Winter Driving Tip #1

The number one tip for driving safely in the winter is to stay on top of all your routine factory scheduled maintenance for your vehicle. Whether you drive a car, truck, SUV, or van, regular car maintenance is vital for safe driving and dependable vehicular performance.

Car Parts Affected By Cold Temperatures

There are some areas of your car you should pay closer attention to in the winter season because they can be impacted by the cold air and temperature drops. The primary areas include your tires, catalytic converter, and car battery, but there are also many more.

Tires

Did you know that the cold air can cause your tires to deflate? Have you ever noticed that you have to put more air in your tires every winter? Well, that is because tire pressure drops an average of one pound of pressure per 10°F of temperature.

To avoid falling flat on the road unexpectedly or walking out to your car only to find that your tire is too low to drive it, be sure to check your tire pressure regularly, throughout the winter season.

Catalytic Converter

Your catalytic converter is a vital automotive part because it works as your vehicle’s emissions control system. Basically, catalytic converters reduce the toxic and harmful emissions generated by burning fuel in a car. Needless to say, your catalytic converter is important, but when it gets really cold outside, it can take a little longer for it to start working.

For this reason, it is recommended to always let your car run for a few minutes before taking off. This will allow the catalytic converter to warm up and do his job properly while you’re out on the road.

Car Battery

Cold temperatures can cause problems with your car battery because cold air slows the chemical process inside of it, therefore diminishing its ability to maintain a charge. The older the vehicle, the more susceptible to cold air battery issues.

To avoid car battery problems in the winter, be sure to have your vehicle’s battery inspected and serviced as needed before the season begins. To be safe, include a set of jumper cables in your winter roadside emergency kit.

Additional Car Issues Caused By the Cold Air

► Automotive Fluids – Not only can colder temperatures cause your automotive fluids to thicken up, therefore reducing their ability to perform efficiently, but in very cold temperatures, automotive fluids can freeze entirely. This includes fuel lines, windshield wiper fluid, and even motor oil.

► Transmission – The cold air really affects the air to fuel mix ratios, which can affect how quickly your engine responds when you drive. In colder temperatures, the dense cold air can reduce your engine power. This is why it is important to let your car warm up before driving it in the winter.

► LCD Screens – It is very common for LCD screens to become sluggish or s responsive when it’s very cold outside because the liquid crystals are affected by the cold air. There’s not really much you can do to prevent this in the winter; however, it is suggested that using insulating screens can help keep interior cabin warmth overnight.

Have you found yourself stuck on the side of the road or in a parking lot because your car is having mechanical issues due to the cold weather? Just contact Zore’s Towing for 24 hour roadside assistance and towing services in Indianapolis and its surrounding locations. We can help with flat tires, locked keys in the car, overheating engines, fuel tank fill-ups, and much more.

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Top Safety Tips for Driving in the Winter

Posted on December 6, 2019 by Zores

It’s officially winter. Days are mostly dreary and cold, portending the snow and ice that will soon be upon us. As we can expect from every Indiana winter, streets and roadways will certainly be slick, slushy, and at times, even frozen over. When the winter storms come in, they really make driving conditions dangerous and unpredictable, so it is critical to your safety and the safety of others to use extreme caution and care when driving in such conditions. Accordingly, it is important to remember how to safely operate your vehicle, navigate in winter weather, and manage road emergencies.

Continue reading to review some vital safety tips for winter driving and be sure to pass them along to your friends and family too!

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Winter Driving Tips You Need to Know

You never know what to expect with winter weather, so being prepared is key. One of the most important rules of safe driving that applies all year long is to have your vehicle serviced professionally according to its individual needs and its manufacturer’s maintenance schedule. When your vehicle is in good condition, it is in its safest form. This includes parts, fluids, tires, and more.

Another important part of being prepared is keeping an emergency roadside assistance kit in your vehicle at all times. There are various types of kits available at the stores, all with different items. Choose whichever kit best fits your emergency roadside needs, such as jumper cables, road triangles, flashlight, first aid kit, blanket, and more. See our blog, “Put a Roadside Emergency Kit in Your Car” to get some ideas on how to create your own. Below are some additionally important tips to remember when driving in inclement weather.

Additional Driving Safety Considerations

⚠ Keep at least a half a tank of gas in your vehicle at all times.
⚠ Periodically check for proper tire inflation.
⚠ Do not leave a vehicle running in an enclosed garage.
⚠ Always wear your seat-belt.
⚠ Always ask passengers to buckle up too.
⚠ Never drive when you are too tired or drowsy.
⚠ Always keep your eyes on the direction you are steering.
⚠ Avoid using the parking brake in wet or slick conditions.
⚠ Avoid using cruise control in wet or slick conditions.
⚠ Accelerate and Brake slowly on wet or snowy roads.

Long Distance Driving Safety

⚠ Have your vehicle serviced before you leave.
⚠ Watch the weather before you leave to be prepared
⚠ Be sure you fully-charge your car phone and bring an emergency charging unit.
⚠ Delay leaving if weather is too extreme.
⚠ Check your emergency roadside kit and refill as needed.
⚠ Check that your exhaust pipe is not clogged with snow.
⚠ Pack extra blankets.

⚠ If you get stuck in the snow, stay with your vehicle and call for help.

Towing and Roadside Assistance for Indiana

Call Zore’s Inc. at 317-247-8484 for friendly 24 hour towing, recovery, and roadside assistance and advice in Central Indiana. We open a family-owned and operated business for 90 years, so you can trust us for prompt and professional service. We are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year, so our certified tow truck operators can be there for you anytime, any day! Request free estimates, anytime.

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Top 3 Ways to Drive Safer This Winter

Posted on January 31, 2019 by Zores

If you want to avoid roadside emergencies and car accidents this winter, it is wise to prepare yourself with the right knowledge for driving safer in inclement weather. Continue reading to learn the top 3 recommended actions and considerations for being a safer driver in snow, ice, sleet, hail, fog, and all other harsh elements we might face through the season.

❶ Have a Winter Emergency Roadside Kit

Whether it is winter, summer, spring, or fall, it is wise to have a roadside emergency kit in your vehicle at all times. These kits can come in anything from 30-piece kits, to 70-piece kits, and larger. The right kit for you depends on the size of your vehicle, your town’s geography, and your driving practices. Such kits should include basic materials like a spare tire, gloves, tire jack, jumper cables, road triangles, torque wrench, tire pressure gauge, flashlight, and a blanket. More thorough kits might include a screwdriver set, sockets, electrical tape, emergency flares, hazard flags, reflective gear, AA batteries, fire extinguisher, pliers, utility knife, and even a small medical kit.

❷ Pay Close Attention to Your Tires

When temperatures are cold or below freezing, your tires lose pressure more quickly. As a result, tires lose proper connection to the road surface. With a loss of traction, you put yourself at risk of losing control of your vehicle in icy or wet conditions. Before each drive, always check that your tires are fully inflated. At least once per month, be sure to measure the tire pressure too. Check the tag within the driver’s-side doorjamb or your owner’s manual for recommended tire pressure for your make and model car. Also with tires, be sure there is plenty of tread left. Use the “penny test” to see if you are ready to replace your tires: insert the penny in between your tire tread, and if Lincoln’s head is higher than the tread, you need new tires soon.

❸ Take Care of Your Car Battery

Just like your tires, your car battery is also affected by cold weather and temperatures. An extended period of freezing cold weather will pull the voltage from car batteries, and eventually prevent the car from starting altogether. To make matters worse, cold temperatures also thicken automotive fluid, which makes your vehicle’s components (like the battery) work harder, thus using up more power. To avoid this problem, be sure you stay on top of routine battery maintenance, as well as all your other factory scheduled measures, such as fluid changes and tune-ups. Read our blog, “The Do’s and Don’ts to Automotive Battery Maintenance” to learn what you need to know about taking care of your car battery all year long.

How to Get 24 Hour Roadside Assistance Anywhere in Central Indiana

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Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for 24 hour roadside assistance and towing services in Indianapolis and throughout Central Indiana. Our friendly staff is waiting by the phones, ready to help you get back on the road, safe and sound. We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, so you can always count on us. Request a free estimate, today.

Tips for Driving in Snow

Posted on March 1, 2014 by Zores

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Sometimes the best advice for driving in snowy and icy weather is to simply stay home until the plows, sand, and salt has done its job. Unfortunately for most with jobs, or kids, or normal responsibilities, this isn’t always a practical or possible solution. It wouldn’t be a good idea to call your boss and request a snow day, for example. So it is best to throw in the towel and learn once and for all, how to drive in snow.

For the most part, everyone has an understanding that there are two general rules to driving in snow; slow down and maintain as much traction as possible. Not only are these the basic rules to driving in snow, they are among the most important. Other important rules that should be obvious include always wearing your seat belt, avoid driving with children, if driving with children be sure they are sufficiently strapped in, and follow all driving laws, traffic lights, and signs. On top of these familiar rules, there are some specific tips that can help you understand how to achieve safer driving in poor weather conditions. Continue reading and learn how to drive in snow, ice, and storms.

Driving Tips for Snowy Roads

In order to prepare yourself for driving in bad or snowy weather, you must be sure to prepare your vehicle first. This means checking that your lights are operational and on, that your oil is at a good place, that your tires are fully inflated, your heat is functional, your windshield wipers work, and your windows and mirrors are completely cleared of snow and ice. You can also apply a water-shedding product to windshields for added moisture resistance and protection. Once this inspection is complete, you are already on your way to safer driving. As an extra precaution, purchase snow tires that are specially manufactured to provide better traction in snow and on ice. Also, drivers can attach chains to the exterior of their tires for maximum snow driving capabilities. It is suggested to consult a professional mechanic about these modifications to make sure you are getting the right product for your vehicle.

Once you are on the road, a whole different set of driving rules apply. In the case that you begin to slip, slide, or drift on the road, do not step on the brake; instead, release your foot and gently steer the wheel in the opposite direction. This should stop or slow down the slipping and sliding. Never “pump” your brakes. It is highly recommended to purchase a vehicle with an Anti-Lock Braking System or ABS. If you have a vehicle with ABS, be sure to learn how to use it. Find a vacant parking lot to practice in. Stomp hard on the brake pedal and hold it there while you steer around the obstacle. Then release your foot once the vehicle is back on track. Be careful to not over steer. A little steering goes a long way.

If your windows and windshield suddenly fog up while driving, do not panic; instead, turn on your air conditioning and allow it to run until the fog dissipates. It is perfectly fine to have your heat setting on hot while running the AC. This makes the fog immediately disperse and fade away. Simply flip the air off once the fog is gone.

Indianapolis Towing Services

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If you find yourself stranded on the side of the road, or stuck in snow, call Zore’s Towing in Indianapolis, Indiana at 317-247-8484 today. We offer immediate response services for callers in need of a tow after sliding off the road. Our drivers are highly trained, licensed, and experienced in the wrecker industry. We have assisted thousands of stranded drivers with a fast and friendly tow in Indianapolis. We can help you too!

Visit our website at https://www.zorestowing.com/towing-services-indianapolis.php for details about our services and company background. We offer free estimate, 24 emergency services, immediate response towing, discounts, low flat rates, Spanish speaking staffs, and much more! Call us today at 317-247-8484 for fast and affordable Indianapolis towing services in Indianapolis, IN and its surrounding counties.

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