HOW TO PREPARE YOUR CAR FOR WINTER
5 EASY TIPS
5 tips for your car in winter
Cold mornings, wet roads, darker afternoons and frosty regional nights can all impact your vehicle during late autumn and winter. Whether you drive a petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric vehicle, a few simple checks can make a big difference to your safety on Australian roads.
CHECK YOUR WIPER BLADES & REFILL WASHER FLUID
Heavy rain, road spray and darker conditions make visibility even more important during winter. Check your wiper blades to ensure they are properly attached and the rubber remains flexible. Dry, cracked, or leave streaks across the windscreen, they should be replaced.
Top up your windscreen washer fluid and keep spare bottle in the car, you don’t want to end up without a cold dark afternoon. Consider adding anti-freeze washer fluid for frosty mornings.
CHECK & TEST YOUR BATTERY
Colder weather drains your battery more than during warm weather, which could result in harder to start your car. Avoid getting stranded by having a mechanic test your battery health before winter. Consider to keep a portable jump starter in your vehicle for emergencies.
CHECK YOUR TYRES & TYRE PRESSURE
Wet roads and fallen leaves can reduce grip and increase the risk of sliding. Ensure your tyre tread depth is safe, while the legal limit in Australia is 1.5 mm, we recommend at least 3 mm for wet-weather grip.
Cold air also causes tyre pressure to drop. Proper tyre pressure helps maintain grip, handling and fuel efficiency. Our team at Tyreplus offer free tyre safety checks to help keep you safe on the road.
MAXIMISE THE LIGHTS
Dark mornings and afternoon, requires good lighting including fog lights for misty mornings. Check your headlights, indicators, and brake lights (test against a wall or garage door if you are alone).
Clean any cloudy or hazy headlight lenses to maximise brightness.
WASH AWAY WINTER ROAD GRIME
Do not skip the car wash just because it is cold outside. Many drivers stop cleaning their vehicles during the winter months, assuming the next rainstorm will just wash it clean. However, leaving road grime, damp mud, and coastal salt spray on your vehicle accelerates rust formation. Trapped moisture causes severe damage to your car paint, body panels, and undercarriage.
Maintain a regular winter wash and wax schedule to protect your paintwork and prevent rust.
Tips for EV Drivers
Are you driving an EV? Cold winter temperatures can temporarily reduce electric vehicle battery efficiency and driving range. To maximise your range on frosty days, pre-heat your cabin while your car is still connected to your home charger. This ensures you use mains power for heating, preserving your battery capacity for the road ahead.