We all know that road conditions change in the Winter, but do you prepare your car for them?

• Tyre pressure and tyre tread
• Windscreen Wipers and wiper fluid
• Heater / Air Con
• ALL lights
• Horn

Look for the small arrow on the side of the tyre wall. The Tread Depth Indicator is the small rubber square directly above it.

Tread depth can greatly affect stopping distance. Our technicians check the tread depth with a Vernier Caliper and look at the wear patterns at every service. We will notify you when you should replace your tyres.

Don't risk an accident or a defect. Check your tyre tread depth and tyre pressure on a regular basis. Ask us for your free Tread Depth Gauge next time your come in.

Check what tyre pressure you need for your tyres on the sidewall of your tyre and generally inflate the tyre when it is cold rather than after a long drive. You can check your tyre pressure at your local service station or with us anytime during business hours.

• when it fishtails or wobbles across the glass
• when it judders due to uneven pressure from a hardened blade
• when it leaves streak marks across the glass after the blade has been cleaned
• when it makes a noise going across the glass
• when it smears greasy water across the glass after washing the blade and glass with detergent
• when there are missed spots on the glass

Sometimes adaptors and arm assemblies also have to be replaced to overcome the above issues.

We make sure you have clear vision by replacing wiper blades and flushing/replacing wiper fluid when necessary, at your car service.

For winter conditions it is imperative that your Heater is in top condition as foggy windows are a driving hazard. Your car heater can demist and defrost your windows when it is cold or raining.

Also, If your car heater doesn't seem to be as warm as it used to be, it could be due to the CABIN FILTER being clogged. As debris builds up in the filter, it restricts the flow of air into the cabin.

As a general guide, the Cabin Filter should be replaced every 30,000kms, more often if driving in dusty or polluted areas.

You headlights are crucial in poor weather conditions when rain, fog and low light come into play. Have them checked before winter either by us or asking a friend to help.

Brake lights and tail lights are also critical as it lets other driver know you are stopping and where you are in relation to them.

And internal car lights are also important when you need good visibility inside your vehicle.

And sometimes faulty lights can be an auto electrical issue not just a blown globe so if ever in doubt contact us straight away.

During winter it is an important way to alert others when visibility is compromised. It is loud and can be used to warn pedestrians that you are reversing out of a driveway or to warn of a hazard or to prevent accidents.

For any concerns or questions about preparing your car for safe winter driving contact the expert team at Dave Hopkins Auto Repairs.