How To Winterize Your Car in 8 Easy Steps

Winter tires don’t harden in the cold, so they have better traction on ice, slush, and snow. If you live in an area not normally hit by heavy snow, you may decide to stick with all-season tires—but you should still give those tires a check-up.

Get out a pair of thin rubber gloves and run a hand over each of your tires. “The tires are really going to make a difference in your ability to get around in inclement weather,” EricTheCarGuy explains on his YouTube channel. He recommends checking for abnormal wear, bumps, or spots that “catch your hand,” which are all signs that you should probably check your alignment, too. If a tire is worn out, change it. If you’re not sure if your tread is worn or not, you can use a handy tool called a tire tread depth gauge. Alternatively, you can stick a penny into the treads, with Lincoln’s head facing down into the tire. If you can see the top of his head, get those tires changed right away, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Also remember that tires become harder on their surface from repeated heating and cooling over the seasons and years. Cars with apparently healthy treads can have poorer traction than you think they do. So when in doubt, swap those tires out.

[Related: Need More Grip While Driving In the Cold, Snow, and Ice? Here Are The Best Winter Tires.]

Make sure your tire pressure is correct, as stated in your owner’s manual, the tire placard located on the driver’s side door jamb, or in your car’s digital status center. For every 10 degrees Fahrenheit that the temperature drops, you could see a gain or loss of 1 pound per square inch of pressure. That’s because air molecules pack together more closely when the temperature drops. As the air becomes denser, the pressure it exerts on the interior tire walls drops. Make sure you’re refilling your tires whenever they’re a little low to maintain good traction and durability.

[Related: Want to Diagnose That Check Engine Light? Get This Car Scan Tool]

Chains should only be used while driving on snowy or icy roads. Never use chains on bare pavement, or they could cause damage to both your car and the road; Pull over and remove them if that’s the case. Check out this handy how-to video from the Oregon Department of Transportation about installing winter tire chains and how to correctly use them.

[Related: The 8 Best Tire Chains of 2022]

Because winterized wipers have a rubber edge, ice and snow won’t accumulate on the blades. One caveat you should know: these wipers are heavier than regular ones, so the wiper motor needs to work a little harder. Just make sure to remove them once spring comes around again.

[Related: The Best Wiper Blades to Keep Your Windshield Clear]

Keep in mind that driving through one serious snowstorm can exhaust your wiper fluid reservoir, according to Bridgestone Tire. Look for a washer fluid made specifically for handling extremely low temperatures—otherwise, it will freeze, further blocking your vision. You can always add a bottle of washer fluid antifreeze to the reservoir if you aren’t sure you have the right kind, Bridgestone Tire recommends. Most auto parts stores stock it.

[Related: The Best Spray De-Icers to Clean Your Wintry Windshield]

Make sure your car is up-to-date with its maintenance, including oil changes and tire rotations about every 5,000 miles (depending on your car’s specifications). The same goes for making sure your battery, cooling system, heating system (including rear window defroster), brakes, belts, hoses, spark plugs, wires, and cables are all in good shape. You don’t want to be stranded on a freezing day or night.

[Related: How Often Should You Really Change Your Car’s Oil?]

In fact, refill it every time it hits the halfway mark. Think about this: if you’re stranded, keeping your car running with the heat on may keep you warm util help comes.

[Related: 10 Simple Hacks to Improve Your Vehicle’s Gas Mileage]

While we’re on the subject of staying safe while stranded, go ahead and stock your car with these winter emergency essentials:

• Cell phone
• Spare warm clothes and boots
• Warm blanket
• Matches
• Flashlight and fresh batteries
• Flares
• Non-perishable food
• Water
• First-aid kit
• Ice scraper
• Jumper cable
• Extra gas
• Extra quart of oil
• Antifreeze
• A bag of sand or kitty litter (this can be poured out to provide more traction if your tires are stuck in snow or spinning on ice)
• A shovel
• A car tool kit

[Related: Fixing a Car that Won’t Start]