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As winter approaches, it’s important to ensure your car is ready to endure the elements. There are several ways to help ensure your vehicle is safe to drive any time of year and doing so before winter is especially important. Preventative car maintenance is the best way to promote safe driving and vehicle longevity. Here are 3 ways to prepare your car for winter:

Maintain The Recommended Tire Pressure

Every vehicle has a recommended tire pressure. Your tire’s recommended PSI can usually be located in your door jamb or your vehicle’s owner’s manual. Maintaining the proper tire pressure in the winter months can be more challenging compared to the warmer months. The air contracts when it is cooler, and therefore the air within the tires takes up less space when it’s cold out. This means that your tires deflate much quicker and vehicle owners should be checking their PSI more often during the winter months. If you notice your TPMS light (tire pressure monitoring system) is on, your tires are underinflated by more than 25%. This is dangerous any time of year because underinflated tires could lead to a tire blowout, and also contributes to uneven tread wear. Contact your local tire shop to get TPMS service and check your tire pressure regularly throughout the winter to ensure your tires are filled up to the recommended PSI. 

Store Winter Materials in Your Car

As winter approaches, so do more hazardous driving conditions. It’s critical to ensure your vehicle is safe to operate by performing routine vehicle maintenance. Nobody wants to get stuck on the side of the road due to a dead battery, flat tire, lack of oil or fuel, or any other vehicle issue. Ensure you get your regular oil change and perform other routine maintenance tasks to minimize the risk of being stranded on the road.

However, you must be prepared by storing various items in your vehicle to help keep you safe in case of an emergency. Keep an ice scraper/snow brush and shovel in your car to help you get out of a situation where you may become stuck. Keep warm winter clothes and a blanket in your vehicle to ensure you’ll stay warm. Emergency flares and a flashlight are a good idea to keep to help your vehicle become more noticeable in blizzardy conditions. Keep a well-stocked first-aid kit in your vehicle in case you need to treat an injury. Also remember to keep jumper cables in your vehicle in case you need to jump a dead battery, whether it be yours or someone else’s.

Check Your Battery 

Being aware of the state of your vehicle’s battery is important to ensure your vehicle is going to continue to operate during the cold weather. Car batteries can die more easily during the winter months because of the excess strain the cold weather places on the battery. It’s also important to ensure your battery doesn’t have any corrosion impacting the battery or components near the battery. It’s wise to bring your vehicle into a local auto shop to have preventative maintenance done that will help ensure your battery is fully functional and able to keep your car safe this winter. If you notice your engine is hard to start, your dash light is on, electrical components are malfunctioning, your headlights suddenly go dim, a bad smell, or if your vehicle makes a rapid clicking noise, these are all signs that your vehicle might need a battery replacement. Contact your local auto shop for battery service.

If you require tire services, battery services, or if you need auto repair near Hudson, contact Tire Pros & Wheel Experts. We offer several preventative maintenance services that will help your vehicle remain safe to drive this winter. Contact us to schedule an appointment today and watch for Part 2 for a few more important ways to prep your car for winter.

 

Our Complete Tires, Auto Repair and Oil Change Services are available but not limited to the following cities in Minnesota and Northern Wisconsin:

            Stillwater, MN | Hudson, WI | Houlton, WI | River Falls, WI | Somerset, WI | Lake Elmo, MN | Bayport, MN | New Richmond, WI | Oak Park Heights, MN | Woodbury, MN | Oakdale, MN | Maplewood, MN | Dellwood, MN | Cottage Grove, MN | Grant, MN | Mahtomedi, MN | North St Paul, MN | South St Paul, MN | St Paul, MN | Lakeland, MN | Afton, MN | Newport, MN | White Bear Lake, MN | Gem Lake, MN | Vadnais Heights, MN | Pine Springs, MN | Willernie, MN | Arcola, MN | Withrow, MN

            At Tire Pros and Wheel Experts, our Complete Automotive Services Include:

           

            Air Conditioning Repair/AC Repair | Batteries | Belts and Hoses | Brake Repair/Brake Replacement | Cooling System Repair | Diesel Engine Service | Driveline Repair | Engine Repair | Heavy Engine and Transmission |Jeep Conversions | Truck Repair and Maintenance | Lift, Lower and Leveling Kits | Muffler Repair | Nitrogen |Oil Changes | Performance Parts | Tire Parts | Wheels | Radiators | Preventative Maintenance | Roadside Assistance | Shuttle Service | Loaner Cars | Suspension Repair | Tire Balancing | Tire Repair | Tire Rotation |Transmission Repair | Wheel Alignments | Wheel Refinishing