How to Approach Winter Driving.

Plan ahead for winter.

It may seem a bit early to be thinking about winter, until you remember how the cold snap took everyone by surprise last year.

Remember those pictures of stranded motorists stuck in the snow as early as November - even in the South of England? So we thought we'd gently remind you it's worth thinking ahead to avoid more of the same.

The biggest safety precaution is to make sure your Volkswagen has good grip in winter conditions.

Get a grip on winter driving.

Your regular tyres are fine most of the year, but once the temperature drops below 7°C, so does the performance of your tyres. And last year there were 5 months typically when that happened.  So it's a real possibility that your tyres might not be best suited to the conditions.

You've got a few choices when it comes to improving grip from fitting tyres to adding chains or snow socks.

At Specialist Cars our Service Advisors, Angie, Christine, Craig, Robert and new recruit Paul are ready to help you with advice, checks, tyres and more to help you prepare for winter.

Watch this useful video by TyreSafe on Winter Driving.

Useful to know if you're driving abroad this winter.

In many European countries more used to colder temperatures, it's compulsory to fit winter tyres. In some countries people face fines if they don't fit them. 

What should you check before winter starts?

Planning ahead can save you a lot of hassle later. At Volkswagen we'll check your car is in tip-top shape for the winter season.

The things we look at include:

• Lights. Making sure they're working as they should.  Remember, when bought from us we fit exterior bulbs free of charge as part of our Volkswagen Service Promise.
• Wiper blades.  Severe weather puts more demands on your blades so make sure they're in good condition before it begins.  Remeber, with our Volkswagen Service Promise all wiper blades will be fitted free of charge when bought from us.
• Windscreen washer. We'll make sure it's working propersly and there's plenty of fluid.  Make sure you buy genuine Volkswagen screenwash. With a freezing point of -35°C, you'll be sure to keep a salt-free screen.
• Tyres. We'll check your regular tyres and give you any advice you might need about choosing winter tyre sets.
• Brakes. We'll check your pads, discs and brake fluid so you can brake more effectively.
• Battery. Winter starting puts more strain on your battery so we'll check yours is up to scratch for the season. What's more we now offer battery testing.

Speak to one of our Service Advisors for more information.

Stop and think.

As well as having appropriate tyres for the waether, everyone should also be aware of the depth of tread on their car tyres. Driving a car with tyres that are below the legal limit is both illegal and dangerous.

Are you out of your depth?

When slowing down from 70mph, the stopping distance difference between a 3mm depth and the legal limit of 1.6mm depth is 44m. That's the length of four double decker buses! It's important to remeber that your tyres are the only thing connecting you to the road and at any one time you only have four hand-sized pieces of tread contact.

Braking distances.

Top tread tips.

Make sure you check your tread in three places on each tyre, as they may wear differently.

If you don't have a trad depth gauge, use a 20p instead. Simply place the coin in the groove of the tyre and if you can see the outer edge of the coin, it means your tread depth is less than the 3mm and you should consider replacing that tyre. If you're still unsure, come and visit your local Specialist Cars and we'll check them for you.

Make sure you have the right tyre on for the road conditions. Swap winter tyres from October to March each year for safety.

Winter tyres also wear up to 20% less than their Summer equivalents.

Winter driving tips to keep you and your Volkswagen safe this winter.

Check out our Winter Aftersales Offers.

Watch this video from Volkswagen, a guide to winter driving.