Top 5 Winter Safety Tips for Your Car

When the weather outside is frightful, the workday commute quickly becomes not-so-delightful.

Fortunately, John McCaully, partner at Pro Auto Center in Plum, has some winter car safety tips to keep you going — even when the going gets tough.

1. Always make sure your tires have enough tread to handle the weather conditions. If you are not sure how much is enough, make a stop by an auto repair shop and ask to have your tires' tread depth measure, McCaully says.

If you are thinking about getting specialty winter tires, consider how much of your winter travel is necessary.

"If you can afford to wait for the roads to be cleared, then the all-season tires are just fine," McCaully says. "However, if you need to get out right away, then snow tires would be to your advantage."

2. Remember that some winter travel practices can actually be detrimental to your vehicle. Heavy, front-end snowplows are very strenuous on a vehicle's transmission, unless you have a heavy-duty truck, McCaully says.

Protect your paint job by making sure to clean salt debris off the outside of your car. The salt used to melt ice on the roadways can also eat through the paint and even the steel of your vehicle.

McCaully suggests washing your car weekly. Ice scrapers are another enemy to the condition of your car. Try to find one made of soft plastic and brush off snow before you start chipping at the ice.

"The best thing to do is let the car warm up a little bit," McCaully says. "The ice will come off much easier if you use your heater and defroster first."

3. Quick stops and sudden speed changes are dangerous for winter driving. Always pay attention to your brakes. You should be able to tell if they are in good condition, McCaully says.

If you hear any noises, feel grinding or sliding, or think you have any other break issues; you should seek professional help right away.

"If you feel there something wrong, this applies every time," McCaully says. "You need to come in to an auto repair shop right away."

4. Check your windshield wiper blades to make sure they can clear heavy snow and icy conditions. If you have a truck or SUV, this applies to both the front and back wiper blades.

Winter blades are new to the market, treated with a chemical to help handle winter weather, and may be something you want to consider, McCaully says.

"If your wiper blades are frozen to your windshield, whatever you do, don't pry them off," he says. "You're going to make junk out of them real fast if you do that, no matter what kind of blades you use."

5. Keep a pre-packaged emergency kit containing things such as a blanket and emergency stop signs in your vehicle at all times.

"You should have these tools in case of an accident or emergency," says McCaully. "I would also keep an extra gallon of wiper fluid in the car, just in case."