Experts Give Tips For Car Winterizations

(KNSI) – This week’s blast of snow followed by cold has some folks scrambling to get their vehicles ready for winter.

Granite City Tire & Auto General Manager Jesse Nelson says this season’s early snowfall makes everybody realize that having good tires is essential. “If you’re trying to push through and get as much mileage out of your tires, you can do that in the summer. Rain can be detrimental to handling with tires that are lower in tread, but snow definitely will identify low tread on tires very quickly.”

He says balding tires are a factor in most of the cars they are fixing at the shop. Minnesota law requires tires to be changed when they are down to 2/32 of an inch. Nelson says tires lose their grip in the snow before hitting that mark. “At 4/32, we start recommending replacement because you don’t have the tread depth which digs into the snow and actually provides a better biting edge.”

He also says to make sure that tires are properly inflated.

Nelson says there is one common mistake many people make. “Wipers are not designed to be ice scrapers. So if you have a large amount of snow or ice on your windshield, it is best to get out and actually scrape that off. So your wipers can you clear the way they’re supposed to.”

He says drivers need to make sure their car fluids are topped off and have their suspension, brakes, and heater checked if there is any concern.

___