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Belleville winter weather driving tips.
We are writing this in the midst of a major cold weather event that is presently passing through the midwest appropriately called a “Bomb Cyclone.” And understandably, as our phones are lighting up for a sharply increasing number of emergency roadside assistance calls, our thoughts go out to the many motorists out there who will become unwitting highway statistics.
In this article we’ll focus on two important considerations for driving in the ice and snow: type of battery and tires.
Let’s start with the obvious and discuss choosing the right battery as we head into the winter season.
Best Car Battery For Cold Weather
Buying a car battery is usually only something we think about when we’re already having starting issues or when our battery is completely dead or drained. But, even if you find yourself buying a car battery out of necessity, it’s best to spend a little more and get the best one for your car and your driving needs.
There are a lot of terms that you’ll hear when shopping for a battery and it might seem like a lot to absorb. You’ll hear words like “high reserve capacity,” “lead acid batteries” and “deep cycle.” You may even hear discussion of how many lead plates a cell contains and even elusions to the various chemical reactions happening within a battery. But below we’ll discuss the two terms you really need to consider along with battery price and battery warrantee which will hint at the expected battery life.
Wouldn’t it be great if there were some way of telling at a glance which car battery is best? Well, there is. The CCA rating of a car battery (CCA stands for Cold Cranking Amps) tells us the number of amps a battery can supply energy for 30 seconds at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Another number that tells us about battery quality is the Reserve Capacity or RC. In the case of both of these numbers, the higher the rating, the better the battery.
To sum up, when purchasing a regular battery, look for the longest warrantee, and the highest CCA and RC rating you can afford for the most dependable engine start. Simple. Now, on to tires.
Best Tires For Winter Driving
When the temperature drops roads get dangerous. Suddenly getting enough traction to keep you on the road becomes more complicated than ever. Black ice, snow patches or banks, icy conditions and wet roads can cause havoc for driving, acceleration and can make your anti lock braking less reliable.
In the midwest we usually only see snow intermittently and not usually in quantities that necessitate purchasing strictly “winter” tires. A good all-season tire with proper amounts of tread should usually be enough to keep you on the road.
A common way of checking your tire tread is by using a penny. If you insert a penny into your tread with Lincoln’s head upside down you should notice where the tread measures against Lincoln. If you can’t see his head because the tread extends past it, your tread depth is good.
Anything measuring the top of his head or less indicates a tread depth of 2/32 of an inch and tell us that your tires should definitely be replaced. To be on the safe side, we recommend replacing tires for less than 4/32″. This would place the tread at Lincoln’s nose.
Other factors that should be kept in mind regarding tires:
- Ensure that your tires are properly inflated.
- Every 6000 miles, rotate your tires. (Do this every other oil change.)
- While you’re having your mechanic rotate your tires request an alignment check.
CallPaule Towing in Belleville IL
Paule Towing has been a trusted towing service in Belleville, Illinois for over 5 decades. Aquired by new owners in 2011, our focus continues to be on constantly exceeding our customers’ expectations when it comes to customer service. Paule always brings a reliable, friendly and professional approach to all of St Clair County’s towing and roadside assistance service needs.
Even in the coldest weather, we serve the entire Metro East area surrounding Belleville IL, Millstadt, Lebanon, Collinsville, Caseyville, Swansea and other nearby towns.
Our other services include flat tire repair, heavy duty towing, battery service, lock services, dead battery jump start and other roadside assistance.
Paulie’s 24-hour service is unsurpassed. We are available for towing and emergency roadside assistance 24/7. Our office is generally open 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday and 9:00 am to 2:30 pm on Saturdays.
We are Belleville’s Go-To Truck and Car Towing service, Auto Recovery and Roadside Service company. We’re known for our dependability, fairness and are well-known for offering the most affordable rates of any towing company in the Belleville area.
And don’t forget, we can buy and remove your junk car for you and put cash in your pocket for the new year! Simply call us at: (618) 233-7464
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