With the cold settled in, drivers are reminded to use digital tire pressure gauges to stay safe on the road.
Throughout the winter season, the cold temperatures can cause low pressure in tires that can reduce your handling on the roads. When road conditions are already limited from snow, slush and ice, and when visibility is reduced from blowing snow, late sunrises and early sunsets makes it more important than any other time that you be able to keep control while behind the wheel.
Each of those limitations makes it vital that you do as much as you can to stay in control when driving.
Just as you shouldn’t head out without a coat and boots to keep you safe from cold temperatures, you should also check your tires for low pressure for the exact same reason. Do this by checking all four tires using a digital pressure gauge. This check should happen whenever there is a dramatic change in temperature, as well as every couple of weeks or so. This way, you’ll know for certain whether the outside temperature or regular wear has caused your tire inflation to change in a way that will not only increase the cost at the pump due to reduced mileage, but it will also make your vehicle more difficult to handle.
Anyone who has already tried to drive in inclement conditions knows that low pressure and other tiny changes matter.
Of course, tire inflation isn’t the only thing you should do to make sure your car is running at its best and at its safest, this winter. You should also have your oil changed and top up all your fluids. Since you’ll be going through windshield washer fluid much more regularly than you would at other times of the year, you’ll want to top that up more frequently and keep an extra bottle in the trunk, just in case. Make sure you’ve purchased windshield washer fluid that has been designed to withstand temperatures much lower than those your vehicle will be facing.
While you’re checking if you have low pressure, you will also want to look at your tread depth, to make sure you have the traction and control you need, keeping in mind that winter or snow tires will give you even better handling than all-seasons.
