Winter Car Service: Simplify Your Seasonal Preparations With TIRECRAFT

If you want to stay safe on snowy roads, you need to book a winter car service. But what does this seasonal preparation entail?

Today’s post reviews the Ontario Ministry of Transportation’s top-4 winter car service recommendations. Read on to learn how we simplify seasonal preparations, or contact your local TIRECRAFT to get a free quote on winter car service straight away.

Winter Car Service Checklist: Simplify Seasonal Prep With TIRECRAFT

1.Schedule a check-up/inspection. “Get your vehicle winter-ready with a maintenance check-up,” writes the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO). “Don’t wait for winter to have your tires, battery, belts, hoses, radiator, oil, lights, brakes, exhaust system, heater/defroster, wipes and ignition system checked.”

That might look like a lot, but when you choose TIRECRAFT for your winter car service, you can cross every item off of your check-up checklist with a single visit. What’s more, when you do-it-all under one roof, you get more opportunities to reap the rewards of our customer loyalty program.

2. Top up your fluids. “Always be sure you have sufficient windshield washer fluid in the reservoir,” writes the MTO. That’s great advice—windshield washer fluid is essential for visibility on winter drives—but it’s not the only fluid your vehicle needs topped up to stay safe in the snow.

Make sure your vehicle also has sufficient oil (synthetic is recommended, due to its superior performance in the cold), engine coolant, transmission fluid, and brake fluid. System failures, braking issues, and engine problems are the last thing you want when you’re white-knuckling on icy roads.

3. Check your tires. “Check tire air pressure frequently, as it decreases in cold weather,” writes the MTO. “Also, drivers should check the manufacturer’s wear indicator mark on tires to see if they need replacing.”

Why is this so important? Underinflated tires compromise winter performance and increase wear, and worn tires are a major liability, with MTO studies showing that treads 3mm deep stop 25% sooner on wet pavement than treads 1.5mm deep.

Don’t worry: we include these checks with every winter car service, so you can drive with complete confidence in your tires.

4. Consider winter tires. Tire studies leave little doubt: winter tires work, and they provide far superior grip and braking power to all-seasons. And if you live or drive in the snowbelt regions of southern Ontario, winter tires are essential. That said, they aren’t for everybody, particularly those who live in more temperate areas and want to save money on storage and seasonal changeovers.

Whether you’re committed to a winter tire upgrade, or you just want to explore your options, our tire technicians are standing by to help. We begin every consultation with a needs assessment to help you identify your unique driving needs, then create a shortlist of recommendations and walk you through the pros and cons of each. And if you’ve already banked rewards points from your winter car service, now’s the perfect opportunity to spend them and save on your new set of tires.

Book Your Winter Car Service In Seconds: Contact TIRECRAFT

For the past 30+ years, TIRECRAFT technicians have been helping Canadians prepare their vehicle for winter. Whether you’re looking for a set of snow tires, all-weathers, or winter-worthy all-seasons—or you need to book any of the services recommended by the Ministry of Transportation to get winter-ready—we have everything you need.

To book your winter car service or personalized tire consultation, use the Find a TIRECRAFT tool on our website.

References

Ontario Ministry of Transportation. (2015). Winter driving: Be prepared, be safe!

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