A Guide to High Performance Winter Driving

The winter months in the UK presents a unique challenge. For the driver accustomed to exhilarating performance and precision handling, cold temperatures, rain, sleet, and even the occasional snow flurries demand a shift in mindset and preparation.

At Evogo Asset Finance, we understand that your vehicle is more than an asset—it is a precision instrument. Here is our essential guide to navigating the cold season safely while preserving the performance and value of your high-end machine.

1. The Right Way to Defrost: Protect Your Glass and Wipers

Visibility is paramount, and improperly clearing frost can damage your windscreen or wipers leading to expensive repairs.

• The Golden Rule: Never use boiling or hot water. The rapid temperature change can cause thermal shock, cracking your windscreen instantly.
• The Safe Method:
  1. Start the engine and activate the front and rear demisters (defrosters) at full heat and, crucially, full fan power. Direct the airflow towards the glass.
  2. Activate the air conditioning (A/C). While counter-intuitive, the A/C dehumidifies the air, helping to clear the inside of the glass and accelerate ice melting on the outside.
  3. Use a proper plastic ice scraper or a safe de-icing solution. Never use metal tools or abrasive materials.
  4. Ensure you have 100% visibility before setting off. Driving with a partially cleared screen is illegal and severely compromises safety.

2. The Critical Tyre Choice: Ditch the Summer Rubber

The single most weighty decision you will make for winter driving is your tyres.

• The Problem: High-performance summer tyres are engineered with hard compounds and shallow treads, optimising grip above 7{C}. Below this temperature, the rubber hardens dramatically, significantly reducing traction, braking efficiency, and roadholding, regardless of whether the road is wet or dry.
• The Solution: Invest in a dedicated set of Winter or All-Season tyres. These feature softer compounds (rich in silica) that remain pliable in the cold and deep, intricate sipes (small cuts) that effectively clear water and compact snow, maintaining the grip integrity your vehicle was designed to deliver.

Tip: Never confuse all-season tyres with being suitable for heavy snow. Dedicated winter tyres are always the superior choice when temperatures drop.

3. Battery Health: The Hidden Winter Weakness

Extreme cold places significant strain on a vehicle’s battery. This is compounded by the fact that high-performance vehicles, especially those with complex electronics and large displacement engines, demand high starting currents.

• Protecting Your Asset: If your vehicle is often stored for extended periods, or if you rotate between several cars in your collection, always use a high quality trickle charger or battery maintainer. This ensures the battery remains at its optimum charge level, preventing sulfation and failure, and guaranteeing that keyless entry and ignition systems function flawlessly, even on the coldest mornings.

4. Understanding Your Vehicle’s Technology

Modern luxury and performance cars are equipped with sophisticated systems designed to enhance safety, but they require trust and understanding in winter.

• AWD vs. 4WD: While All-Wheel Drive (AWD) is invaluable for maintaining traction, it does not defy physics. It helps you get going but does not improve your braking capability. Drive within the limits of your tyres.
• Driving Modes: Utilise your car’s designated “Snow,” “Wet,” or “Comfort” driving modes. These often-dull throttle response, upshift earlier, and adjust traction control systems to be more interventionist, preventing sudden wheel spin that can cause skidding.

5. Adjusting Your Driving Dynamics

The key to high-performance driving in winter is smoothness and anticipation. Aggressive inputs are the enemy of traction on cold surfaces.

• Gentle Acceleration: Use minimal throttle to pull away. Let the car’s technology and the low gear ratios of modern automatic gearboxes do the work.
• Increase Stopping Distance: The braking distance required on ice is ten times that needed on a dry road. Double or triple your usual following distance, especially on high-speed roads.
• Smooth Steering: Avoid sudden steering corrections. Input turns slowly and progressively, allowing the tyres time to find traction without breaking grip.

6. Protect the Exterior: The Salt Factor

The salt and grit spread across UK roads are highly corrosive and can damage the paintwork, wheels, and undercarriage of your prestige vehicle.

• Regular Washing: Maintain a regular washing regime, paying particular attention to the wheel arches and underbody.
• Protective Coating: Ensure your car’s paintwork has a protective layer of high-quality ceramic coating or wax. This acts as a sacrificial barrier against road grime and salt, preserving the flawless finish and protecting your investment’s residual value.

Evogo Asset Finance: We provide bespoke financial solutions that ensure you can acquire and maintain the world’s most desired vehicles, regardless of the season.

Planning your next high-value acquisition? Contact Evogo Asset Finance to discuss how our tailored funding structures can support your collection.