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gennaio 31, 2020 - Volkswagen

In good shape for the winter

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Winter is here and hopefully your car is prepared for it. If not, that’s not a problem! The following tips and utensils ensure your car is prepared for (almost) every situation involving ice and snow.

Winter tyres – a crucial #safety aspect

In Germany, winter tyres are mandatory whenever the weather conditions call for them. The Road Traffic Act specifically states that in conditions such as black ice, slippery snow, slush, ice and frost, cars are only allowed on the roads if they are fitted with winter tyres. Anyone caught with summer tyres can expect heavy penalties in some cases (depending on the state).Tyre manufacturers actually recommend using winter tyres at temperatures below 7 degrees Celsius. These tyres have a softer rubber compound designed to ensure a much safer driving response. To find out quickly whether or not last year’s tyres will do for another season, all you need is a 1-euro coin. The minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm (in Austria as much as 4 mm). If the outer edge of the coin does not disappear completely in the tread, new tyres are needed.

When buying new winter tyres, you should make sure they have the Alpine symbol on them (snowflake inside a mountain). As of January 2018, only genuine winter tyres are allowed to bear this symbol. These guarantee a good grip on snow and ice as well as a good tread pattern in the snow.

SNOW CHAINS – CRAMPONS FOR YOUR CAR

Snow chains are worth buying if your winter journeys involve snow-covered routes with a more extreme gradient, or if you’re going on a skiing holiday to a higher-altitude mountain region. If you happen to see a circular traffic sign with a blue background and the snow chain symbol in the middle, this means that snow chains are compulsory. To find the right snow chains you need to look out for the exact tyre size and rim width. Refer to the car’s user manual for more information.

SCRAPING THE ICE OFF YOUR CAR WINDOWS – A CRITICAL ASPECT IN WINTER:

When it comes to de-icing your car windows, always remember: driving with iced-up windows is not only dangerous for yourself, it also puts other road users at risk. In other words: scratching out a small peephole is simply not enough – the entire windscreen and all other windows have to be clear in order to ensure optimum visibility. If you don’t do it, you could even be liable to pay a fine: €10 is the standard amount, but you will have to fork out €80 euros in the event of an accident. Use a standard windscreen de-icer if you want to make scraping easier and avoid unnecessary damage to the windscreen.

Make sure the windscreen cleaner always contains sufficient anti-freeze to ensure good visibility at all times – including in winter temperatures. Otherwise the cleaner can freeze or turn into a layer of ice on the windscreen. It’s also important to check the windscreen cleaner level on a regular basis. If it runs out, streaks will be left on the windscreen that severely restrict visibility when driving against the light.

CLEARING SNOW OFF THE CAR ROOF

While we’re on the subject of scratching: not only does the ice have to be removed from the windows, it’s also important to clear any larger amounts of snow off the car roof before setting off. If there’s still a blanket of snow on the roof when you drive away, it is likely to be blown onto the windscreen of the car behind you. And when you apply the brakes, you will get a sudden avalanche on your bonnet. Hand shovels with rubberised edges are helpful for removal as they protect the paintwork and wheel rims. You can also save yourself some money by doing it: the fine for driving off in a car with a snow-covered roof is €25.