By Courtney Elisech
Michigan winters can be challenging for everyone, whether you have lived here your whole life or never experienced one. Here are some tips to ensure your vehicle is winter ready and a survival kit if you get stuck while driving.
Winter vehicle safety
First, ensure your vehicle is ready for the change of season to prevent accidents and make winter driving more manageable. Use this list to ensure you are as prepared as you can be:
- Check the health of your vehicle battery now. The quick drop in temperature can dramatically affect the life and power of a battery.
- Replace your windshield wiper blades, they make ones specifically for winter, but even a new regular blade will make a difference.
- Lube up! Hit the locks and door handles with lubricant to stop them from freezing up and locking you in or out of your vehicle.
- Gas? Keep the tank half full for the winter. You don’t want to be stuck on a cold empty road without fuel. Double-check your tailpipe is clear of snow if you are stranded and have the car running. Be aware not to keep the vehicle running too long, warm up, and shut off.
- Tire check! The tires on your vehicle will drastically change your winter driving experience. Check the tire pressure regularly because the cold will make them lose pressure quickly, depending on the temperature. Secondly, ensure the tread on your tires is suitable for traction on the road, deeper tread reduces snow buildup on the tire. If you aren’t sure about these things, visit a tire shop, and they can help you. Firestone has always been great about checking tire pressure and filling if needed and recommending when tires should be replaced.
- It will always help to get your vehicle serviced at the beginning of the season to catch anything wrong before something happens on the road.
Winter survival kit for your ride
Grab a bag for your survival kit and fill it with the following:
- Flashlight
- Nonperishable food such as crackers, granola bars, etc.
- Water bottles and/or sports drinks, pro-tip sports drinks don’t freeze as quickly as water
- Second pair of footwear, such as boots
- First aid kit
- Blankets, including space/survival blankets
- Extra clothing to layer on if needed, such as sweaters and long pants
- A portable phone charger, solar-powered, would be best
- Ice salt, kitty litter, or some sort of abrasive material
- Ice scraper
- Matches and a candle for heat
- Small shovel
- Jumper cables
The weather in Michigan can be a little chaotic. One day you’ll wake up, and it’ll be freezing with ice on the road; hours later, it can be warm and sunny, and by nightfall, 3 feet of snow will have fallen, and the roads will be treacherous. The cold can hurt you very quickly if you get stuck on the side of the road. Stay safe out there!
