How to prepare your car for winter

Winter tires

Consider installing good-quality winter tires. Winter tires are specifically designed to improve traction on snow-covered or icy roads. Many dealerships will store your off-season tires if you purchase tires with them. There may be a small fee, but it's worth it for the convenience.
If you have alloy wheels, especially those with wide performance tires, consider purchasing winter tires pre-installed on steel rims instead of changing tires only - it's easy to damage alloy rims during winter and they are usually not repairable. There is less labour involved in changing tires that are already installed on the rims, so the charge is usually less. Winter tires need to be installed on all four wheels. Don't skimp on safety.
While winter tires have better traction on winter roads than all-season tires, they are not foolproof; drive carefully in winter conditions. Winter tires wear faster on dry roads in warm weather; don't forget to remove them when the winter season is over.

Check tire pressure

Check tire pressure regularly during winter - proper pressure is important to maintain better traction. You can find recommended tire pressure in the owner's manual or on the tire pressure placard.

Battery terminals

Unfortunately, there is no way to tell when the battery will decide to quit - sometimes it happens unexpectedly with no prior signs. However, if you feel that cranking speed is slower than before, the battery is probably close to its end. Have your battery tested, especially if it is more than 2-3 years old. A dead battery is one of the most common causes for a no-start during winter. Make sure the battery terminals are tight and not corroded. Corroded terminals will cause troubles.

Top up windshield washer fluid

Windshield wipers are very critical to winter driving; consider installing winter wipers.
  Make sure you replace summer washer fluid with special winter windshield washer fluid that won't freeze.
  If the washer jets don't spray properly, clean and adjust them. Good visibility is important - don't forget to clean your windshield and other windows from inside as well.

Winter is harsh on your car's body

Winter is harsh on your car's body: moisture, sand and road salt damage the exterior paint and speed up the corrosion process. If road salt is common on the roads in your area during the winter, consider rust proofing your vehicle.
  It's good idea to wax your car before winter - wax will help to preserve the paint. Check our How to wax a car tips.
  Scratches and stone chips will more likely be corroded after winter, so touch up or repair any damages to your car's paint before winter.

Clean the leaves from the cowl panel

Remove the leaves and other debris accumulated during the fall under the cowl panel below the windshield and in other areas. The leaves block water drains and collect moisture. This will cause corrosion and extra humidity inside the car, as the air intake for the cabin heater is usually located under the cowl panel.

Wash your car more often during winter

Wash your car more often during winter. Moisture, salt and dirt accumulate inside the wheel wells, under the doors and other hidden areas and cause corrosion. The chrome wheels and other chrome trim parts could be damaged if the vehicle is not washed after driving on the roads when the salt was used.
I like washing my car at a self-service coin car wash with the high-pressure gun, as it washes off the dirt and salt from hard to reach areas and from underneath the car.
Check our car body care tips.

Install winter floor mats

Modern cars have a lot of electronics near and under the carpets. Keep the interior of the car dry, as the snow and salt left inside often cause corrosion of the wiring and electronic components. For the same reason consider installing winter floor mats that don't soak the moisture and are easy to clean.

Lubricate the door and trunk locks

Lubricate the door and trunk locks, as well as the hood locking mechanism so they won't freeze. It's also a good idea to lubricate hinges of the hood, doors and the trunk.
Clean and lubricate the door rails if your vehicle has sliding doors.

Protecting door seals

To prevent rubber door seals from sticking in freezing weather lubricate them with special lubricant for rubber door seals. Usually it's called 'weatherstrip lubricant'. I use the spray from Würth called "Rubber Care".

Winter kit

Winter weather is unpredictable and you need to be prepared for any situation. Here are the recommended items you should keep in your car: basic tool kit, an ice scraper, a shovel, sand or kitty litter, tow cable or chain, traction mats, road flares or warning light, an emergency sign, a flashlight, booster cables, a fire extinguisher, extra windshield washer fluid, fuel line antifreeze, first aid kit, a charged cell phone, an emergency food pack, a bottle of water, warm clothing and footwear for each passenger, a warm blanket for each passenger, matches in a waterproof container, a reflective vest.
I take my winter kit with me whenever I have to travel by car during winter and a couple of times I already had to use some of the items.