Winter Car Checklist: What Bromsgrove Drivers Should Check Before December

Why winter is the hardest season for your car

Cold weather affects almost every system on a car. Batteries deliver less current in the cold. Engine oil thickens until the engine warms up, increasing wear on cold starts. Tyre pressure drops as temperatures fall. Brake discs and pads corrode faster when they sit in damp, cold conditions. None of these problems are catastrophic on their own, but a car that hasn't been properly checked heading into winter is much more likely to let you down when it matters.

The good news is that the checks are straightforward and most of them take only a few minutes.

Battery: test it, don't just assume it's fine

Battery failure is the most common cause of winter breakdowns. A battery that worked fine in September may not have enough reserve capacity to start a cold engine in January.

Cold weather reduces a battery's ability to deliver current, while cold engines require more current to turn over. The combination is unforgiving. Batteries typically last three to five years; if yours is approaching that age, get it load-tested before winter rather than hoping it gets through another season.

Signs a battery is struggling:

• Sluggish or slow cranking when starting — the engine turns over but more slowly than usual
• Interior lights noticeably dimmer than normal
• Stop-start system deactivating itself — many cars disable stop-start when battery health is marginal
• Dashboard battery warning light appearing
• Car has needed a jump start recently

Tyres: pressure drops and tread depth matters more in winter

Tyre pressure falls by roughly 1 PSI for every 10°C drop in ambient temperature. A tyre that was correctly inflated in October can be noticeably under-inflated by December. Under-inflation affects handling, increases stopping distances, and increases tyre wear. Check pressures with a gauge — don't rely on looking at the tyre.

Tread depth is equally important. The legal minimum is 1.6mm, but in wet and cold conditions, 3mm is the figure most tyre safety organisations recommend as the practical threshold for replacing. Shallow tread disperses water less effectively, which means longer stopping distances on wet roads.

Tyre checks before winter:

• Check all four tyres with a pressure gauge — including the spare if you have a full-size spare
• Check tread depth across the width of each tyre — uneven wear can indicate tracking or suspension issues
• Inspect for bulges, cracks, or embedded objects
• If any tyre is approaching 3mm, replace it before winter rather than running it down to the legal limit

Coolant and antifreeze: check concentration, not just level

Coolant does two things: it prevents the engine from overheating in summer and prevents the coolant circuit from freezing in winter. The antifreeze concentration in the coolant determines how low the temperature can fall before it freezes.

Antifreeze concentration degrades over time as the inhibitors break down. A coolant that was correctly mixed three years ago may now offer reduced protection. Coolant should typically be replaced every three to five years. If you're unsure when it was last done, get it tested — we can check the freeze point with a simple refractometer test.

Wipers and screenwash: winter-specific requirements

Standard summer screenwash freezes in the wash jets and can crack the reservoir if temperatures drop below zero. Switch to a winter screenwash formula before the first frost — it is typically mixed to protect down to -15°C or lower.

Wiper blades that streaked or chattered through autumn will be no better in winter. Cold rubber becomes less pliable and wipes less cleanly. If the blades are leaving smears or missing sections of the screen, replace them now. Visibility in rain and snow is not an area to cut corners.

Lights: a simple walk-around check

Days are shorter in winter and visibility is reduced by rain, fog, and low sun. A blown bulb that you never noticed in summer becomes a real problem — and a potential MOT fail — once it's dark by 4pm.

Walk around the car with it running and check all lights: headlights (main beam and dipped), rear lights, brake lights, indicators front and rear, and fog lights. Brake lights are the one you cannot check alone — ask someone to stand behind the car as you press the pedal, or reverse up to a garage door and watch the reflection.

Book a winter health check in Bromsgrove

If you want all of the above checked in one visit, book a winter health check with The Car Guys at our Bromsgrove workshop on Kidderminster Road. We will test the battery under load, check tyre pressures and tread depth, test coolant freeze point, inspect wiper blades, and carry out a lights walk-around.

You get a written report of what we find, and no work is carried out without your agreement. Call us on 01527 336608 or book online.