Better Roads Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/85927
TIRES No, the "M&S" and "all-season" bargain treads don't make good winter tires. Neither do mud tires. If winter traction and driver safety are paramount, equip the fleet with dedicated winter tires such as Bridgestone's Blizzak W965s, Nokian Hakkapeliitta LTs or Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice WRTs. There's no comparison to the level of vehicle control gained by switching to purpose-built snow/ice tires when winter arrives. To extend their life, switch back to the summer treads when spring arrives. SNOWPLOWS All snowplows are not created equal, especially when it comes to those for use on pickups. The newest generations have better moldboard trip mechanisms to keep encounters with curbs and manhole covers from tearing up the plow and the truck and other advances to make old timers shake their heads. To be winter-ready make sure your plow and truck linkages will work in a hurry, that plows and trucks match and that the plow does what you think it will do. AUTO TRANSMISSIONS Automatic transmissions take the biggest hit during the winter, especially if the truck is used for plowing. The speeds are low, but the load put on the transmission is high. This means it's critical to service the transmission, change the external filter, check the fluid to make sure it's in good condition and inspect the transmis- son cooler lines. All it takes to fry an automatic is one overheat scenario. ENGINE COOLANT Even though it's winter, engine temps can be high because snow and ice can block good airflow to the radiator. It's all the more important that the radiator coolant be in good condition (red/pink color) and water and antifreeze are mixed 50/50. A higher mix percentage of antifreeze hurts cooling. WINDSHIELD WIPERS Driver safety begins with a clean windshield, which provides that extra second or two to react. A clean windshield also reduces driver fatigue. Everblades heated wipers are excellent in winter, and the silicone-impregnated versions from Rain-X, PIAA, Tripledge, Ar- morAll and SilBlade are good choices. Silicone blades clean better than conventional wipers and they treat the windshield at the same time. Silicone-impregnated wipers also last longer than conven- tional wipers — especially when subjected to road salts and sand. SHOCKS The typical OEM shocks are worn out by the time they have 15,000 miles on them, and the typical high-pressure gas shocks should be replaced with high-pressure gas version after about 40,000 miles. Bad shocks lead to handling issues in the winter— especially when plows and spreaders are installed. So let mileage be your replacement indicator for shocks. Smart Spreading Take your deicing program to the next level with the Hi-Way Xzalt. You'll achieve higher application speeds, longer routes, and salt savings with its unique 70:30 blend of salt/liquid. You'll also reduce environmental impact as the mixed material realizes less bounce, less wind affect, and improved road adhesion. And, with the touch of a button, the operator adjusts symmetrical or asymmetrical patterns on one, two, or three lanes. Speaking of smart, determine your return on investment with the free Xzalt ROI Calculator on the Hi-Way VIP Preferred Customer Site at HiWayVIP.com. © 2012 Highway Equipment Company. All rights reserved. • 800-363-1771 • information@highwayequipment.com Write 112 on Reader Service Card or visit www.betterroads.com/info. Better Roads August 2012 35