Six winter driving myths you shouldn’t fall for

Winter is here – yup, even in Florida – and with it bringing its own set of driving challenges. Driving in winter weather is a whole different ball game, especially if you’re headed out into snow, ice, or sleet. Our Orlando Toyota experts are here with tips to help you figure out what’s fact and what’s fiction when it comes to winter driving myths.

Toyota of Orlando busts winter driving myths

Myth #1: You have to warm up your car before you can drive it. Nope! This is a pretty common winter driving myth, but believe it or not, your car only needs about 20 seconds to get up and running and get oil moving through the engine. You don’t have to sit and let the engine idle to be prepared for the open road – you can essentially start your car and go. (But if you still want to use this excuse to chill and scroll while you wait, we get it.)

Myth #2: Pouring hot water on your windshield is an easy way to get rid of frost or ice. For the love of God, DO NOT do this. If your windshield is icy or frosted, that means the glass is cold, too. Pouring boiling or even super hot water over it will create an instant temperature change which can cause your windshield to crack or even shatter from the huge, instantaneous shift. DON’T DO IT. Break out your ice scraper or even a credit card to clear your windshield. And don’t use your wipers, either – the ice can damage the blades.

Myth #3: Deflate your tires to a lower PSI for better traction. Some people think that deflating their tires a little gives them better traction because the lower the PSI, the more surface area of the tire there is touching the road. Not the case – partially deflated tires actually have LESS traction because the tread can’t perform as it should (and you’ll also kill your fuel efficiency). Leave your tires inflated to the proper PSI!

Myth #4: You can also put sandbags in your trunk for better traction. Drivers who have to deal with slippery winter driving conditions like snow and ice have probably heard the myth that putting sandbags in the trunk for extra weight will improve handling. However, as most cars today are front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, this is unnecessary and actually throws your car out of balance. This can make handling a lot more difficult than it needs to be and leave you more prone to getting into an accident.

Myth #5: You can use cruise control in icy or snowy weather. NOPE. Cruise control is not meant for winter driving – it’s meant for dry, clear, and flat conditions where you can easily maintain a constant speed (aka no stoplights). Cruise control in winter weather is a bad idea; when the roads are slippery, you need complete control over your vehicle at all times.

Myth #6: Don’t worry about winter weather if you have four-wheel drive. Again, not true. While four-wheel drive is a great quality to have in your Orlando Toyota, especially if you’re driving in snow, it’s not going to save you from spinning out or losing control. Use it as a complement to safe, defensive driving rather than an excuse to drive as you normally would and hope that your four-wheel drive capabilities will save you from a collision.

Schedule winter car service today at Toyota of Orlando

Have questions about winter driving or need to get your car prepped? Call Toyota of Orlando today at (407) 298-0001. Our Orlando Toyota service center is open seven days a week at 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall!

 

Posted in Toyota of Orlando's Tips | No Comments »