same time. Engine oil gets thicker at low temperatures, thus resulting in more work to be carried out by the starter motor and less lubricating action at the beginning of a run. The amount of energy that a battery can give drops by 20% at the freezing point and by 50% at -20°C. Tyre rubber hardens below 7°C, thereby decreasing grip on both wet and dry surfaces due to a reduction in the contact patch. These are far ...