As the winter chill fades and gives way to the warmer days of spring, it’s the perfect time to prepare your car for the new season’s challenges. Ensuring that your vehicle meets all car safety criteria is important.
Spring in the country’s northern parts (Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and the North West) can bring its fair share of thundershowers. These heavy downpours can impact your vehicle’s performance and car’s safety.
To ensure a smooth and secure ride, it’s essential to pay attention to three key areas: your wipers, tyres, and brakes.
By proactively maintaining these components, you can enjoy a safer and more enjoyable driving experience, even during spring showers. Let’s start with the first step.
1. Check Your Wipers
Spring thunderstorms can create situations where visibility is extremely limited on the road. It’s a simple fact that reliable windshield wipers are a necessity.
Before heading out on a lengthy journey, inspect your wiper blades. Make sure to carefully examine the blades for signs of wear, such as cracks, tears, or uneven edges.
When wiper blades are showing signs of damage or age, they won’t effectively clear your windshield and, in turn, compromise visibility.
If you’re ever in doubt, replace your wiper blades. Manufacturers will recommend replacing wiper blades every six months or as soon as you notice a decline in performance.
And if your wipers are in good condition, make sure to clean your windshield. A dirty windshield will cause smear marks that can be an issue even after installing new blades.
What other jobs can you perform to ensure your car’s safety?
2. Check Your tires
Proper tyre maintenance is crucial for road grip, handling, and overall safety. And with possible massive spring downpours, you will want to be sure your tyres can grip the road’s surface.
You should regularly check your tyre pressure because many environmental factors can cause it to change, such as significant swings in temperature. Even regular damage from hitting potholes can cause your tyres to lose pressure.
Make sure to refer to your vehicle’s manual to find the recommended tyre pressure, and use a reliable gauge to check and adjust it accordingly.
The next element of your tyres to inspect is the tread depth. Adequate tyre tread is essential for optimal traction on wet roads. Locally, your tyres must have at least 1mm. Some newer tyres will have an indicator to inform the driver when they need a new set.
But for those not fortunate enough to have these tyres fitted, a matchstick is 1mm wide. By inserting a matchstick horizontally into the tread, you can determine if the tread has worn down below this required level. If the matchstick protrudes above the tread, you must replace the tyre. If not, your tread is good.
We’d recommend getting an expert to investigate your tyres for you, and if the tyres are in a good enough state, they can help rotate and realign your tyres, extending their lifespan.
But it’s always in your best interest for your vehicle’s safety if you can afford to replace all your worn tyres.
3. Get Your Brakes Checked
Ensuring your braking systems work is vital for your safety, especially during the rainy spring shower season when road surfaces can be slippery.
Before heading out anywhere, inspect your brake pads and rotors visually. Make sure there are no obvious signs of excessive wear and tear on the pads or rotors. If the pads’ appearance worries you and seems too thin, or if the rotors are worn unevenly or have deep grooves, it’s time for a replacement. However, inspecting your brakes is better left to the experts.
The next check to be performed is on brake fluid levels. This level is marked clearly on your brake fluid reservoir. Also, ensure the brake fluid doesn’t appear dark or discoloured (it should be gold in colour), as it might be time to flush and replace it. Consult your vehicle’s manual or a professional mechanic for guidance.
Finally, the last brake check is to listen for warning signs. If you suspect there are unusual noises like grinding or squeaking when applying the brakes, it could indicate a problem; don’t ignore it. If you notice any sounds, have your brakes inspected by a qualified technician.
In Conclusion
Ensuring your car’s safety is the best method of keeping you safe on the roads.
Preparing your car for South Africa’s spring thunderstorm season is crucial for your safety and the longevity of your vehicle. By focusing on wipers, tyres, and brakes, you can confidently navigate through rainy conditions.
For those wanting to get their vehicle’s battery inspected, you can visit a local Willard Battery Xpress store or Willard battery stockist.
