Winter driving conditions suck!! Icy surfaces can make it harder for your vehicle to grip road surfaces. Snow and slushy ice also destroy traction, and if you are unfortunate enough to find yourself trapped or stranded, you will definitely want/need to have the right tools and gear with you.
The following are the basic areas you will need to focus on when winterizing your exotic car.
Got Juice?
Battery failure is more likely to happen during cold weather months. Your car battery loses power naturally as the temperature drops, so if you're rocking an old battery, it may fail to start when the cold weather sets in. Always make sure your car battery is tested before the cold season sets in, especially your vehicle is older than four years. If you have the slightest bit of concern, you may want to consider replacing your battery.
Winter Tread
When the roads become covered in ice or snow, traction can become a major issue, and if your tires are not suited for the surface, you may find that you cannot control your vehicle. Seriously not a good thing. Winter tires have a different tread to tackle snow and ice and are designed to remain fully elastic in the coldest of temperatures. Winter tires will normally last three winter seasons and could save you the cost of damaged bodywork or, worse, injuries to your passengers. Winter tires will have a mountain-peak-and-snowflake symbol on the side wall of the tire, which indicates that they are suitable for winter. Know your rubber!!!
Wipers and fluids.
Good visibility in hazardous conditions is essential to your safety. Normal windshield wiper blades are very susceptible to the cold. Frozen blades can lift away from the windshield and may not be effective in removing snow. Winter blades remain flexible in the cold and have a rubber covering that allows the blade to remain close to the windshield surface. It is also important to ensure that your washer fluid reservoir is topped off regularly. Use an appropriate solution with anti-freeze and keep a large bottle of spare fluid in your car at all times.
Show me the light!!
In severe weather, it is extremely important to have headlights that can be seen by other vehicles and that light up the road for you as much as possible. Make sure you align your headlights according to the manufacturer’s instruction, you can do this by adjusting a single knob or screw within the headlight housing. Headlight covers can also become hazy, due to oxidation of the plastic content that greatly reduces visibility. Headlight restoration kits are a great way to restore your headlights to a new car finish, but we recommend allowing your dealership or a trained professional to do this process.
The Goods.
No matter how well-maintained your exotic vehicle is - if the weather gets bad enough, you may find yourself stranded. You should always carry spare blankets to keep you and your passengers warm in the event that there is no gas or power to heat your car. Gloves and boots will allow you to go out into the snow if necessary. Pack a flashlight and spare batteries in case you need to move away from the car at night. A shovel or scraper brush could be essential to remove snow or ice from around the wheels. Bottled water and non-perishable snacks might be necessary in the event that you are stuck for some time.
So basically.....make sure you are prepped and ready for what winter might throw at you.
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