Ready for winter? Six tips to winterize your car.

3. Check the tires

Paul Aiken/The Boulder Camera/AP/File
Nick Juliano of Discount Tire in Boulder, Colo., carries one of the approximately 200 70-pound used tires to be discarded in this 2009 file photo. Drivers can make their tires last longer and drive safer in snow if they rotate them regularly and keep them properly inflated.

Maintaining your tires during the winter is crucial. Remember, there’s a very good chance another set of tires is needed if your vehicle has reached the 80,000 to 90,000 mile mark. Tires that are unevenly worn or out of balance can cause a car to pull or shake when driven, potentially damaging other components.

Rotate and balance your tires every other oil change; regularly check for uneven wear and try to keep them clean. Tires should be properly inflated, and the tread depth should be at least 4/32”. Using snow tires can improve traction over all-season tires.

Also, since you may not have used four-wheel drive all year, or in several years, make sure the 4WD is activated when you switch it on (review your manual on “how to activate”). Using 4WD improves traction in slippery conditions.

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