From icy and slippery roads to limited visibility, driving in the winter on snow and ice presents so many challenges. It drastically increases the risk of being involved in a weather-related crash. Forty-one percent of all weather-related car crashes on U.S. roads are due to conditions involving snow, sleet, ice, and slush. That’s pretty sobering when you consider that those conditions usually exist during just a few months of the year. Accidents caused by winter weather result in 150,000 injuries and 2,000 deaths each year, on average, according to a study by the Federal Highway Administration. Keep you and your family safe. Safe driving should be your primary concern in winter driving conditions.
Let’s examine some of the things that can make this winter a safer and more enjoyable driving season for you and your family.
As much as winter weather impacts accidents, poorly maintained cars cause even more accidents. Driving a vehicle on snowy, icy roads is a recipe for disaster if it’s not running right. Some of the most critical maintenance items to check on your car are your tires, brakes, wiper blades, and batteries. When it comes to tires, it’s essential to make sure that your tires have adequate tread on them for winter driving. Consumer Reports tests show that when roads get nasty, snow tires easily outperform most all-season tires. Engineered specifically for winter driving, snow tires tend to have a deeper tread to grip snow, plus rubber compounds designed to remain pliable in the cold. By maintaining your car, you’re taking a proactive step to ensure your safety and the safety of others on the road.
You never plan on getting in an accident, but a winter car safety kit will cover you in an emergency. At the bare minimum, stock yours with non-perishable food, water, blankets, a first aid kit, and a flashlight.
In most states, it’s the law to clean your car entirely of snow, and for good reason. It’s dangerous to drive a vehicle that hasn’t been cleaned. In addition to sweeping and scraping your windows, it’s essential to clear snow and ice off your headlights and taillights so that you can let other drivers know if you are turning or braking.
Traction is the name of the game when you hit the roads this winter, and your tires are a key factor. When the snow starts to fall, and the ice begins to build up, be sure to check your tires. Check tread depth with the penny test and ensure that your tire pressure is at the correct levels. Consider a set of snow tires to improve traction and winter driving if you drive long distances regularly.
Icy, snowy roads are covered with salt and sand to help provide traction to cars, but when that salt, sand, and snow get on your windshield, it becomes tough to see and impossible to get off your windshield. Don’t just add water, make sure to use winter-grade windshield washer fluid that is formulated for coldest and most extreme conditions. While you’re at it, top off your gas tank so you’ll be sure to have enough gas to reach your destination. If you get stuck, a full tank also means you can run your engine and heater longer.
Always check the weather forecast before you head out this winter. When the weather gets extreme, and officials advise you to stay inside, it may be a good time to take a vacation day or work from home. If you have to leave the house, be prepared for winter driving with warm clothes and a winter emergency kit, including water. Also, make sure your car is warmed up and cleared of all snow and ice.
Remember, tire pressure can drop with the air temperature, losing up to one pound per square inch with every ten degrees drop in air temperature. Driving with low tire pressure could mean premature tire wear or potential tread separation, which can lead to an accident. Along with that risk, your car handles less predictably with underinflated tires. When you check your tire pressure and find that one or more of your tires are low on air, fill them at a gas station air pump. This simple act of checking and maintaining your tire pressure can make a significant difference in your safety on the road.
In the winter, the sun sets earlier in the day, which means there’s less daylight, especially on your commute home. Check your vehicle’s lights often to make sure they’re in good working order and as bright as possible. If a bulb is out, replace it as soon as possible. If your headlights are foggy or yellow, consider replacing them for the best visibility.
It’s more difficult for a battery to operate in cold weather than it is for a battery to operate in warm weather. As a result, a battery that’s weak in the summer could turn into a dead battery during the winter. Don’t let this happen to you. Have our Spitzer Ford Hartville Service Department check your vehicle so you’ll never have to worry about being stranded in a cold parking lot with a car that won’t start.
The most important tip for safe winter driving is to slow down! When snow and ice accumulate, the roads can quickly become treacherous. Give yourself more time and distance to accelerate and brake. Make sure you have enough distance between yourself and traffic, and try to avoid quick, sudden movements. By slowing down, you’re not only ensuring your safety but also the safety of others on the road. It’s a small act of patience that can make a big difference in preventing accidents.
Before you head out, make sure your car isn’t low on antifreeze. Check to see if there are any leaks in your vehicle’s engine that could cause the antifreeze to drain out. Many mechanics recommend that drivers use a 50/50 mix of coolant and water in their radiators. This blend usually results in a lower engine freezing point than just coolant, but check with our service department to be on the safe side.
One of the easiest and cheapest precautions you can take when traveling in winter is to let friends and family know when you will be leaving, the route you plan to take, and when they should expect you to arrive. In the event of being stranded with no cell phone reception, people will at least have an idea of where you are and be able to send help.
Spitzer Ford Hartville wants to ensure that you have a safe and uneventful winter driving this year. If you have any questions about your vehicle or would like to schedule a winter maintenance check-up, give us a call!
Ask us about our lifetime brake pads and parts warranty!
Ask us about our lifetime brake pads and parts warranty!
90 Day Same As Cash Financing Available On All Repairs or Maintenance
With approval. 90% approval rate and no hard credit pull. See dealer for details. Expires at month end.
90 Day Same As Cash Financing Available On All Repairs or Maintenance
*Includes up to 6 quarts of Motorcraft® oil and Motorcraft oil filter. Excludes hybrid battery test. Limit 1 offer per vehicle. Not valid on prior purchases. Valid 7/7/26-8/31/26. Submit by 9/30/26 at Ford.com/Service-Rebates or by mail. To earn Points, activate Ford Rewards account within 60 days of purchase. Points have no cash value; see FordRewards.com for terms, including Points expiration. Allow 8 weeks for Points. See U.S. dealer for details. Ford may change or discontinue this program at any time. Motorcraft® is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company.
*Active U.S. Ford Employees and Retirees only. Generate up to 4 PINs at FordServiceDiscount.com from 4/15/26-9/7/26 for personal use or to share. Limit 1 PIN per VIN. Receive a $50 instant discount on eligible maintenance services with a minimum $100 customer-pay repair order. Eligible services include oil changes, The Works®, brakes, batteries, tires, wipers, and filters. Requires purchase and installation of genuine Ford/Motorcraft® Parts or select name-brand tires. Valid only on Ford and Lincoln vehicles at participating U.S. Ford Dealer, Lincoln Dealer, or Quick Lane® Store. Present PIN at write-up; prior authorization required. PINs expire 60 days after generation. See Service Advisor for full details through 9/7/26. Ford may change or discontinue this program at any time. Quick Lane®, Motorcraft®, and The Works® are registered trademarks of Ford Motor Company.
*Dealer-installed retail/fleet purchases only. Must present competitor's current ad for the exact tire within 30 days of purchase. Online quotes must be for new tires from direct retailer sites (excludes marketplaces/third-party resellers). See participating U.S. dealer for details. Ford may change or discontinue this program at any time. **Dealer-installed purchases only. Limit 1 tire rebate per retail vehicle (15 per fleet). $125 rebate or 27,000 Ford Rewards Points on a set of 4 Goodyear® Assurance WeatherReady 2, Wrangler DuraTrac RT, Eagle F1 All-Season, and Wrangler Steadfast HT; Bridgestone Alenza Prestige and Dueler A/T Ascent; and Yokohama® Geolandar X-AT, Geolandar M/T, and Geolandar X-MT. $100 rebate or 22,000 Ford Rewards Points on a set of 4 Hankook, Bridgestone (excludes Alenza Prestige and Dueler A/T Ascent product lines), Firestone Destination A/T2, Destination X/T, and Destination M/T2; Pirelli, Toyo® (excludes medium and commercial/Motorsport), and Yokohama (excludes Geolandar X-AT, Geolandar M/T, and Geolandar X-MT product lines). $80 rebate or 18,000 Ford Rewards Points on a set of 4 Nitto Motivo 365, NT555 G2, Invo, Neo Gen, NT05, NT420V, EXO Grappler AWT, Dura Grappler, Nomad Grappler, Ridge Grappler, Recon Grappler A/T, Trail Grappler M/T, Terra Grappler G3, and Mud Grappler (excludes 37" and larger sizes). $70 rebate or 16,000 Ford Rewards Points on a set of 4 Goodyear (excludes Assurance WeatherReady 2, Wrangler DuraTrac RT, Eagle F1 All-Season, and Wrangler Steadfast HT product lines), Cooper®, and Firestone (excludes Destination A/T2, Destination X/T, and Destination M/T2 product lines). $60 rebate or 14,000 Ford Rewards Points on a set of 4 Falken WILDPEAK A/T4W. $50 rebate or 12,000 Ford Rewards Points on a set of 4 Falken AKLIMATE, WILDPEAK A/T Trail, and ZIEX CT60 A/S. $40 rebate or 10,000 Ford Rewards Points on a set of 4 Kelly. Valid 7/7/26-8/31/26. Submit by 9/30/26 at Ford.com/Service-Rebates or by mail. To earn Points, activate Ford Rewards account within 60 days of purchase. Points have no cash value; see FordRewards.com for terms, including Points expiration. Allow 8 weeks for Points. See U.S. dealer for details.
*Available to active and retired Military and First Responders. Receive an $80 instant discount on a set of four qualifying tires from participating brands (Goodyear®, Michelin, BFGoodrich®, Continental, General, Pirelli, Hankook, Bridgestone, Falken, and Toyo®). Excludes Toyo medium and commercial/Motorsport patterns. Combinable with other eligible offers. Dealer-installed purchases only at participating U.S. Ford Dealer, Lincoln Dealer, or Quick Lane® Store. Present nontransferable Hero Code at purchase (requires ID.me validation). Limit 2 Hero Codes per calendar year per customer. Valid for tires purchased and installed 1/1/26-12/31/26. Unused codes expire 12/31/26. See Military and First Responders Tire Discount for details. Quick Lane® is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company.
*Dealer-installed retail purchases only. Visually inspect and test battery using tester. Excludes hybrid battery test. Limit 1 rebate per vehicle. Not valid on prior purchases. Valid 7/7/26-8/31/26. Submit by 9/30/26 at Ford.com/Service-Rebates or by mail. To earn Points, activate Ford Rewards account within 60 days of purchase. Points have no cash value; see FordRewards.com for terms, including Points expiration. Allow 8 weeks for Points. See Service Advisor for details. Ford may change or discontinue this program at any time. Motorcraft® is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company.
*Dealer-installed retail/fleet purchases only. Must present competitor's current ad for the exact tire within 30 days of purchase. Online quotes must be for new tires from direct retailer sites (excludes marketplaces/third-party resellers). See participating U.S. dealer for details. Ford may change or discontinue this program at any time.
*Includes up to 6 quarts of Motorcraft® oil and Motorcraft oil filter. Excludes hybrid battery test. See participating U.S. dealer for details. Ford may change or discontinue this program at any time. Motorcraft® is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company.
*Available for Motorcraft® brake pads purchased after 7/1/14. Nontransferable. Requires copy of original repair order and completion of any necessary brake service (e.g., rotor service). Pads must be installed by a U.S. Ford Dealer, Lincoln Dealer, or Quick Lane® technician. Covers pads only; labor costs excluded. Excludes commercial delivery, taxi, limousine, postal, police, tow, racing, and emergency vehicles. See Service Advisor for details. Ford may change or discontinue this program at any time. Quick Lane® and Motorcraft® are registered trademarks of Ford Motor Company.
*Inspect brake friction material, caliper operation, rotors, drums, hoses, and connections. Inspect parking brake for damage and proper operation. See Service Advisor for details. Ford reserves the right to change, modify, or discontinue this program at any time.
*With exchange. Taxes and installation extra. Warranty includes complimentary towing on dealer-installed batteries. Points have no cash value; see FordRewards.com for terms, including Points expiration. See Service Advisor for vehicle applications and limited-warranty details. Expires 7/6/26. Ford may change or discontinue this program at any time. Motorcraft® is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company.
*Visually inspect and test battery using tester. Hybrid battery test excluded. See Service Advisor for details. Ford reserves the right to change, modify, or discontinue this program at any time.
*To earn Points, activate Ford Rewards account within 60 days of qualifying activity. Points have no cash value; see FordRewards.com for terms, including Points expiration. Ford may change or discontinue this program at any time. **Limitations apply. Earn Points for the purchase of Ford, Motorcraft®, or Omnicraft™ Parts and associated labor at participating Ford Dealers. See FordRewards.com for terms and FAQ. Motorcraft® and Omnicraft™ are trademarks of Ford Motor Company. †The Ford app is compatible with select smartphone platforms and available via download. Message and data rates may apply. Visit Ford.com for privacy notice.
*Offered by participating dealers. May be limited based on availability, distance, or other dealer criteria. Excludes parts and repair charges. Nonoperational vehicles are not eligible and require Roadside Assistance. See participating U.S. dealer for details. Ford may change or discontinue this program at any time.
*Offered by participating dealers. May be limited based on availability, distance, or other dealer criteria. Excludes parts and repair charges. See participating U.S. dealer for details. Ford may change or discontinue this program at any time.
*See your U.S. dealer for a copy of the limited warranty. Ford reserves the right to change, modify, or discontinue this program at any time. Motorcraft® is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company.
*See your U.S. dealer for a copy of the limited warranty. Ford reserves the right to change, modify, or discontinue this program at any time.
