Regardless of the type of vehicle you drive, late fall is the perfect time to get your car tuned up for the winter months. Ambitious Drivers recommends that motorists – or their mechanics – thoroughly inspect and update the following vehicle components in preparation for winter.
Following these tips will help prepare you and your vehicle to deal with the most frightful of weather:

– A functional and well-maintained battery is vital in very cold weather. Make sure your battery’s terminals and cables are securely attached and free from corrosion. Replace the battery at the end of the manufacturer’s warranty (usually about 5 years).
– Make sure your tires are properly inflated and have proper air pressure. Tires that aren’t completely and properly inflated have less traction on slippery roads.
– Make sure your tires are in good shape. Look for tire damage and excessive or uneven tread wear. Tires should have at least 1/8 inch of tread depth for best traction.
– Rotate tires every 5,500 to 7,500 miles, and replace damaged or worn tires.
– Make sure that the cooling system has enough antifreeze.
– Make sure that the windshield wipers are in good shape, and that the windshield wiper fluid reserve is filled.
– Check the status of ignition system, thermostat, headlights, hazard lights, exhaust system, heater, brakes, defroster, and engine oil level. If you see anything out of the ordinary, take your car to a trustworthy mechanic.
– Make sure that your ice/snow scrapers and brushes are in good condition. Replace them if they are worn out.

Ambitious Drivers driving courses give equal importance to theoretical and practical training. Contact Ambitious Drivers today to schedule your driving classes. (416) 293-6500

Winter driving can offer virtually all the unpleasantness that a novice driver can imagine. Although you may think that brushing snow off a car parked outside in freezing weather may be the worst thing that could happen to you, it is actually the least of your troubles. The way our Canadian climate works, you will have to worry about navigating deep snow, black ice, slippery bridge decks and icy intersections among many other hazards.

In regions with heavy snowfall and prolonged low temperatures, having a set of winter tires installed may be the difference between driving around safely or spinning off a slick road. Winter tires are specifically designed to provide improved traction, control and safety. They are made of softer rubber compound and silica that sticks to the road much better than all-season tires.

If you haven’t put your winter tires on already, hurry up and do so. It is recommended that you install winter tires mid-October and remove them in late March. This is of course subject to change according to weather conditions. Another incentive to get them installed is that if the police catch you driving around with regular tires on snow covered roads, they will give you an expensive ticket, a fair punishment for jeopardizing your safety and that of fellow motorists who share the roads with you.

Just because it is winter season, that does not mean you need to shy away from learning how to drive. Contact Ambitious Drivers today to schedule your driving classes. (416) 293-6500.