Winter Does Not Give You Much Warning
One week it is 15 degrees, the next your windshield is iced over and the roads are slick. If your car is not ready, that first cold snap is when you find out and that is not the ideal time to find out.
The good news is that getting ready does not take long, and most of it can be done in one visit. Here is what to check before winter arrives.
1. Tires - This One Cannot Wait
If you are still on all-season tires, November is the month to make the switch to winter tires. Ontario law does not require winter tires, but your insurance does give you a discount for having them and more importantly, all-season tires lose grip below 7°C. That is the temperature where rubber compounds in all-season tires start to harden, which means less traction exactly when you need it most.
If your winter tires are already in the garage, get them on before the first snowfall, shops get very busy very fast once the snow starts. If you are not sure whether your current tires are good for another season, bring them in and we will check the tread depth and condition for you.
What to check: Tread depth (minimum 4/32" for winter tires is recommended, even though legal minimum is lower), sidewall condition, and tire pressure. Cold air causes pressure to drop, so check it when temperatures fall.
2. Windshield Wipers - Underrated Until They Fail
Wipers are one of those things drivers do not think about until they are driving in a snowstorm and the blade is smearing instead of clearing. In winter, your wipers work harder than any other season. They deal with freezing rain, heavy wet snow, road salt spray, and ice buildup on the blade itself.
Signs it is time to replace them: streaking or skipping across the windshield, a squeaking sound, or visible cracking on the rubber. If your wipers are more than a year old, they are probably due.
Winter-specific wiper blades are also worth considering, they are designed with a rubber boot that prevents ice and snow from building up in the blade frame, which is what causes regular wipers to skip and drag in cold weather.
3. Battery - Summer Weakened It, Winter Will Finish the Job
We wrote about this in July, but it is worth repeating: summer heat damages car batteries by evaporating the fluid inside them, and winter is when that damage shows up. Cold temperatures reduce a battery's ability to deliver power, so a battery that seemed fine all fall can fail on the first really cold morning.
If your battery is three years old or more, have it tested before winter. A battery test takes about five minutes and tells you exactly where it stands. It is a lot cheaper than a boost call on a January morning.
4. Coolant - Your Engine Needs This to Survive Winter
Coolant (also called antifreeze) does two jobs: it keeps your engine from overheating in summer, and it keeps the fluid in your cooling system from freezing in winter. If your coolant is old or diluted, it may not protect your engine at the temperatures Ontario winters bring.
A coolant flush is typically recommended every two to three years. If you are not sure when yours was last done, it is worth checking especially before a cold stretch hits.
5. Brakes - Because Stopping on Ice Is Hard Enough
Winter conditions put more demand on your brakes, not less. If your brakes are already worn, they will perform worse on snow and ice than they would in summer. Signs of brake wear to watch for: squealing or grinding when you stop, the car pulling to one side when braking, or a brake pedal that feels softer or lower than usual.
Getting your brakes inspected before winter means you are not discovering a problem when you actually need them.
6. Lights - Because Days Get Short Fast
It gets dark in Etobicoke by 5:00 PM in November and by 4:30 PM in December. If any of your exterior lights - headlights, taillights, or turn signals are dim or burned out, now is the time to replace them. Visibility goes both ways: you need to see, and other drivers need to see you.
One Visit Covers All of This
You do not need six separate appointments. A pre-winter inspection at OK Tire Etobicoke covers your tires, battery, brakes, lights, and fluid levels in one visit. If something needs attention, we will tell you what it is and what it will cost. No pressure, no surprises.
Come in before the first snowfall and you will be ready for whatever this winter brings.
OK Tire Etobicoke: 61 Shorncliffe Road, Etobicoke ON M8Z 5K2
(416) 236-1277
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