Snow Prep
You're ready for anything, and we believe you. But the experts say most people ignore the basics when preparing their truck or sport/ute for winter.
Snow tires: Toothy treads help you go dashing through the snow, right? Sure, but according to Bridgestone, they can also help you stop up to 50-percent faster. All-season tires, even on a four- or all-wheel-drive rig, may not be up to the task.
"Snow tires (on a four-wheel-drive) are appropriate in the snow belt," says Mark Cox, an SCCA Pro Rally racer and director of the Bridgestone Winter Driving School. "Four-wheel drive is great, but you still only have four contact patches on the road."
What about studs? According to Bill Egan, chief engineer of advanced tire technology at Goodyear, metal molars for treads are worth 40-percent-more traction on packed snow and ice. But on wet or dry roads, they actually may reduce traction.
Air pressure: The good folks at Goodyear point out their snow tires work only when inflated. According to the Akron-based tire manufacturer, underinflation is a chronic problem in winter months because cold air is denser than warm air. So a tire inflated to 32 psi on a 70-degree day will be inflated only to 26 psi on a day when the temperature is at freezing. Tire life, Goodyear says, will decrease 10 percent for every 10 percent the tire is underinflated.
Battery: It sounds like a no-brainer, but how many times has your battery given up the ghost on a sunny summer afternoon? Cold weather, on the other hand, puts a strain on your battery in a number of ways: An ice-cold engine is tougher to crank; running the heater, electric rear-window defroster, wipers, and headlights regularly draws more juice; and, as the temperature drops, so does a battery's cranking power, particularly if it's weak to begin with.
While you're staring suspiciously at your battery, it might be a good time to check out its cables and test alternator output. Ditto for inspecting belts and hoses.
Wipers: C'mon, when was the last time you changed wiper blades? Nothing is more annoying than staring at the winter landscape through streaked glass or being serenaded by the sound of squeaking rubber. Bosch claims its "Twin" blade uses a two-component rubber that's tough enough to hold up, yet soft enough to be quiet. Whatever blades you buy, shell out the dough for two sets and change them at the first sign of deterioration.
Fluids: Again you're rolling your eyes, but how many times have you endured little or no heat only to realize you're anti-freeze is low. And when traveling on sloppy roads, you'll use twice as much windshield-washer fluid. Top it off!
If you really want to light Jack Frost's fire, try mixing him up a special washer- fluid cocktail with Prestone's Windshield Melt De-Icer Additive. The people at Prestone say a bottle of the stuff will keep your standard-issue blue fluid off the rocks all the way down to -30-degrees F.
Provisions: You know at least one person who's more prepared than a Boy Scout Jamboree at Martha Stewart's house. This fall, follow that person's lead, and put together a travel kit that'll keep you from being victimized by Old Man Winter.
The National Safety Council recommends a snow shovel, a scraper with a brush on one end, a tow chain or strap, tire chains, a flashlight (with extra batteries), abrasive material (cat litter, sand, salt, or traction mats), jumper cables, a warning device (flares or reflective triangles), bright-colored cloth to signal for help, empty can containing candles, matches (in a water-tight container) or a lighter, high-energy food (chocolate or dried fruit, for example), sleeping bags or blankets, ski caps, and mittens, first-aid supplies, and a compass.
To that we'd add a compact chain hoist or come-along unit that might be handy for winching a truck out of a ditch or deep ruts.