Winterize Your Ride: The Complete Car Maintenance

Making sure your vehicle is ready for winter is important for safety. Here are some tips to make sure you’re at your safest

How to make sure your vehicle is ready for winter:

The winter season is upon us, and with it comes cold weather. This time of year can be hard on vehicles. If you want to make the cold months a little easier for yourself, there are a few things you can do to prepare your car.

• Make sure your tires have proper treads. The best way to check this is to look at your tire sidewall. If it has an “M&S” in the corner, then that means a mud and snow rating. If there’s no letter, then that means all-season or summer tires that aren’t going to cut it when temperatures drop below freezing. Tires rated for winter weather will have temperature icons depicting cold temperature performance next to their ratings numbers – these will look like mountains with snow on them.
• Get your car serviced. This is important all year round, but especially in the winter. Make sure your antifreeze levels are good, that your brakes are functioning properly, and that all of your lights are working correctly. Checking these things now can help you avoid a bigger problem down the road.
• Pack an emergency kit. This is especially important if you’re planning on doing any traveling during the winter. The kit should include items like blankets, a first-aid kit, water, food, a flashlight, and a charged cellphone.

Stay safe out there! Follow these tips to help make sure your vehicle is ready for winter weather. And remember to drive carefully and safely!