News Center

It’s no secret that winter driving can be risky. Star City Tire & Battery in Roanoke, VA knows the truth is that winter driving conditions can become hazardous quickly, and sudden winter storms can hit well into March in most areas. Adding slick roads, snow, ice, and poor visibility into the mix, driving becomes a recipe for extreme ca

ution. There is no trick and no simple solution, unless you can afford to drive a tank. However, we can help you understand safety precautions and know the best steps to prepare your vehicle will help keep you and your loved ones safer in all that winter can throw at you.

• Buckle Up for Safety! Use your seatbelt EVERY time you are in your vehicle.
• If you’re warming up your vehicle, do not do it in an enclosed area, like your garage.
• Check your tire inflation. Properly inflated tires perform the best.
• Invest in snow or winter tires in Roanoke, WA. Keep in mind you’ll need a full set of four; you shouldn’t mix two different types of tires.
• To help avoid your gas lines freezing and as a precaution in being stranded on the road, try to keep your gas tank half-full.
• Never use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface.
• Always look and steer where you want to go. Know how to control a skid or slip.
• Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and avoiding skids.
• Keep in mind that everything takes longer on slick roads. Drive slowly. Do not slam on your brakes. Give yourself time to stop.
• Allow plenty of room between you and other vehicles.
• Don’t stop if you can avoid it. There’s a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.
• Be extra careful on hills and slopes. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed down hill as slowly as possible.
• Try not to stop going up a hill. Increase your momentum by driving on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.
• If need be- stay home. In the event of a winter storm or if you don’t have to go out, don’t risk it. Fewer cars on the road can help in bad driving conditions. Remember that even if you can drive pretty well in the snow, not everyone else can.
• Check the weather BEFORE you leave. Make proper arrangements in cases of bad road conditions.
• Have an emergency kit in your vehicle, just in case. Water, flashlight, road flares, batteries, and blankets are essential.
• A bag of cat litter can help add weight to your vehicle, as well as come in handy if you become stuck.
• If you become snow-bound, stay with your vehicle. It provides temporary shelter and makes it easier for rescuers to locate you.  Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna or place a cloth at the top of a rolled up window to signal distress
• Make sure the exhaust pipe isn’t clogged with snow, ice, or mud. A blocked exhaust could cause deadly carbon monoxide gas to leak into the passenger compartment with the engine running.

 

Knowing the weather conditions, your vehicle, and your route as well as possible will help if you get caught up in a winter snow. Star City Tire & Battery is here to help with the rest. Keep your engine in maintained, well running order, your tires inflated and free from obstructions, and your battery checked and ready to go. From snowstorms to polar vortexes, you never quite know what winter will bring. Call Star City Tire & Battery at (540) 278-1200 for all your auto repair and tire needs in Roanoke, WA! Be prepared, stay safe, and from our family to yours, have a happy and safe winter.