Good Ideas for Bad-Weather Car Prep

With major storms on the rise and so many people moving to new areas, the need to prep your car for the elements may be new to you. 

Even if you've weathered storms your whole life, a refresher couldn't hurt. Perhaps you've heard these tips before. But the more often it's ingrained in your mind how to handle the hazards of the road, from what to do if you hydroplane to how to regain control in a skid, the more likely you'll remember to act on that knowledge in the stress of the moment it's needed.

We'll share the steps you can take to get your vehicle ready for rain, sleet, snow, and ice. And since Mother Nature can still throw you a curve even if your car is winter-ready, we'll also provide the best inclement-weather driving tips.

Preparing Your Car for Bad Weather

There are several ways to get your car ready for storms, and we'll recommend a few of the best. 

Use the Right Tires for Snow and Rain

Many people in cold climates opt for snow tires during the winter. Unfortunately, that involves a trip to a busy tire shop in October or November to switch out your summer tires for winter tires and then another visit in March or April to get them changed back out. 

Snow tires are made of softer rubber that can grip ice and snow in cold temperatures when standard tires' rubber becomes more rigid and slippery.

Four-season tires are a good option if you don't want to switch out tires. The rubber is softer than all-season tires, so they tend not to last as long, but that negative is offset by the fact that they perform better in the winter.

Keep in mind that studded tires help you with traction on snow and slush, but when you're trying to stop on ice or packed snow, those studs will act like miniature ice skates, and your stopping distance will be even longer than that with standard tires. 

If you're looking for tires that will help you avoid hydroplaning, you'll need to pay close attention to the treads and how much water they can move so you have a higher chance of keeping your tires in contact with the road's surface. 

Park in a Safe Location During a Storm

If you're anticipating a hurricane or strong winds, where you park your car could make the difference between filing an insurance claim and taking a post-storm trip around town to check out the damages.

If you have a garage, park in there. If you only have a portable garage, you should probably avoid parking there because it could blow away or cause damage in a severe storm. If you don't have a garage, or you do but it's so filled with stuff that there's no hope of ever fitting your car in there, you can still take steps to protect your vehicle.

First, look for trees. If you can avoid parking under a tree, do so. Limbs could fall, and an entire tree could flatten your car. Next, try to park opposite the windward side of your house. Let your house protect your vehicle from the wind and flying objects.

Third, look for high ground. Flooding often accompanies a significant storm, and parking your car on a high point can help you avoid water damage that is often irreversible. 

Get New Windshield Wipers

Your windshield wipers are one of your most important driving tools in inclement weather. You can't risk driving in poor conditions if you can't see, so if your wipers leave water behind in streaks, you shouldn't go.

Prepare for the storm by checking your wipers and replacing them with high-quality wipers if necessary. 

Winter Driving Tips

Winter driving gets its own section because it's the worst. If you meet someone who tells you they love driving on slippery, snow-packed roads, you might want to reconsider becoming friends. Most people hate winter driving and avoid it if possible.

Sometimes, however, it's not possible to stay inside, especially if you live where it snows every week. Since you likely can't avoid driving all winter, pay attention to these tips to keep yourself in control when you're on the road. 

Look Where You Want to Go

One scenario that happens on slippery roads is when you start sliding, catch some traction, overcorrect, and fishtail until you drive off the road. When that happens, your best bet is to look where you want to go. 

Your natural tendency will be to look at the oncoming car you might hit or the ditch you want to avoid. But if you can force yourself to look ahead in your lane, your chances of regaining control increase because of how your body will naturally drive the car where you're looking.

If you've ever looked out the side window and found yourself veering off in that direction, you can better understand how you tend to drive where you look when you're trying to stay in your lane.

Leave Plenty of Stopping Distance

Stopping on icy roads isn't impossible, but it's certainly challenging and might feel impossible. To make matters worse, intersections tend to be the iciest part of the whole road because cars stop there and melt the snow, which then freezes even slicker. 

So, drive slowly and start braking early. You can't drive in the snow the same way you drive on good roads and expect good results. You must exercise caution and restraint.

Tips for Driving in Inclement Weather

Ice and snow aren't the only things that cause dangerous roads. You can stop feeling smug if you live in a temperate climate. You have your own set of bad weather conditions. 

How to Drive in Fog

The best tip for driving in fog is not to drive. If you can be late for work, it might be worth it. Fog usually comes in the morning or evening, so it should dissipate if you wait a couple of hours. If you have no choice but to drive, use your fog lights if you have them. They're lower than your headlights, so they won't produce the light glare that headlights do in the fog.

Drive slower so you don't overdrive what you can see. If you drive too fast, traffic could be at a standstill up ahead, and you'll plow right through the stopped cars because you didn't see them coming.

Driving in Rain

Wet roads increase your stopping distance. They don't have the same impact on stopping distance that ice does, but it could take 10 times longer to stop on wet roads than on dry roads.

In addition to an increased stopping distance, you'll also have to consider hydroplaning. If you see a puddle ahead of you on the road, slow down. Your goal should be to keep your tires in contact with the road. Tire treads move water, but they have a limit. When you drive faster, they may not be able to move the increased volume of water. 

If you start to hydroplane and have stability and traction control, that will kick in and help you maintain control. But whether or not your vehicle is equipped with the safety features, you should take your foot off the gas, avoid slamming on the brakes, and keep your hands on the steering wheel while looking where you want to go. 

Driving in a Flood

Don't drive on flooded roads. Flood damage can cause your car to be a total loss. And even worse, you could get stranded in an unsafe position, requiring others to risk their lives to save you. 

Try to avoid driving when you're uncomfortable with the weather conditions. But if you must drive, follow these tips to prep your car and drive as safely as possible. 

(Photo : Melanie Musson)

Melanie Musson writes and researches for the car insurance comparison site, CarInsurance.org. She's passionate about educating others about vehicle safety so they can avoid injury and the financial loss associated with a crash.