Winter Car Tips to Prepare for Christmas Travel

It is never fun to be stuck in 10-degree weather with little kids, no water and no blankets. Over the past few weeks, the snow has been falling since Thanksgiving, it’s mostly freezing and windy, so we know Christmas and holiday travel season have arrived. As we prepare for the last few weeks of the year, most of us are spending the last of our vacation days and planning road trips to visit family and friends. I think we can all agree the allure of traveling during the Christmas season is exciting, but reality kicks in at times and makes us remember it’s below-freezing, damp and windy. These conditions make it essential to prepare yourself, your family, and the family vehicle for Winter driving. Our team at Scott’s U-Save have collected our top tips to ensure your vehicle is road-ready for Chicago’s South Suburbs and North West Indiana. 

1. Check Your Tires

We all hate the pesty TPMS light that comes on our dash throughout Winter. A simple 10-degree change in temperature can bring a 1-2 psi change in your tire pressure. Besides cold temps playing havoc on our TPMS system; Winter roads are often icy, snowy, and/or wet. Now is the time of year to ensure you keep traction with bad roads and maintain safe tires. The team at Scott’s U-Save have a few suggestions to stay tire safe this Winter season while dealing with Chicago weather. 

• Tread Depth: You’ve likely heard of the penny trick for measuring tire tread depth. But, if you haven’t, stick a penny in your tire treads and see how much of Lincoln’s head is visible. You don’t want to see any of the penny below Lincoln’s head. If you own an actual tread depth gauge, measure to check you have at least 4/32” of tread depth. You’ll want to make sure you don’t have any worn spots on your tread.
• Tire Pressure: We mentioned it, but besides the annoying TPMS light on the dash, lower tire pressure can cause your tires to wear unevenly. An under inflated tire will make it harder to control your vehicle. You lose the ability to quickly make adjustments when turning the steering wheel. If you open the driver door you’ll see a tire placard. It will tell you the recommended tire size and PSI in the front and rear tires. 
• Alignment and Balance: When your suspension is misaligned, your vehicle will not handle as well and will have increased tire wear. Car manufacturers recommend to check your alignment at least once per year.

2. Test Your Battery

Any extreme in temperature is bad for batteries. The extreme heat of summer or blistering cold of winter all will negatively affect your battery’s performance. Here are some easy, visual tips to make sure you aren’t stranded with a vehicle that won’t start in the Chicago and North West Indiana Winters. 

• Have your battery tested FOR FREE at any of our four locations in Steger and New Lenox Illinois or Schererville and Crown Point Indiana. 
• Look for signs of corrosion on the terminals and clean them if necessary.
• If your battery is more than three years old, consider replacing it before your trip.
• Be Prepared with Jumper Cables in your car. Pro Tip: Don’t put them in the truck under all your luggage. You’ll save yourself from having to unpack it all on the side of the road.
• Turn off accessories when the engine is off. Don’t sit parked with your phone and/or tablets charging. This can drain your battery so it’s not dead but doesn’t have enough power to start your engine. 

3. Check, Test & Inspect Your Brakes

We started by talking about the importance of your tires in the Winter. All of us here at Scott’s U-Save joke that brakes stop tires and tires stop cars. The icy road conditions demand reliable braking no matter how great your tires may be. When having your tires rotated and oil changed before your tip, ask our ASE certified mechanics to inspect your braking system. 

• Have your brakes inspected at any of our four locations in Steger and New Lenox Illinois or Schererville and Crown Point Indiana. 
• Visually look at rotors for grooves and heavy rust
• Most don’t have a jack at home, but if you can take off your wheels you should measure your pad thickness. If the pads are less than 3mm it’s likely time for brake replacement. 
• If you have a brake testing pen you can check the amount of water in your brake fluid. You want 2% or less. While looking at the brake fluid, check it’s level against the MIN & MAX lines on the reservoir. 
• While driving around town, listen closely when braking. Pay attention to any noises, especially grinding. Grinding requires immediate repairs so you don’t over extend your caliper pistons.
• If you can peek under your vehicle, check for any signs of leaking brake lines.  

4. Top Off Fluids

The low temperature of North West Indiana Winters place extra strain on all of your vehicle’s components. When easy area that is often over looked are the vehicle fluids. As with other parts of your vehicle, fluid wear and breakdown just like any other part.

• Antifreeze: Often called coolant, protects your engine from freezing and overheating. It does a one, two punch. Visually check the reservoir’s MIN & MAX lines. If the reservoir level is low check for a leak. You can also test the freezing point of your coolant. If the freezing point is at -10F or higher it’s time to service your coolant. 
• Windshield Washer Fluid: We all know how difficult it is to see if you can’t clean your windshield during a winter storm. You should consider adding a winter-grade washer fluid before leaving for your tip.
• Oil: It’s never a bad idea to change your engine oil more often than needed. It’s a cheap way to maintain the most expensive part of your vehicle. Plus, all of our four locations in Steger and New Lenox Illinois or Schererville and Crown Point Indiana perform a multi-point Inspection with any oil change. 

5. Pack an Emergency Kit

Prepare for unexpected situations with a winter-specific emergency kit. Include:

• Jumper cables (mentioning for a second time)
• Flashlight (pack extra batteries)
• Warm blankets and clothing for all passengers (don’t put them in the truck. Make them easily accessible)
• Snacks and water (again don’t leave in the trunk. The water can freeze)
• Ice scraper and snow brush
• First aid kit

6. Check Your Heating and Defrost Systems

It’s obvious your heating system ensures comfort for everyone on the holiday trip. Test both systems before heading out. If you have inconsistent air flow, noises from the dashboard, or not very warm air you should have this inspected and repaired before the trip.

7. Plan Your Route

Use GPS or a navigation app to check for road closures and traffic updates. If you have a heavy foot, most Google Maps and apps will notify you of speed traps too. 

8. Adjust Your Driving Habits

Here is where the old saying, better to be late than never comes to mind. Take your time, plan extra time for your arrival, and don’t feel you need to rush anywhere. Any Winter driving requires extra caution. Keep these tips in mind:

• Again, take your time and reduce speed on icy or snow-covered roads.
• Keep ample room between you and the vehicle ahead. This allow more time for braking.
• Use gentle steering and acceleration to avoid skidding.

Bonus Tip: Schedule a Pre-Trip Inspection

Visit any of our four locations in Steger and New Lenox Illinois or Schererville and Crown Point Indiana to let our ASE certified mechanics do a look over of your vehicle’s system to ensure a safe and happy holiday.

Final Thoughts

As with most things in life, taking the time to prepare your car for winter travel will give you peace of mind and help you focus on what matters most: spending quality time with loved ones. Whether you’re traveling across town or across state lines, these tips will keep your journey safe and stress-free.

From everyone at Scott’s U-Save Tires & Auto Repair, we wish you a merry and safe holiday season!