Winter car check - I'm just a girl!

guppy

Firstly, sorry to all the women out there who aren't clueless about their cars. I'm no girly-girl, but i am clueless about cars. So, I'm looking for help from those who know.

First, I see ads to check my car for winter- what does that mean exactly? I've an 01 1.6 focus. Should I deflate my tyres, get winter ones? I don't drive much (5 miles a day, thereabouts) all in Dublin, some on m50.

Should I get antifreeze? I can go to consort for that, but what else?

Sorry for being so clueless, I love this forum and read it a lot, but I need precise instructions with this! (if it helps, I drive in the left lane on the m50, and allow people to overtake me on national roads when i'm travelling slowly cos i'm unfamiliar with the road)

All advice very gladly accepted!

Iwannahurl

Hi

Let's go straight to the experts for advice!

http://www.aaireland.ie/AA/Ezine/AA-Ezine-November-2010/Tips-for-Winter-Motoring.aspx

This is a more 'international' version:

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/seasonal/winter_motoring.html

This is the RAC's Facebook page advising people during the arctic conditions last year:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=218730287023

And finally here's a YouTube video. Winter driving conditions in many parts of the USA can be much more severe than even the worst of what we get in Ireland, but the same basic principles apply. BTW, check out the guy's outfit at 01:35!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O26c_DTRC0g

HTH