Winter Car Care Basics:
What are some other easy things our viewers at home can do to ensure their vehicles are properly
prepared for winter weather?
 It all comes down to the four B’s, meaning Blades, Brakes, Battery and Blizzaks. If you
remember these four safety cues it will help ensure you and your vehicle are ready to face
winter weather:

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Winter Wiper Blades – Replace worn wiper blades with new blades for the winter to
increase visibility.
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Brakes – No matter how great your tires are, they can’t help an old set of brakes. Get
them checked before the weather gets nasty.
o
Battery – Have it tested! A dead battery is an annoyance in the summer, but it can be
life threatening in the snow. Even new batteries can lose as much as 40 percent of their
current (cold cranking ability) in cold weather.
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And of course—Blizzaks, winter tires, which we’ll talk about in more detail in a minute.
Other tips for prepping your car for winter weather include:
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Turn on your headlights – Whenever daytime visibility is less than perfect, turning on
your lights allows you to see, and just as important, to be seen by others. Remember
this rule of thumb: Wipers On - Lights On.
o
Suspension – Shocks and struts are critical to handling and every bit of vehicle
performance. Worn shocks or struts can lead to too much weight transfer from side to
side, reducing the ability of the tires to grip the road.
o
Wiper fluid – Be sure you have fluid that can withstand freezing temperatures.
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Roadside emergency kit – Keep a roadside emergency kit and necessary supplies in your
vehicle during the winter months (blankets, bottled water, jumper cablese, a flashlight,
etc.) A bag of kitty litter or sand is great to have as well in order to provide increased
traction on slick road surfaces.

Segment 2:
Winter Tire Facts:
Tell us how our viewers can care for their tires throughout the winter. What happens to tires when it
gets cold, and why are specially-designated winter tires are important?
 Winter weather can be damaging to your vehicle. To maintain your tires, try these tips:
o
Check your tire pressure monthly – For every 10 degrees the temperature drops, your
tires can lose about 1 pound per square inch (PSI) of pressure. It’s quick and easy to do.
You can find the manufacturer’s specific tire pressure on the inside of the doorjamb.
o

Check the tread depth on your tires regularly – This will help with traction in bad
weather. An easy and quick way to do that is with an ordinary penny. Put Abe Lincoln’s
head upside-down on the tire. If part of his head is hidden by the tire, your tread is in
good shape. If you can see his whole head, your tread is worn, and it’s time for new
tires.
A winter tire will help you make the most of winter driving—keeping you safe and keeping your
tires in top form for snowy streets:
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If you can see your breath, it’s time to switch to winter tires – When the temperature
approaches freezing, switch your all-season or high-performance tires to winter tires.
With unique polymers and tread pattern elements, winter tires are optimized for more
grip and the control you need in winter weather conditions.
o
Switch back to all-season tires – When it becomes warm again, be sure to switch back
to all-season or summer tires. This will maximize the lifetime of your winter tires.
o
Mountain/snowflake symbol – Look for the mountain/snowflake symbol, not just mud
and snow (M+S), to ensure you have dedicated-winter tires.
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Compounds – Winter tires have special tread compounds, which deliver improved
traction. These compounds grip the road without the need for studs, which can damage
roads. All-season tires become less flexible when they become cold, decreasing grip.
Winter tires have special compounds that retain their flexibility, even in cold
temperatures – a flexible tread means more surface traction and better control.
Treads – For improved traction, you actually want snow becomes packed into the treads. This
snow-on-snow contact actually improves grip. Deeper treads dig into the snow and use edges to
grip