We’ve made it through another winter. Hooray! However, now that we’re transitioning into the warm weather it’s time that you take a look at your vehicle for some post-winter car maintenance. Many people put this off as they just want to get on the road for a road trip. But this can be extremely detrimental and costly. That’s why we here at Grosse Pointe Auto are here to give you some post-winter car maintenance tips!

 Switch Your Snow Tires

If you have snow tires – switch them out. Many people will forget that they even put them on and can cause problems on your vehicle. On top of that, switching them out right away can save you money. By switching them out before wearing them too much, you can store them away and reuse them next winter. Not switching out snow tires can also cause damage to the roads due to the small protruding spikes on the tires, so be considerate and switch them out!

Check Your Tires

If you used your normal tires this winter, the first thing to do as the weather transitions is check out your tires. The winter roads can really cause some wear and tear to tires – both to treading and pressure. Don’t wait until a tire bursts on the freeway to find out you need to change them!

Winter roads can wear down your tires due to the salt and road conditions. Check your treading to make sure that your tires will still give you grip on the road. Otherwise, you may find yourself spinning out during the spring rain.

You should also be checking your tire pressure. The cold winter air effects your tire pressure as it causes the air in the tire to condense and in turn lower the pressure. While many vehicles have gauges that will notify you if your tire pressure is low, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Check your pressure regularly.

Wiper Blades

Have you ever noticed that your wipers are smudging the rain, affecting your visibility? This can very well be due to taking a beating during the winter season. During the winter months, windshield wipers are working a lot harder than people give them credit for. They are constantly getting rid of heavy loads of snow and ice, and have to deal with corrosive material such as salt on top of it.

You don’t have to wait for a rainy day to see how well your wipers are working. Give your windshield a spray of windshield washing fluid and see how well it wipes away. If they need to be replaced, do it before you need that maximum visibility on a rainy day!

Check Your Battery 

Much like your windshield wipers, your battery gets worked during the winter. The cold and moisture in the air can cause it to corrode, deteriorating it and its power. On top of that, many people will use the battery to sit in the car and enjoy its heat for a few moments which can really drain its power in the long run.

If you don’t have the proper tools or don’t know how to do it, take it into a shop. There you can get your charge level checked and replace it if needed. Just make sure that your not caught in the middle of nowhere with a dead battery!

Brakes

Lastly, and arguably the most important part of post-winter car maintenance, check your brakes! If you live in a snowy area, you’ve probably slammed on your brakes once or twice in the slippery snow. This hard braking can really cause wear to the brakes and in turn may not work as effectively in the spring and summertime.

If you know what you’re doing – give your brakes a check. If you need to change them, make sure you do it ASAP. You don’t want to be the cause of injury in an accident.

Winter can do a lot of damage to a vehicle. That’s why it’s so important that you perform post-winter maintenance as soon as the weather becomes nice! Remember, if you need help with maintenance - bring your vehicle to Grosse Pointe Auto!