This guest post is written and provided by Brian Rose, Kauffman Tire, Inc.
Be prepared. That’s certainly one lesson we can learn from the rare ice storm that hit Atlanta last January, stranding thousands for hours on wintery, frozen roads. The fact that drivers in Georgia and other states may not regularly experience harsh winter road conditions is even more reason to prepare for those freak storms like the one last January.
If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to ensure your car is ready for winter’s snow-covered roads and icy conditions, and Kauffman Tire in Atlanta can help. Here are some tips you can follow to winterize all of your family’s vehicles:
How to Protect Your Family on Wintery Roads
- Take care of the outside: Make sure you have proper tire pressure and enough tread, that your headlights are bright and that your wipers are clean and in good working condition.
- Have the right type of tire: All-season tires are a good fit for fall and winter, handling dry and wet conditions equally. If you are in the market for new tires, the MICHELIN Premier A/S tire with EverGrip is a good option. It features an evolving tread design and high-traction rubber compound to deliver exceptional levels of wet grip providing enhanced safety even as the tires wear down. However, if temperatures in your neighborhood are consistently below 44 degrees Fahrenheit, you may want to switch to winter tires, like the MICHELIN X-Ice Xi3, to better manage the icy or snowy conditions.
- Take care of the inside: Make sure to test all of the necessary equipment, including your heater and defroster. You’ll also want to check and/or change all fluids, especially the antifreeze and washer fluid.
- Have a winter ready kit in the trunk: Be sure you know where your ice scraper/snow brush is so winter storms don’t catch your family off guard. Have an extra set of gloves in the trunk, as well as a shovel, ice melt and jumper cables. Hopefully, you’ll never need them, but it’s better to be safe than sorry!
Also, take the time to share these and other road readiness tips with your teen drivers. Visit Michelin’s beyondthedrivingtest.com for resources that you can share with your teen, including a Road Readiness Glove Box Guide with guidance on how to check tire tread and pressure and other car maintenance tips.
With a little preparation and help from the experts at Michelin and Kauffman Tire, you can prepare your entire family for this winter season.
