club Toyota - Fall/Winter 2017 English

A HELPING HAND
Don’t get caught by surprise when winter’s
cold fingers and icy breath arrive
BY GERRY MALLOY
Winter in Canada is a fact of life. Ready or not, it keeps on
coming back, year after year. And based on the experience
of the past few winters, it seems to be getting more erratic,
with even greater extremes. So there’s nothing to be gained
by denying the inevitable. It’s time to get prepared for whatever the
coming winter may throw at us.
Here are some tips on how to prepare your vehicle so you don’t get
caught by surprise when winter’s cold fingers and icy breath suddenly
arrive, and how to stay safe as a driver through winter’s worst.
START WITH WINTER TIRES
The place to start is with the winter tires — four, not just two! Even if you
live in a rare area of the country where snow and ice are not the norm, if
temperatures routinely drop below +7 o C, that’s winter tire territory.
Winter tires — identified by a “mountain/snowflake” symbol — deliver
superior traction and control on any surface at temperatures below about
+7 o C. Their rubber compound is designed to remain flexible and maintain
adhesion capabilities down to the -30 o C range, while other tires tend to
harden and lose grip well above zero.
Widespread testing has demonstrated those advantages of winter tires
on snow and ice. In one such test, it took a vehicle about three car-lengths to
stop from 40 km/h. All-season tires took more than a full car-length further
and the car was still going 20 km/h when at the point where it stopped on
winter tires. Acceleration tests showed similar advantages for winter tires.
Perhaps surprisingly, all-wheel-drive doesn’t preclude the need for
winter tires. It may help acceleration in slippery conditions, because it
spreads the driving forces over four footprints instead of two. But when
it comes time to stop, it all comes down to just the tires.
If you think you can get away without winter tires because you drive
on well-plowed, paved roads most of the time, consider that it is not
"most of the time" that you're likely to find yourself in trouble. It is that
one exceptional circumstance. So the key question becomes: "Is most
of the time good enough?" Your life may well depend on your answer.
PREPARING BEYOND TIRES
While choosing the right tires is the starting point, there are other
preparations you should make as well. It’s good practice to bring
your Toyota to your local dealership for routine maintenance such as
changing oil and checking all fluid levels, as well as brake and exhaust
systems, and to have the battery performance and charging system
checked. Cold weather is hard on batteries and some sub-zero morning
is not the time to find out that yours is at the end of its days.
They will check your wiper blades and replace them if they are split,
leave streaks, or skip. Top up the washer fluid reservoir with fluid rated
for an appropriate temperature and be sure to keep a spare container
or two on board.
Service technicians will make sure all lamps are working properly.
If needed, consider having the headlamp covers cleaned and polished.
Grit and grime can reduce their clarity over time.
Be sure you’ve got a good, long-handled snow brush and ice scraper
in the vehicle as well as an emergency kit that includes:
• Blanket and extra clothing suitable for the season;
• Flashlight and extra batteries;
• Full first aid kit;
• Portable shovel;
• Traction aids;
• Jumper cables
Throughout the winter, it’s a good idea to keep your fuel tank at least
half full. Doing so helps ensure that you won't run out of fuel in case of
a prolonged stoppage. It can also help keep ice crystals from forming
inside the fuel line.
In the deepest depths of winter — or in any season —
call upon Toyota Roadside Assistance for help when you
need it. A roadside assistance representative is available
24 hours a day, 365 days a year throughout North
America to respond to your call for help.
Toyota Roadside Assistance is provided to Toyota
owners at no extra charge for three years (36 months)
with the purchase of every new Toyota. (You can also
extend the service beyond the initial 36 month for
a small annual fee.)
When something does go awry, all you need to do is
call: 1-888-TOYOTA-8 (1 888-869-6828) and provide
the Toyota Roadside Assistance Representative with your
name, vehicle identification number, the nature of your
situation, and where your vehicle can be located.
Emergency roadside services include;
• Towing: to your preferred Toyota dealer within
50 km or closest dealer within 300 km, or, in the
case of an accident, to your dealer or an Accident
Reporting Centre (if required by your Municipality).
• Battery boost: or towing if your vehicle fails to start
after boosting;
• Lockout service: if you accidentally lock your keys
in your car;
• Fuel delivery: up to five litres of fuel provided;
• Tire change service: they can install your spare
if you have a flat tire; and
• Winching: pulling your vehicle out if it’s stuck
in a ditch, mud, or snow.
Note: Warranty begins when the vehicle is registered in service, which may
be prior to the date that you purchased it. For full Toyota Roadside Assistance
details, coverage, rules and restrictions, please download your Toyota Owner’s
Manual Supplement.
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