The Citizen, 2010-10-21, Page 23THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2010. PAGE 23.
Winter driving requires special preparation
NC - Unless you plan to hibernate
this winter, you will inevitably be
faced with some challenging
road conditions in the coming
months.
These four important winter
driving tips may help get you
through any slippery situation:
• Keep your distance:Always
leave plenty of space between you
and the vehicle in front of you.
Doing so will give you enough time
to brake in a controlled manner and
time to react in case of an
emergency. Stay vigilant of road
conditions, and increase the space if
you detect or suspect black ice. A
good rule of thumb is that if there are
icicles on your windshield wipers or
frost on your side view mirrors,
there is a good chance that there is
black ice on the road.
• Use your brakes:If your car is
equipped with an anti-lock braking
system (ABS), hit the brakes and let
the system work for you: your ABS
will pump the brakes at timed
intervals without locking your
wheels, enabling you to stop safely.
It’s normal to feel pulsation in the
brake pedal, that’s the ABS working.
A lot of people have a tendency to
release the brakes as the ABS kicks
in; do not lift your foot until you
come to a stop. If your vehicle is not
equipped with ABS, pump your
brakes to avoid locking which will
help you remain in control of the
vehicle.
• Importance of winter tires:
Studies have shown that at -14°C,
all-season tires lose up to 60 per cent
of their grip compared to winter
tires. Unlike all-season tires, winter
tires are made with special rubber
compounds that stay soft even at
very low temperatures. A softer tire
will stick to the road better and give
your vehicle more traction for
optimal control.
If you plan on doing a lot of
driving in the winter months
having the right winter tire will
make a big difference. For more
information on how winter tires
function, speak to your local tire
dealer.
• Stay calm and control a skid:
In the event that you do find yourself
skidding out, remain calm and do
not suddenly brake, accelerate, or
jerk the wheel. Instead, let go of the
gas and turn the steering wheel into
the skid in a slow and controlled
manner. While it may seem
counterintuitive to aim your car in
the direction that it is skidding, it
may be the best way to get control
back. For example, if your rear
wheels slip out to the left; turn the
steering wheel smoothly to the left
and ease your foot off the gas. Your
rear tires will slow their rotation to
regain their grip, at which point your
car will stop sliding and begin to
straighten. You can then bring the
wheel back to center, regaining full
control.
Dangerous driving
Winter driving requires special equipment, improved
alertness and attention to detail. (MS photo)
2001 Ford F150
Black, 4.6, V8, auto,
loaded, hard top
tonneau cover ,
197,000 kms
$7,495.
East of Carlow on Cty. Road 25 ~ 519-524-9878
“GOOD OLD-FASHIONED SERVICE”
Exhaust Bending Service - We can now bend up to 3" custom pipes
Complete Vehicle Service
2 Experienced Licensed Mechanics plus 1 apprentice, at your service
2002 Dodge Dakota -silver, 4x4, ext. cab, V6, auto, loaded, 242,000 kms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,495.
2002 Ford F150 -white, 4.6, V8, auto, air, cruise, 250,000 kms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,495.
2001 VW Cabrio -black, 4 cyl, 5 speed, convertible.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,495.
2000 Chev Impala -silver, V6, auto, loaded, 149,000 kms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,495.
2000 Ford Ranger -green, 4x4, quad cab, V6, auto, loaded, 118,000 kms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,495.
1999 Buick Regal -burgundy, V6, 3800, loaded, 220,000 kms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,495.
1999 Ford Windstar -burgundy, 3.8 L, V6, loaded, 7 passenger, 170,000 kms.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,995.
1999 Dodge Ram 1500 -green, 5.9L, loaded, 4x4, 220,000 kms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,495.
1998 Dodge Ram 1500 -burgundy, SLT, loaded, 4x4, 176,000 kms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,995.
1996 Pontiac Grand AM -white, V6, loaded, 181,000 kms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,995.
1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo - green, 6 cyl., 4x4, loaded, 213,000 kms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,995.
1994 Jeep Cherokee -red, 6 cyl., 4x4, loaded, 254,000 kms.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,495.
1984 Rampage -neon green, 4 cyl, auto, .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,995.
1984 Pontiac Fiero -white, 4 cyl., 5 speed, 220,587 kms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,995.
PENTASTIC MOTORS
519-335-6565
Hwy. 87 Gorrie
www.pentasticmotors.com
Specializing in 4x4 trucks
Gas or diesel
1/2, 3/4 and 1 tonne
• Trades welcome • Financing available
• Extended warranties
Your #1 choice for quality used trucks
R & S
ALIGNMENT SERVICE
ALIGNMENT - SUSPENSION SERVICE
& TIRES
519-357-1230
Hwy.86 West,R.R.3 Wingham,Ont.N0G 2W0
&CUSTOMIZING
519-523-9726
email: countryside@tcc.on.ca
82589 London Rd.
South of Blyth
• Insurance claims • Collision repairs
• Refinishing • Restoration
• Spray in truck box liners • Oil spray undercoating
Don’t want to make an insurance claim for
that fender bender? See Raymond for an
economical repair and a free estimate!
Lifetime Protection and a Great Look
• Semi-skid resistant surface keeps
cargo secure and allows for easy
loading and unloading.
• Great insulator and soundproofing
qualities
• Resistant to common chemicals
including chlorine, automotive fuels,
diesel fuels, paints, salt water
and much more!
• Permanent bonding seal against water,
rust and corrosion.
Thinking of a Bedliner?
Think XTREME LINERS
NEW
Truck accessories
now available
CUSTOM EXHAUST SYSTEMS
& GENERAL REPAIRS
• Auto, light truck & agricultural
maintenance & repairs
• Custom bent exhaust systems
made with precision & pride
• Aluminized & stainless tubing
• Bending up to 3"
• Expanding up to 4"
• Diesel 4" & 5" systems
Bob Jamieson ~ Class A Mechanic
519-482-pipe (7473)
41477 Winthrop Rd.
Londesboro, ON
Don’t idle,
use heater
NC - Many Canadians have come
to believe that the best way to warm
up a cold vehicle is to let it run. After
all, it seems logical to us northern
brave hearts that if everything
outside the vehicle is frozen solid,
everything inside the car will be
petrified as well. The longer we let
the car run, the faster it will warm
up, right? Not so.
Contrary to popular belief,
excessive idling is not the best way
to warm up your vehicle in cold
weather; driving it is.
Consider these facts recently
presented by Natural Resources
Canada in its new publication Lean
and Clean: Best Practices for Fuel-
Efficient Driving.
• Some drivers let their vehicle run
for six to eight minutes or more to
warm up the inside of the vehicle.
Letting a vehicle warm up for that
long only warms the engine. It does
nothing for the wheel bearings,
steering, suspension, transmission
and tires. These parts can only be
warmed up by driving the vehicle,
which in turn, allows the ventilation
system to heat the inside of the
vehicle.
• By using a block heater for just a
couple of hours on a timer, your
vehicle will reach its optimal
operating temperature faster.
519-887-8000 (formerly Brussels
Auto Collision)
590 Turnberry St., Brussels, ON N0G 1H0