Prepared for the Winter?

Winter is the season where we all need to be that bit more careful to ensure we stay safe and sound on the road.

Tinymiles.co.uk has scoured the web to bring you the very best advice for safe and trouble-free motoring this winter. Here are our top five tips:

1. Take the strain off your battery – flat batteries are one of the biggest causes of recovery call-outs in winter. Avoid running any electrical systems for longer than necessary and make sure that unnecessary electrics are off when you are starting the car – such as rear screen heater, lights – especially after a weekend of no use.
2. Anti-freeze – a glance at the water reservoir under the bonnet once a week is a few seconds well spent. If the level is below the minimum indicator, refill with a mixture of 50:50 water and antifreeze, essential for the car’s cooling system in winter. Without it, a car’s engine block can freeze and crack.
3. Seeing and being seen – check that all bulbs are working and that lenses are clean; when roads are really mucky you might need to clean the lights after every journey. Keep the number plates clean too, as you can be fined if they are dirty and illegible.
4. Tyres – to winter tyre or not to winter tyre? There is no question that winter tyres do improve grip and traction when temperatures plummet, but if the budget won’t stretch that far make sure that your tyres have at least 3mm of tread, are inflated to the right pressure and are in good overall condition.
5. Driving in snow and ice – click here for a really good, three-minute winter driving lesson by Audi’s experts. Our summary: gentle and smooth manoeuvres are the key to safe winter driving - and remember, stopping distances are 10x further in snow and ice.

Just one more tip – nothing beats a low-mileage 4x4 when the mercury drops. Buying approved-used means you can buy with complete confidence and enjoy many of the benefits of a new car, but without all the depreciation! Click here to find some of the best low mileage 4x4s on the market today!