It’s getting cold in Germany. The first snow has also fallen. At night, temperatures drop below freezing in many places. If you haven’t already done so, you should urgently think about winterizing your car now. Changing tires every year is a key point. The Automobile Club of Germany (AvD) warns that summer tires will not only be suitable for the inhabitants of the low and high mountain regions in the coming months, even in the lowlands and in urban areas.
Winter tires do not become stiff in cold temperatures and therefore grip noticeably better. They offer a significant gain in safety even on wet leaves or when it is frosty. In regions with little snowfall, all-season tires can be a cost-effective alternative. Their rubber compound and profiling represent a functional compromise between summer and winter tires. In addition, there is no need to change wheels depending on the season and the second set of wheels does not have to be stored.
At the latest, however, when snow is left on the roads, winter tires are superior because their special lamellar profile offers a self-cleaning effect that prevents the tire from becoming clogged with snow. In Germany there is a situational obligation to use winter tires. The police can fine you 60 euros and give you a point in Flensburg’s central traffic register if you drive in wintry road conditions with unsuitable tires. It can be 80 euros if there is a traffic obstruction due to unsuitable tires. There is also a fine of 75 euros and a point for the vehicle owner. And if the driver of a car with summer tires is involved in a traffic accident, not only can he be held jointly liable, there is also a risk of a significant reduction in comprehensive insurance benefits due to gross negligence, emphasizes the AvD.
Winter tires in the sense of the legislature are only winter and all-season tires that bear the “Alpine” symbol on the sidewall if they were produced before January 1, 2018. The M+S marking used until then, however, is not sufficient because it is not legally protected and in some cases even summer tires are marked with it.
The lighting should also be kept in mind. On the one hand, a check in a specialist workshop is recommended because they can also adjust the headlights if necessary, so that they illuminate the road as best as possible without dazzling other road users. You should also check the windscreen wipers, the rubbers of which may have suffered from the summer heat. Is the wiper performance still satisfactory or are there streaks on the wet windshield? Putting glass cleaner on a rag and wiping off the wiper rubbers with it can already help. If that doesn’t improve the situation, new wiper blades are definitely needed. This is especially true when the rubber is torn. The level of the windscreen washer fluid should also be checked on this occasion. If it has to be topped up, an antifreeze additive should definitely be used. A tip from the automobile club: Anyone who has already opened the bonnet can free the gaps and air inlets from accumulated leaves.
It is also advisable to thoroughly clean the car windows from the inside again, because the air conditioning and ventilation have left a fine film during the summer months. A glass cleaner from the supermarket or denatured alcohol diluted with water is suitable for cleaning the windows. However, its smell is not for everyone. In both cases, the cleaning agent should not dry on, but rubbed in immediately after application and then wiped dry with a clean, absorbent cloth or newspaper, advises the AvD. Clean windows not only improve your own vision, they also prevent you from being dazzled yourself because the light beams from other cars are refracted on the dirty window. In addition, clean windows help to noticeably reduce the fogging of the car from the inside and to clear them faster because the moisture particles have fewer opportunities to dock. To prevent the windows from fogging up, walnuts wrapped in a linen cloth can be placed in the passenger footwell, or a small bowl with commercially available table salt can be used. A good choice is a small room dehumidifier from the hardware store. Replacing the old air and pollen filter for the interior of the car with a new one can also do no harm.
To prevent the doors from freezing solid, the door rubbers should be treated with glycerine. However, the same purpose can also be achieved with baby powder: simply put it on a dry cloth and rub it on the door seals. Both agents have a moisture-repellent effect, keep the rubber supple and thus protect the seals from damage.
In the cold season, it is advisable to pack a woolen blanket in the car to be on the safe side, in case there is a long traffic jam. A flashlight is usually already included in the smartphone anyway. Snow chains, on the other hand, should only be carried if there is a corresponding weather forecast or if a trip into the mountains is pending. Work gloves are also not a bad idea.
From now until the end of the year, AvD members can again have a free winter check carried out at participating Bosch service outlets. In addition to a light test, this includes other tests such as the coolant level and antifreeze content, so that the cooling system remains fully functional at temperatures below freezing. Furthermore, the battery, the curtailment voltage and the starter current are checked to prevent nasty surprises over the course of the winter. (awm)