Winter in Upstate New York can be bitterly cold and laden with snow. This makes driving hazardous, unless you take time to winterize your car. Panorama Collision, an experienced collision repair shop in East Rochester, NY, offers some valuable advice to keep your car running smoothly this winter. By following these suggestions, you'll be safer and less likely to suffer a vehicle breakdown or any other mishap.

5 Ways to Prepare Your Car for Winter

1. Install Winter Tires

Snow tires have a deep, complex tread that's ideal for maintaining road traction even in wet, slushy, or snowy conditions. Moreover, they utilize softer rubber, so they maintain better flexibility and conform to road surfaces in cold weather. This keeps you safer and makes collisions and other accidents less likely.

2. Inspect Battery

Before the cold weather sets in, get your battery inspected to see how it is holding a charge. Freezing temps can cause weak batteries to discharge, and you don't want to be stuck with a car that won't start on the coldest day of the year.

3. Check Antifreeze

Check your antifreeze mixture to make sure it won't ice over. For the best results, it should contain a 50-50 mix of water and antifreeze. If you don't know how to test the mixture, a reputable collision repair shop can do it for you, as well as any necessary antifreeze.

4. Check Belts & Hoses

Belts and hoses stiffen and become more brittle in cold weather, so any existing wear and tear will make them vulnerable to breakage. Inspect them all before winter and replace any that show signs of fraying or damage. A broken hose or belt while driving can leave you stranded.

5. Install Winter Wiper Blades

Replace your existing blades with winter blades. Winter wiper blades are larger and sturdier than traditional blades and are designed to deal with ice and snow. This improves your view of the road and keeps you safer during inclement weather.

By following these steps, your vehicle will be ready to roll this winter. Panorama Collision, the most trusted collision shop in East Rochester, NY, will perform all of the maintenance tasks listed above to prepare your vehicle for winter. Visit the website to view business hours and directions, or to request an auto repair estimate, call (585) 381-8667. You can also like the Facebook page for updates.