How To Drive In Winter Weather, Straight From The People Building The Cars

“While cold weather can put extra stress on a vehicle, a few simple checks ahead of peak winter are essential for your Infiniti to perform at the confidence-inspiring level it was engineered,” said James Mastronardi, senior manager, Vehicle Performance Development. “Whether drivers are navigating morning frost, icy highways, or prepping for long-distance holiday trips, our engineering teams have designed features that support easier, safer and more confident and comfortable winter driving.”

Winter Driving Doesn't Need To Be Dangerous: Check Your Tires

Infiniti's engineers have a few recommendations for ensuring your tires are up to snuff ahead of winter conditions:

• For one, check your tire pressure. Cold weather causes tires to lose pressure – around one PSI for every 10-degree temperature drop – which can reduce traction, handling, and stopping power.
• Of course, tread depth is also a factor. We all know the penny trick, so make sure your tires have plenty of life in them.
• Snow tires are the biggest difference-maker in winter driving. If you can afford a dedicated set of winter wheels and tires, do so.

Visibility is also important, say Infiniti's engineers. Make sure your wiper blades are up to date, and replace any wiper blades that streak or show cracking. Consider winter wiper blades, which are built to push through ice and heavy snow more effectively. You can also buy winter-grade washer fluid that won’t freeze and helps melt light ice on the windshield. It may be a good idea to keep an extra bottle in your car if you often drive in snowy or slushy conditions.

Keeping A Winter Emergency Kit Can Help During A Breakdown

Keeping a winter emergency kit in your vehicle can help keep you safe if you become stranded in cold weather. You may want to have items like these in your car:

• Jumper cables
• Ice scraper
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Road flares
• Blanket
• Warm clothing
• Phone charger
• Bottled water and non-perishable snacks

You can, of course, avoid getting stranded and needing any of these supplies by making sure your car is mechanically healthy, including keeping your car's battery in good shape. Make sure to check for corrosion and, if needed, clean terminals using a baking soda and water mixture to maintain a strong electrical connection.

Keeping these items in mind will help ensure your car is ready for winter driving, and above all else, has the traction and visibility to keep you on the road if you're caught out in nasty conditions. The best cure is prevention, however, so always keep an eye on the weather report and don't just rely on your phone's weather app. The meteorologist will always have more accurate, up-to-date information.