Must-Have Car Accessories for Winter Driving

Essential Car Accessories for use during Winter.

As a result, one of the things that the drivers should consider is to get their cars ready for the winter season. It is risky to drive in the rain, snow, on ice or in very cold climates without the right equipment. There are a few simple accessories that you simply must have so as to make the drive in your car safer whilst in the address winters. In this post, we highlight some of the most important car accessories that will come in handy when driving during the winter season.

Winter Tires

If you have not done so already, one of the best “winters costs” you can obtain is winter or snow tires.

All-season tires become stiff and slip on ice at temperatures below 7°C whereas winter tires are made out of rubber which affords much better grip on ice and snow. 

The winter tire also has a wider groove pattern to help to eject slush and snow from the tires. Lowering the wheel size has the ability to reduce tire width and also improve grip in the process. 

Many car makers provide extra options for winter tires for cars, and SUVs, and motorists can have these put on another set of wheels and switch them depending on the season.

Ice Scrapers

There is nothing more important when it comes to winter driving visibility than making sure your windshield is clear. 

Ice scraper is an important car accessory that enables frost, snow, and ice clearing on the glasses. Instead look for one with a retractable handle arrangement and a brush integrated into the cleaning head, allowing you to clean across the entire windshield. 

The brush side helps to actually sweep of ice and snow without any damage on the surface of the car. Scraper that comes with a handle that one grips with their hand has a frosty feel that reduces hand fatigue if they go numb or cold while handling it. You can also get small handheld brushes to do away with the headlights, taillights, side mirror and the hood and roof of your car.

Snow Brushes and Brooms 

Scrapers are useful for windows and small jobs, however for big storms or if you have loads of heavy snow on your car, the best tool is a large snow brush and broom. 

Long handled car snow brushes come with a soft bristle for gently sweeping the snow off the car and strong ice scraper on the other side. Some models will only allow you to clean car interiors and not Above car roofs, look for models that have an extendable pole. 

Of course, having a supply helps to be ready to offer one to other motorists in need as well.

Emergency Kits

Many drivers have feared getting stranded in a winter storm. Be ready for such a situation by making sure that your car always has a well-constructed emergency kit.

Such things are jumper cables, phone charger, flashlight, additional clothing, extra set of gloves, hats, water, packed food with no refrigeration required, cat litter/sand for traction, flares, shovel, pellets of ice melt and first aid kit. In this context, many roadside emergency kits may contain items already packed in the required tools. 

You can further extend it with anything that you need personally more than towel or safety gear. Having these supplies gives a definite level of preparedness to adequately deal with most disasters until backup arrives.

Windshield Washer Fluid 

One of the things that you should do, especially before the onset of very cold weather, is to fill your windshield washer reservoir with winter cleaning fluid. Washer fluid in most cars is clear water and it does not perform the function of not freezing during winter. 

Search for washer fluids containing antifreeze/de-icer properties that say they will not freeze and are safe to use at temperatures as low as -20°F to -35°F. For extreme sub zero conditions, there are those brands that prepare formulas that freeze at -60 °F. 

Ensure you refill your reservoir often because your washers will be important in removing salt, dirt and road splash from the car.

Window Defrosters

It is practically depressing to drive with fogged up, freezing or icy windows. The defroster in the car aids somewhat but you sometimes find there is water or ice in some hidden areas that hampers vision. 

Use plastic window defrosters as you can always have ice melted both internally and externally in the glass. Those meant for your windshield, side mirrors, rearview mirror and headlight will be among the best to go for. 

Warming pouches that stick to the glass give concentrated melty power in precisely the right places.

Touch Screen Gloves

Battling to operate touch screen phone maps, change music and regulate temperature with thick gloves on is uncomfortable. 

The solution is a pair of touch screen gloves which enable one to manipulate device screens directly through special fingertips of the gloves. These allow you to keep your hands warm with the added ability to manipulate buttons and touch screen surfaces. 

An additional many options also come with grippy palms and textured fingers, for a better grip on the steering wheels and objects in background people feel cold.

Heated Accessories 

Another nice touch for the car is the ability to add heated accessories if you want to warm up your car interior as much as possible. 

Heated steering wheel covers simply fit over existing wheels and come with a cable that plugs into your car’s 12V DC outlet to keep your hands warm while driving. 

Likewise, heated seat cushions and covers inserted into sockets, give warmth over back, hips and thighs and prevent wear and tear and stains. These are very handy when out walking in the cold, as they can warm boots or gloves, consequently keeping body extremities warm. 

As a rule, most products provide the possibility to choose the temperature of a gun wipe.

Windshield Sun Shades

Gho Frozen Particles from the interior and or the exterior of windshield sun shades through scraping if you’re using one. These folding shades fit perfectly to your glass and sit right against the surface at night or anytime your car is parked. 

Foam core, bubble wrap and NASA-developed textiles serve their function of insulating and avoiding formation of ice on the inside by pulling off the heat from the human body. 

It is convenient to remove them and store them again and the mentioned handles and pockets are allowed to be built-in. You will wake up having NO issue with scraping your car during the chilly winter mornings.  

Car Covers

Sweating to clear heavy snow and using a shovel to scrape through thick ice is not something you want to deal with when there are more effective ways of preventing accumulation in the first place? 

Purchasing fitted all-weather car cover is one of the ways you can safeguard your exterior whenever the car is packed outside. Durable, waterproof texts protect paint work, trim and metalwork from harsh effects of snow, ice as well as resultant rust and pitting, ultraviolet radiation, and road treatment chemicals. 

Actual models with stripes catch shock vibrations also. Some are used to insulate against the loss of temperature inside a building for instance. It is just important to take care while removing them especially in stormy weather.

Remote Starters

What is even better after walking through frozen slush or snow in the winter morning is getting into a warm automobile. Remote start systems allow you to begin warming up your home or business establishment without physically being there – all you have to do is press a button. 

Remote car starters are available at electronics and auto parts stores and can be installed by the user as a do-it-yourself kit or professionally hardwired into the vehicle’s computer system by an expert technician. 

Some of the features that are normally offered are time adjustments, climatic controls and smartphone integration and vehicle security.

Bluetooth Devices

It only worsens the situation during winter when people are bundled in hats and gloves attempting to answer phone calls and respond to voice assistant questions. Bluetooth products offer convenience to make and receive calls, navigate and listen to music and other audio without having to hold and use their hands. 

Current new cars have Bluetooth connectivity built in but are available for upgrading in older car models to bring the technology to your car stereo. 

Smartphones connect to OBD ports located beneath car dashboards and show contact, Map, and playlist details, on touchscreens on the car gadgets.

Dash Cams

Sadly, the adverse winter conditions provide a conducive environment for aggressive practices such as speed, tailgating and wrong lane changing. Get front and rear facing dash cams to always record traffic incidents in high definition video and sound. 

Even the host models should be all-weather designed to handle extreme inside car conditions. 

Functions like collision detection, night vision and GPS helps in providing evidence if at all is required in future. Some also provide cabin viewing to take pictures of passengers and parts and components of cabins. Sight one another with total vision while in the street.

Conclusion

Now that you’ve got this list of winter motoring accessories it is pretty easy to cover almost everything that winter throws at your car. 

Sleep well and stay protected while getting where you need to be with added grip, signature lighting and readiness. In the current world, no one wants to make a stop on the road because of extremely low temperatures. 

I mean let your car and trips just have the best of all winter survival tools.