The physical location of Auto Body Specialties is in the northeast of the United States. Because of this, we experience all types of whirlwind weather, all year long. Our cars face snowstorms, thunderstorms, hurricanes, ice storms and more. Not to mention extreme cold and extreme heat. We sell auto body parts to customers all over the United States and Canada so we know that our customers also experience wild weather. Our article this week will focus on outfitting your car for any type of weather or climate.

Cold Weather

Snow, ice, and cold can wreak havoc on a vehicle that is unprepared for it. Your vehicle should have snow tires put on before the cold and snow hit. If you don’t have snow tires, make sure your tires are properly inflated. Tires with low pressure are more apt to slide around on snow and ice. You’ll also want to make sure you have decent tread depth on the tires.

Before the winter or colder season hits, you’ll want to get some seasonal maintenance done. Whether you do it yourself or have a mechanic do it, changing your windshield wipers, checking antifreeze levels, testing your battery, and filling your wiper fluid can save you some winter related vehicle headaches. It never hurts to also keep an emergency kit with food, water, a battery charger, and a blanket in the vehicle with you.

A lot of people also install who drive in deep snow also install a lower lift kit on their trucks and Jeeps. This can be useful for those who do business in winter weather such as snow and ice contractors. It also helps to install a winch on these vehicles in case the operator get stuck in snow or lands in a ditch. The winch can also help pull a stranded traveler out of a snowy ditch.

Custom lights can help with winter driving too. With brighter lights, you’ll be able to see better in heavy snow and notice other dangers such as black ice and other drivers. Auxiliary driving lights are usually the best choice. They reach much farther and have better brightness. This can make activities like plowing and sanding easier and safer.

Hot Weather

Driving in hot weather can be just as troublesome as driving on cold weather. Just like cold weather, hot temperatures can damage tires and deflate them. Tires that are improperly inflated can burst and cause an accident. This can be deadly while traveling at higher speeds. Make sure you have your coolant filled as overheating is common occurrence in hot weather. It doesn’t hurt to take advantage of seasonal specials and get your air conditioning recharged in spring.

To keep the outside of your vehicle looking good, you’ll want to apply a coat of wax after washing it to protect it from the hot weather and sun. When it rains, you’ll want to do a wash and wax retouch for continued protection. To make yourself more comfortable while driving the heat, there are several items you can purchase to make your drive a little cooler. Cooling Car Seat Cushions, Sun Shades, Car Fans, and Portable Fridges can all help make driving in hot weather a little less miserable. If you spend an excessive time driving in hot weather, a performance radiator or an electric fan which is better suited to cool engines for vehicles that are driven more often.