Winterize your car
To pass inspection in Pennsylvania, tires must have 2/32-inch of tread. For rain, 4/32-inch is recommended; for snow, 6/32-inch. As a general rule, if your tire tread is worn down by more than half of its original state, you’ll need to think about buying new tires.
By AYLEEN STELLHORN
for Smart
As days become shorter and nights grow longer, it’s time to outfit your car for the colder months.
According to local business owners, winterizing your vehicle means focusing on three areas: Tires, engine and personal safety. “Most people wait until the last minute before they come see us,” said Randy Breighner of Breighner Tire in Littlestown. “We sell the most snow tires right after the first storm of the season.”
To get a jump on Mother Nature’s severe winter weather, Breighner recommends paying close attention to the following tire-related issues:
Check the tire pressure
For every 10-degree drop in temperature, tires lose a pound per square inch of pressure. Combine temperature changes throughout the day and driving, which warms the air in the tires, and Breighner said that you could see up to a 20-degree temperature difference within your tire from morning to night. Low air pressure affects not only your tires’ performance but also your brakes. One way to ensure that tire pressure doesn’t fluctuate is to ask your shop to replace the air in your tires with 100 percent nitrogen.
“Air is naturally 78 percent nitrogen,” Breighner said. “Replacing the other 22 percent with nitrogen keeps the air pressure constant.”
Switch to studded tires
All-weather tires are fine for most winter driving, but if you’re headed into the mountains or need to get to work no matter how many inches of snow and ice are on the road, Breighner suggested using studded tires. Regulated by Pennsylvania law, studded tires can be used only from Nov. 1 to April 15. Beware: Studded tires are not permitted at any time on Maryland roads.
When it comes to winterizing, Donny Morgret, owner of 194 Service Center in Littlestown, agrees with Breighner’s assessment of the public’s preparation for winter driving.
“People won’t spend money these days until they have to,” Morgret said. “Luckily, what we check for in engines can be done during an oil, lube, filter (check).”
Take care of the oil
Oil, lube, filter procedures should be performed at regular intervals throughout a car’s life, but they are especially important during the winter months.
Some car manufacturers recommend that a thinner oil be used when the temperatures drop below freezing. Check the owner’s manual and then talk to your mechanic.
Check the antifreeze
Antifreeze prevents a car’s radiator and hoses from freezing during cold temperatures. The antifreeze reservoir should be full and the antifreeze in it should have the correct antifreeze-to-water ratio, otherwise the engine’s efficiency may be compromised. At that point, the antifreeze may need to be drained and refilled.
Check the battery
Your car’s battery has to work harder to start the engine during cold weather, and if your battery is more than 3 years old, it’s more likely to fail without warning. Ask a mechanic to check the battery’s power and to make sure that the connections are tight and the posts are not corroded.
Keep the gas tank at three-quarters full
A gas tank that is less than one-quarter full has the potential to develop moisture, which can then build up in the gas line and freeze. Three-quarters full may not always be practical, but it is ideal, Breighner said.
Keep it safeIn addition to making sure your tires and engine are ready for winter, you’ll also want to take some wintertime safety precautions:
Check the windshield wipers and fluid
Wipers work just as hard in snowstorms as in rain, and their efficiency can be lessened by snow and ice buildup. Replace old windshield wipers and make sure the reservoir is filled with windshield wiper fluid that won’t freeze when temperatures plunge.
Prepare a snow emergency kit
Include a good quality ice scraper, a collapsible shovel, a flashlight with extra batteries, a woolen blanket, flares, jumper cables and a small bag of sand or cat litter.
Buy a car charger for your cell phone
Cell phone batteries can get low if you’re stranded for any amount of time. Keep a charger in your car.
Get a de-icer kit
Last but not least, a de-icer kit for your car doors is a great item to add to your winterizing kit, but don’t store it in your glove box or under a seat. Keep it in a desk drawer at work or in a closet at home so it’s within easy reach.
Take a little time to plan ahead this winter, and you’ll find that the switch from summer to winter doesn’t have to be so jarring to your wallet or your schedule.
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