Caring for your Porsche in winter

As winter sets in, you may be tempted to leave your Porsche in the garage. Whether you're one of those who drives or one of those who hibernates, find out how to get through the winter with your Porsche.

Should you drive a Porsche in winter?

It's a question that many owners ask themselves, but how many of them actually take their Porsche out in winter? There are those who don't take it out at all, those who enjoy a ray of sunshine from time to time and those for whom winter is not an issue - driving a Porsche is a year-round activity. In all three cases, here's the advice you need to follow.

If you're not driving, fill up with petrol to avoid condensation in the tank. Do not run the engine when stationary, as this could damage the car and its catalytic converters in particular. Think about your battery! We strongly recommend that you put it on charge maintenance to avoid unpleasant surprises in the spring. As for your tyres, there's a risk of them deflating and losing their roundness. Use long-term parking chocks or over-inflate your tyres by 0.5 to 0.7 bar. Expect your Porsche to struggle to restart in the spring. Occasional driving is the best way to avoid problems. Without even going out for long drives, taking to the road from time to time is good for your Porsche. Thirty minutes or so every fortnight is enough to avoid downtime problems.

It's also a perfect remedy for the low morale associated with this season. With a few regular outings, you can give your engine, battery, tyres and heart a bit of life. Modern Porsches don't need any special preparation for winter (apart from tyres). They are more at ease than their predecessors in difficult conditions. The Macan, Cayenne, Panamera and Taycan drive through the winter without a care in the world. Older Porsches need more attention, especially when it comes to coolant. Check that it is suitable for low temperatures. Some Porsche drivers don't hesitate to go out, even with their hair blowing in the wind. Florence, owner of a Boxster 986, confided that she drives her car with the top down in all seasons, weather permitting. However often you go out, winter driving requires the right equipment, starting with tyres.

Which tyres should be fitted to your Porsche in winter?

Mountain legislation requires cars to be fitted with winter tyres in certain areas. Is it better to fit winter tyres on your Porsche? There are strict tyre requirements for Porsche vehicles. In Luxembourg, in the event of winter conditions, you must equip your vehicle with winter tyres or all-weather tyres when driving on public roads. Winter tyres are a compromise: they have a dense network of channels and sipes. The channels evacuate water and snow, while the sipes provide grip. A summer tyre has around 200 transverse channels, compared with 2,000 for a winter tyre. Winter tyres are also narrower to improve grip. Winter tyres work perfectly in winter. The colder it is, the more effective they are. Keeping them on in summer is dangerous, especially when braking and accelerating. Winter tyres have a maximum lifespan of 3 to 4 years and should not be used in summer. 4-season tyres are not ideal for winter conditions. If you take mountain roads, winter tyres are preferable. On the Côte d'Azur, they are not necessary. Finally, winter tyres perform best below 7°C. Above that, their softer rubber wears out more quickly.

A cover for your Porsche

Not all Porsches sleep under a car cover. Yet the cover is the protection that will preserve your car. Thibault Rémy, Managing Director of Car Cover France, says that covering a Porsche with old sheets is not a great idea: "Cotton absorbs moisture, which can cause rust, mould and disrupt electrical systems." Choose your cover according to where it's parked. If your Porsche sleeps outside, opt for a cover that will protect it from the elements. Inside, a cover will prevent dust from settling. Driving in winter can mean driving in the rain or snow. If possible, let your Porsche dry out before covering it.