Winters in the Northeast, where FCP Euro is headquartered, can be harsh at times. While not everyone experiences frigid cold and windy conditions during the winter months, those who are affected have some extra things to worry about. Rubber dries up and hardens, oil becomes less viscous, and your cooling system has to work harder than ever. Add road salt to the mix, and you have the perfect combination to wreak havoc on your car. Rather than drive into the season without a change, the tips below will make your winter commutes easier and safer with minimal investment necessary.
Install Winter Tires
Many people assume all-season tires are good enough for the winter, as the name implies that they should be. This, however, is not the case - especially where deep snow is regular. Some cities, towns, and even entire countries (Canada) require cars to be equipped with snow tires between winter months for a good reason.
Winter tires aren't just more effective because of their tread design; the rubber compound is different than all-season tires. While the tread cuts through and evacuates snow and slush more effectively, the rubber is formulated in such a way as to remain more elastic at cold temperatures. By remaining elastic, they offer more grip in all conditions, including in the dry. In our experience, even an inexpensive set of winter tires performs better than the best all seasons.
If you live further south, where you only get a few days of snow per year, winter tires could be overkill. A good set of all seasons would be more than adequate for the occasional snowfall.
One more thing to note is that the drastic change in temperature affects your tire pressures significantly. As the ambient temperature falls, so will your tire pressure. We recommend checking tire pressures regularly throughout the winter as the temperature fluctuates. To top that off, as the winter goes on, the road surface usually gets worse. It's easy to have a pothole bend a wheel or damage a sidewall, which can create a slow leak. Regular inspection can keep you safe and prevent you from getting stuck on the road in the cold. Check out these affordable tire pressure gauges that we recommend keeping in your car.
Good snow tires can turn any car into a car good for the snow. This article's header image is my 2005 MINI Cooper S. Everything that makes that car a go-kart that rips back roads all summer should make it terrible in the snow. It's lightweight, it has a poor weight distribution, and it's low to the ground. But with the right snow tires installed, it refuses to get stuck.
If you're looking for snow tire recommendations, the reviews on TireRack.com are a great place to start. Personally, I prefer Bridgestone Blizzaks or General Altimax Arctics for something with a bit lower price point.
Install New Windshield Wiper Blades & Coat Your Windshield
How often do you think about your wiper blades? Just like your tires, wiper blades harden in colder temperatures. Your windshield is a complex curve that these blades have to conform to. With old blades, the rubber dries out over time. Couple that with the cold, and this makes them almost completely ineffective. I know I can't stand having streaks across my windshield while driving in the rain and snow. Even on a clear day, the streaks and smears left behind create dangerous glares and obscure your vision.
Another way to protect your vision through the winter months is with a glass coating like GYEON's Q² QuickView. The coating is similar to a ceramic coating for paint protection, giving the glass a hydrophobic coating that provides incredible dirt and water-repelling properties for six months of protection. It'll especially be effective against road salt that tends to stick to glass. Together, a new set of blades and some coated glass make for a much safer drive home.
Perform An Oil Change
Regardless of the time of year, you should be performing regular oil changes. However, leading into winter is one of the most crucial times. Put simply, cold oil flows less easily than warm oil. Some manufacturers—like BMW with the E36 M3—recommend using a thinner-weight oil in cold temperatures. This helps to prevent oil starvation at startup while the oil comes up to temperature. There's lots of oil to choose from, and it can be quite a stressful process to ensure what you're looking at is the right option, but FCP Euro is here to help. Use the vehicle selection tool at the top left of fcpeuro.com to determine the correct kit for your car. If you've never performed an oil change before, don't fret; there's a good chance that we have a DIY guide on our YouTube channel that covers the step-by-step process.
Inspect Your Cooling System
Having a properly functioning cooling system in the winter is extremely important. Not only does it keep your car cool, but it also keeps you warm. First, there's your coolant. In the winter, you want to be running an antifreeze/water mixture. Although it is implied, antifreeze keeps the liquid in your cooling system from freezing solid. In most applications, a 50/50 mixture is adequate. However, if you live in an area that gets extremely cold, a 60/40 or 70/30 mixture of antifreeze and water is recommended. Here is a list of those temperatures:
- 50% Antifreeze- up to -36C (-34F)
- 60% Antifreeze- up to -52C (-62F)
- 70% Antifreeze- Up to -64C (-84F)
Like your wipers, cooling system hoses are made of rubber. When it gets cold, the rubber shrinks and hardens. If you have any leaks when it's warm out, it's almost a guarantee those leaks will become more significant in the cold.
Other important parts worth checking are your heater control valve and your thermostat. If either of these components is stuck in the wrong position, your heater will not function, and the engine will not come up to temperature properly.
Our cooling system kits offer everything you need to completely overhaul your system. This is the ultimate way to guarantee you'll stay warm and your car will stay cool this winter.
How To Pick The Right Coolant For Your Car
Wash & Wax
While this doesn't affect the operation of your vehicle, it can save you a few headaches in the long run. Keeping your car clean throughout the winter keeps your paint from becoming damaged and your car from rusting. A thorough wash and wax of your car before the season will make every subsequent wash that much easier. Dirt and road salt will rinse off your paint with ease. Even clearing the snow off a freshly waxed car is easier - it just slides right off. If you want to take it one step further, replacing wax with ceramic coating increases the level of protection and drastically reduces how much effort it will take to keep your car clean.
We recommend at least an extra coat of wax and a quick wash once a week to keep your car rust-free. That may sound like a lot, but salt is incredibly detrimental to exposed steel and modern wash products can make quick work of the contamination without forcing you to wet your hands for an extended period. GYEON is FCP Euro's main supplier of car care products, and they're a favorite among employees. However, long-time car care staple Griot's Garage is another solid option. Not only are their products ultra-effective and of great value, but together, they provide everything you need to ensure you have every tool and cleaner at your disposal.
You can go in-depth further than this guide, but this is a good baseline to get you through the arduous winters of the Northeast. Pair these tips with FCP Euro's quality service, quick shipping, and unbeatable Lifetime Replacement Guarantee to get your car winterized quickly. Then, keep your eyes on the blog and our two YouTube channels for all the content you need to keep you warm and entertained this cold season.
