Get Your Car Winter-Ready: A Seasonal Checklist

Winter driving puts extra stress on your car. Cold temperatures affect batteries, tire grip drops on snow and ice, and road salt accelerates wear on exposed parts. A few straightforward checks before the first freeze can save you from being stranded on a cold morning.

Check your battery first. Cold weather reduces battery capacity, and if your battery is more than four years old, it may struggle. Most auto parts stores will test it for free. If the terminals have white or blue corrosion, clean them with a wire brush.

Inspect your tires. Tread depth should be at least 3 millimeters for safe winter driving. The penny test works: insert a penny into the tread with Lincoln's head down. If you can see the top of his head, the tread is too low. Consider winter tires if you live in an area with regular snow and ice -- they make a significant difference in grip and stopping distance below 7 degrees Celsius.

Fill your windshield washer fluid with a winter-grade formula that does not freeze. Top off your coolant reservoir with the correct mixture for your car. Check that your defroster and rear window heater work.

Keep an emergency kit in the trunk: a blanket, ice scraper, small shovel, flashlight, jumper cables, and a bag of sand or cat litter for traction if you get stuck. If you drive a car with all-wheel drive like a Subaru, you already have better snow traction, but winter tires still matter more than the drivetrain.

Finally, check your owner's manual for any winter-specific maintenance recommendations for your specific model.