Posted on 10/22/2014
I had a customer ask me the other day how she could best prepare her car for winter. I first thought this was quite a strange question, given that the Bay Area has been dealing with a drought. While we are lucky not to experience the -30 F temps – like those who live places like Chicago – many of us take road trips to Lake Tahoe and maybe Mammoth, so it is important to think about winter car preparation. The most important considerations for winter car prep follow. Traction Make sure that your tires are in good condition and have plenty of tread for wet or freezing conditions. They must be all-season tires. If they will be used in the snow, look for an MS (mud and snow) rating. Tread depth is important. There is a wear bar in the center of the tread. For the tire to perform properly in winter conditions, there should be 5 mm or more of tread from the wear bar. Check the age of your tires – even if the tire has a lot of tread, the rubber might be old and cracking. The Department o ... read more