Even if you live in an area where the winters are mild, you still need to perform a car care check as the days grow shorter. Consider the following tips to prep your car for winter roads and unpredictable weather:
- Check your tire tread—Inspect your tires for tread wear and have tires rotated during every oil change. Consider switching to snow tires if you live in an area that gets heavy snow to gain better traction on slippery roads.
- Schedule a maintenance appointment—Regular vehicle maintenance can help prevent car troubles. Consider changing your oil and antifreeze, replacing wiper blades and inspecting headlights and brake lights.
- Inspect your battery—Battery capacity decreases in cold weather, so get your battery tested before the chill sets in. Consider parking your vehicle in a garage to further protect the battery from the cold elements.
- Fill up your tires—Monitor your tire pressure and, as needed, fill up tires with air. It’s best to keep up with the monitoring process once a month.
- Check the heater—If you don’t have a working heater in your car already, be sure to fix it. In the event that you have car troubles and are unexpectedly stuck in your car for an extended period of time, you’ll want that heat until help is on the way.
Besides prepping and keeping your vehicle running well, stash an emergency kit in your car to help in the case of a winter car emergency.
