Snow Essentials Buyer’s Guide

From keeping yourself warm to getting your car on the move again, there are a few basic things that can come in handy if you find yourself in a sticky (or snowy) situation.

The best way to drive safely during the winter months is to be well prepared. With increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, it’s sensible to be ready for the worst.

Winter in-car essentials

Let’s start with everything you should have in your car over winter. As well as warm clothes, blankets and sturdy boots, you’ll want a first aid kit, jump leads, a shovel and the all-important ice scraper.

It’s also worth making sure that you use screenwash with an anti-freezing agent in it. We offer screenwash that protects against temperatures from -1 to -30 degrees. The stronger the concentration, the less chance of it freezing. Also keeping some de-icer handy makes clearing your frozen windscreens and windows so much easier.

We also recommend investing in a pair of snow socks for your tyres. Our snow socks let you drive and brake with precision and stability on snow or ice even over relatively long distances on roads where there are patches of clear tarmac. These socks come in a range of sizes and they’re the perfect alternative for cars where snow chains aren’t feasible because there’s not enough room between the wheel and the car body.

Safety checklist

Before each journey, it’s a good idea to go through the ‘POWDERY’ checklist. The things to check are as follows:

• P = Petrol or diesel. Have you got enough? Do you know where to fill up?
• O = Oil. Check your levels once a month.
• W = Water. Check the radiator and screenwash regularly.
• D = Damage. Check your wipers and lights for signs of wear and tear or damage, and make sure your windscreen, windows and lights are clear of ice and snow.
• E = Electrics. Check lights and indicators and controls are all working properly.
• R = Rubber tyres. Are they well-inflated and legal? Do they have a good tread and are they free from damage?
• Y = You. Are you fit to drive? Have you slept well? Are you taking any medication that could make it unsafe for you to drive?

You’ve now got a better sense of some of the things that you need for safer winter driving. If you have any questions or queries, pop into your nearest Halfords store and one of our colleagues will be happy to help.

Shop all winter motoring essentials
Back to Buyer's Guides