Land Rover Winter Driving Tips - Are You Ready?
With temperatures touching -0 degrees C, it’s a good time to make sure that your car is maintained and in good condition.
Here are a few things to double check and get packed in preparation, as well as a heads up as to what your Land Rover might do already, to help survive the winter weather.
CHECK
Tyres
Your tyres need to be in tip-top condition for the winter, as the conditions can become a lot more challenging. Inspect your tyres at least every two weeks, checking for cracks, bulges and damage.
Make sure your tyre pressure is topped up and of course the tread is of the legal limit. Remember that over-inflation can actually reduce grip! Thankfully, across the range, Land Rover’s new All-Terrain Progress Control (ATPC) ensures composed progress on low-grip surfaces at an exact speed that you can set.
For places that experience frequent snow fall during the winter months, consider snow tyres or even snow chains – enquire now about the Seasonal Accessories that you can add to your Land Rover:
Battery
Batteries tend to take a bit of a hammering in the winter – headlights are on more frequently, heaters and blowers are going full pelt and the cold itself can have a negative effect on an already struggling battery. Get your battery checked and replaced if needed.
Lights
Bulbs should be checked regularly but with the dark nights coming in thick and fast, the last thing you want is to be driving anywhere with a light out. Check your brake lights, headlights, fog lights and indicators for peace of mind.
Windscreen Wipers
Windscreen wipers are your allies, particularly with the rain and snow! Make sure yours don’t have any cracks in the rubber, aren’t squeaking or dragging across the windscreen - and give your windscreen a good clean, both inside and out.
Fluids
Anti-freeze, engine coolant, screen wash, engine oil and power steering fluid all need checking and topped up if low. When the weather gets worse, you want to be sure that you are fully stocked so that your car can run as smoothly as possible. If you're going out, have at least a quarter of a tank of fuel, in case of delays.
It's important to keep your car in top condition - especially when driving conditions are challenging. Your car's safety is very important to us at Farnell Land Rover, and that's why we've made it easier than ever to have everything checked over by experts.
Book your Winter Health Check now to make sure your car is as safe as it can be for the snowy season ahead:
PREPARE
Because preparation is key, it is advised that you keep a supply of winter kit in your car at all times. If you get stranded in extreme weather, you’ll be glad that you thought ahead!
Here’s a list of suggested supplies to get stored, so you don’t have to suffer this season:
1. A Shovel
If you haven’t felt the pain of being snowed in, you won’t know how important having a shovel is. Nothing is fun about trying to dig your car out of the snow with your hands! Foldable shovels are also available, which can be efficiently stowed away for when needed.
If snow isn’t the problem, but water is, note down your Land Rover’s class leading wading depth so that you know what you can tackle. The all-new Defender comes with an unbeatable wading depth of 900mm, meaning little can stop you driving home for Christmas.
2. A Foil Blanket
These lightweight and compact blankets not only keep you warmer in very cold conditions, they also keep you protected against wind and rain (tinfoil is not a good substitute)!
Hopefully, if you did become stuck or stranded, you will still be able to stay warm within your vehicle. The Land Rover’s touch pro duo infotainment system, standard across all new ranges, should make the wait easier. As stylishly showcased in the new Range Rover Velar, Apple or Android CarPlay will keep the festive tunes going, even when the weather outside is frightful.
3. De-icer
We live in the UK – no more needs to be said!
Across the new Land Rover range, including all Range Rover Evoques, you can find electrically heated, adjustable, folding and auto dimming door mirrors with memory and approach lamps – making sure you can quickly and efficiently get a complete view of your surroundings, even in inclement weather.
4. A Scraper
Credit cards work fine�until they snap. Best off investing in the real deal!
5. Water and Non-Perishable Snacks
Snacks in the car are a must most of the time, but it’s worth making sure you have something to eat and drink in case you get stuck! With bad road conditions during the winter, cars can become unexpectantly stranded at foots of hills, or trapped in traffic for long periods of time.
Fortunately all new Land Rovers, including the versatile Discovery, come with Dynamic Route Guidance as part of their state-of-the-art navigation system – you can adjust your journey to the quickest and safest way available, no matter what obstacles the winter throws in your original path.
6. Phone Charger
If your phone is dead, you will have no way to call for assistance or to check when the Roast will be ready at home. Make sure you can stay in touch, if or when you need to. Remember your phone's charging cable as USB sockets are standard across all Land Rovers - you'll always have the opportunity to charge.
As part of the extensive Accessories available, Farnell Land Rover can also provide you with InControl Protect. In the event of a breakdown, the InControl Protects Optimised Land Rover Assistance transmits location and vehicle diagnostic data to your recovery company.
In a more serious incident, SOS Emergency Call notifies the emergency services of your location. Enquire now about adding InControl Protect to your Land Rover:
7. Torch
Thanks to daylight savings time and other earthly phenomena, we get less hours of light during the winter. Equip yourself with a torch (and spare batteries if it requires them!), as you never know when it might come in handy.
8. Gloves, hat and scarf
Pretty self-explanatory but always better to double check that you have warm clothing in the car.
9. Rock Salt
It is great to have this in the car if you get into a pickle with icy roads. Sprinkle rock salt and it should help melt the ice so you can be on your way!
To give you the best boost, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport offers Gradient Acceleration Control and Hill Descent Control – taking the guesswork out of slopes and compromised terrain. It monitors slip and braking automatically to maintain a steady speed.
10. First Aid Kit
We would always recommend having a first aid kit in the car, just in case, but even more so in the winter. It’s always good to be prepared!
Assuring to always know, Land Rover’s pioneering technology and legendary 4x4 capability give you the confidence to safely navigate icy winter roads.
