Guide to Stress Free Holiday Road Travel

When you're driving in the ice and snow, you'll want to make sure you leave plenty of extra time. This is useful for a few reasons. First of all, keeping your speed down will help you drive more safely in winter weather conditions. If you're driving slower than usual, you'll want to give yourself extra time to reach your destination. Another reason why it's helpful to leave extra time is due to traffic. High-traffic times can be harder to predict during the winter holiday season, since there are many more people traveling during this time than usual. Typical rush hours can last longer than they normally do, and weekend traffic might be busier than you expect. To avoid the stress, be sure to leave early. You'll thank yourself later!

If you're planning on driving this winter, be sure to stock up your car with all the best supplies. If you get caught in a snow storm, you'll want a few simple tools on your side to make things easier. First and foremost, be sure you have a good ice scraper with a brush on the opposite end. This is crucial for cleaning off your car so that it's safe to drive. On that note, you might also want to keep a small snow shovel on hand if you're traveling. You can find collapsable shovels that fit in your trunk, and really come in handy if you have to dig your car out of a snowy parking spot! You should always keep a good pair of waterproof gloves in your glove compartment, and it's a good idea to keep a small bag of salt or sand in the car so that you can add some traction on icy driveways.

One of the best ways to prepare for winter driving is to set yourself up with the proper tires. When selecting tires for the winter, you have a few great options to choose from. For those looking to brave rugged roads, extreme weather, or heavy snow, true snow tires are the best bet. These are the most robust option, with wider and deeper treads than your average tire. These will give you the maximum traction to take on the harshest weather. Another option is an all-weather tire, which still offers more traction than a regular tire. These will stand up better against snow and ice, but can also be used year-round! If you're not ready to buy a new set of tires, you could also opt for tire chains, which will be installed right over your regular tires.

Aside from switching out your tires if needed, there are a few other key ways to get ready for your next winter drive! Before the holiday season really kicks into high gear, make sure you carve out some time to take your car in for routine maintenance. This includes services like oil changes, tire rotations, and brake inspections that keep your car in good working order. You should also check out your heating system to make sure it's working properly, and won't leave you stranded without heat on a cold winter day. It also pays to check on visibility equipment like your headlights, windshield wiper blades, and defroster. Make sure your have plenty of windshield wiper fluid with anti-freeze, and that all of your vehicle's other fluids are topped off as well. That way, you can go into the busy holiday season without having to worry about your vehicle!

Are you gearing up for a holiday season full of travel? We here at Pearson Honda are here to help you prepare! You can visit our dealership here in Midlothian, Virginia, just outside of Richmond, to get your car in great shape for winter. We'll help you out with all of your routine maintenance, snow tire changeover, and ordering and installing all the parts and accessories you might need. If you have any questions, our talented service team will be happy to answer them for you. Get started today by filling out our online appointment request form, or by giving us a call here at the dealership. We look forward to seeing you soon here at Pearson Honda!