Texas winters are mild, but a cold snap, an ice storm, or a road trip north will humble a rear-wheel-drive Mustang fast. A little prep keeps your car happy and you safe when the temperature drops.
Quick answer: Tires matter more than anything. Respect the traction limits of a powerful rear-drive car in the cold, and handle a few small maintenance items before winter hits.
Tires are everything
Summer and many all-season tires get hard and lose grip in the cold. If you drive in real winter weather, proper cold-weather tires are the single biggest safety upgrade. If you only see the occasional cold morning, at least know your tires lose grip when it is near freezing.
Respect the power
A Coyote makes it easy to light up the rear tires on a cold, damp road. Ease into the throttle, leave more following distance, and remember that traction and stability aids help but do not repeal physics.
Small stuff that matters
- Check your battery. Cold is hard on a weak one.
- Top off washer fluid and check your wiper blades.
- Keep an eye on tire pressures, which drop as it gets cold.
If your car is lowered
A lowered Mustang has less clearance for slush, ruts, and steep driveways. Take it easy and watch your approach angles when conditions are bad.
Keep the car dialed in with everything for your Mustang, from suspension to lighting for those long dark evenings.
