Winter has already begun, and it’s very cold. Many people like to stay at home and don’t want to go out. But some travelers enjoy the beauty of winter. Self-driving tours are the most popular way for people to travel in winter because there is less congestion on the road. However, you must also pay attention to safety. So what should you pay attention to when driving in winter?
1. Vehicle Selection
If you want to travel smoothly in the snow and ice, an off-road vehicle with excellent performance is essential. Only a real off-road vehicle can travel in snow that’s dozens of centimeters deep. However, off-road vehicles are out of reach for most people.
If you just want to go off-road a little, especially in snow that is less than 20 cm deep, most city SUVs on the market can handle it. But don’t get carried away. City SUVs have a fundamentally different ability to get through difficult terrain compared to off-road vehicles. Don’t go deep into the snow to avoid getting stuck.
In addition, unless your planned route is entirely paved, it is not recommended that you drive a sedan on a self-driving tour. It is more reliable to choose an SUV or off-road vehicle.
2. Checking the Vehicle’s Condition
Remember to check the vehicle’s condition when driving long distances. Check the vehicle’s condition before driving every day. Check the tires, water tank, oil, battery, and brake fluid. If they are low, fill them up. If there is a leak, fix it immediately, to avoid encountering problems on the road when you are far from a town or city. It’s a disaster to be caught off guard.
Extreme cold weather is not only a huge test for people, but also a great test for vehicles. However, vehicle technology has made great progress. The initial design took into account various temperature conditions. Unless it is an extreme environment like Siberia, with temperatures of -50℃, engines can normally start at temperatures of -20℃ to -30℃.
However, vehicle fluid systems generally cannot operate at such low temperatures, especially the engine lubricating oil and antifreeze (even including windshield washer fluid). So it is recommended that you check the weather forecast for the area you will be visiting and then change the appropriate fluids based on the minimum temperature.
3. Tire Selection
You must have experienced slipping on the snow and ice. This is because the ground is slippery, and the shoes we wear don’t provide enough friction. When vehicles travel on snow and ice, they also need enough grip. Your car’s normal all-season or highway tires are not suitable. It is easy to cause danger when driving on snow and ice. Changing your car’s tires to snow tires is the best option.
The special pattern and unique formula of snow tires allow the tires to maintain elasticity and grip even at extremely low temperatures. In addition, when traveling through snow, slightly deflating the tires to increase the contact area is a good way to prevent getting stuck.
4. Anti-Skid Chains
If you find the price of snow tires is too high, then anti-skid chains are also an option. Anti-skid chains on regular tires can also provide enough grip on snow and ice to ensure the safety of the vehicle.
Anti-skid chains generally come in two types. One is made of plastic, which is suitable for use on paved roads covered with snow. It does not damage the tires much if you drive for a short distance on roads without snow, but it cannot withstand thick snow.
The other type is made of metal chain. This type of anti-skid chain can still provide good grip in thick snow, but it is very damaging to the tires when driving on paved roads without snow. You need to remove it after use.
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