What To Do To Get Your Vehicle Ready For Winter

Winter Maintenance Checklist For Cars, Trucks and SUVs

It doesn't take a meteorologist to know that winter provides a much different experience than summer, both in terms of weather and also in the driving situations that you'll find yourself in. Green grass turns to white snow, hot temps turn frigid, and as a fun treat, sometimes your chosen highway will turn into a giant slip and slide without warning.

So, to avoid being that guy who gets stranded on the side of a cold road or ends up in a ditch, we'll be taking you through some of the most essential things you should have either in or on your vehicle when you head out. Check it out and, if you haven't gotten this stuff already, load up.

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Have The Right Winter Supplies

Whether you're just starting your day or coming home after an afternoon full of snow, you'll need the right supplies in your car to keep your drive safe. We've listed a few of the most important tools for you to have below:

Scraper: If you live anywhere north of, say, Missouri, there's a safe bet that you'll have to deal with frost or ice on your windshield and windows each morning. So, drop about 10 bucks and grab yourself a window scraper - not only can they break off any ice off your car, but most of them also have brushes that you can use to clear snow off too.

Jumper Cables: Cold temperatures are bad news for car engines, especially older ones with plenty of usage behind them. More than likely you'll have to deal with a car that won't start at least once per winter season, so make sure you've got a good set of jumper cables and a good friend that can get you up and running. Bonus points if you spring a little extra cash for a set of cables that comes with a built-in, rechargeable battery - not only is this easier, but you also don't have to talk to anyone.

Shovel & Salt: The Great Lakes region has this cool thing called "Lake Effect Snow," which is a fancy term that means "Sometimes there'll be three feet of snow in your driveway for no reason other than nature being a dick." Keep a shovel in your trunk or cargo area to help clear out your tires and give you more room to grab some traction, and you might also want to keep some salt in your vehicle too. Salt is a great tool to help snow melt, and can save you plenty of time in a pinch.

Hand Warmers & Spare Clothes: If the worst happens and you're stuck on the road, you'll want to make sure you're staying warm while you wait for help. We hope this never occurs, but as a preventative measure, have a few hand warmers in your car and a spare change of warm clothes at all times - it'll be a life saver.

Spare Tire & Jack: A cold snap can mess up your tires, and you might wake up to find out that one of them has gone flat. If you can't make it to a gas station to fill up your tires, keep a spare tire and jack in your car to help keep yourself moving forward.

Wash and Detail Your Car

Ideally this would happen before the temperature drops too much, but an underrated aspect of vehicle maintenance is keeping it washed and detailed. Water used in car washes is usually infused with guarding chemicals that can keep your car from rusting in cold, salty driving conditions, and that's essential for its longevity. Plus, a clean car looks cool.

Replace All Engine and Maintenance Fluids

At some point prior to winter (preferably now-ish) you'll need to take your vehicle to your nearest auto shop and get all the fluids and components either topped off, charged or changed. This can include oil, washer fluid, batteries, tires, power steering fluid, brake fluid, etc. Also, make sure that all pipes are sealed up and able to retain your fluids for optimal fluids - leaks can be bad news for cars, and this is only amplified in winter.

Replace Your Wheels and Tires

This is especially important if you're the kind of person who likes to change their tires depending on the season. Summer tires won't do very well in winter, and vice versa, so right around now is when you should be looking for a new set of winter tires to help you keep traction, control, and comfort even in the worst conditions.

Of course, a good new set of wheels doesn't hurt either, especially if you're changing out your tires routinely. You don't want to go through the hassle of taking tires off of a wheel and putting it on another wheel, so if you have the cash to drop on a new set of winter-ready wheels and tires, that's something we'd definitely recommend.

Read More: What Are The Best Snow Tires To Buy For Your Car, Truck, or SUV?

Shop Aftermarket Wheels and Tires For Your Vehicle At SD Wheel

Now it's time to pay the bills - we wanted to let you know that if you're in the market for a new set of winter tires on your vehicle, they're all available in our inventory to fit cars, trucks, and SUVs perfectly and keep your winter performance high. Check out our store today and grab the set of tires that best fits your vehicle - mounting, balancing and shipping are all free when you package your tires with new wheels. Shop new wheels and tires for your model at SD Wheel, and most of all, stay safe!