Winter maintenance for your vehicle

Winter is the time of year where so many parts of your vehicle need regular maintenance to keep it performing at its best while guarding against potential breakdowns. Remember the instructions given to you in your motorcycle training but with motorcycles or cars, there are several identical maintenance procedures that are very basic and can be carried out by anyone.

Tyres are particularly vulnerable during the cold weather and while you should always check your pressure at regular intervals, in winter this process should be carried out at least once a week. You could also consider switching to winter tyres for the coldest months of the year: This style of tyre isn’t just for extreme snow and it can help your vehicle through wet, ice and slush which can quickly damage standard issue makes.

Batteries can also quickly run down at this time of year and when you consider the extra work that they are carrying out for your cars and motorcycles, it’s probably not surprising. You can help to address the issue by cleaning the cables and keeping them clear of debris and by remembering to switch off lights and other electrical equipment before turning off the ignition.

Anti freeze levels should also be checked regularly along with oil fill and windscreen washer fluid for your car. Be sure to monitor everything on a weekly basis at least.

Your motorcycle training would have instructed you on basic levels of maintenance and much of that training applies to cars as well as motorcycles. Carry out some basic checks and procedures and your vehicle should carry you through the winter.