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Health & Fitness

Get your car ready for winter

By Mark Rhodes, President, Plaza Tire Service

The beginning of fall means many things. Leaves are changing color, the weather is getting cooler, and you begin to spend more time in your car. Now is the perfect time of year to stay ahead of the weather and get your car ready for winter, and Plaza Tire Service can help you prepare. Your car can really take a beating from snow covered roads and icy conditions, so it makes sense to take a few precautions and be ready for when the weather changes.

 Here are some tips that will help you prepare:

 1.     Take care of the outside: Now is the time to check essential safety components like your tires, headlights and windshield wipers. Make sure you have proper tire pressure and enough tread, that your headlights are bright and that your wipers work. While the temperatures are still mild, it’s also a good time to give your car a good wash and a protective coat of wax.

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 2.     Have the right type of tire: All-season tires are a good fit for the fall season, handling dry and wet conditions equally and if you are in the market for new tires, the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 tire is a good buy. However, if temperatures drop below 44 degrees Fahrenheit consistently, you will want to switch to winter tires to manage the icy or snowy condition.

 3.     Take care of the inside: Make sure to test all of the necessary equipment, including your heater and defroster. Your local Plaza Tire Service can help by testing the car battery. Now is also the time to check and/or change all fluids, especially the antifreeze and washer fluid.

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 4.     Have a winter ready kit in the trunk: Before the first snow falls, be sure you know where your ice scraper/snow brush is. It’s not a bad idea to have an extra set of gloves in the trunk, as well as a shovel, ice melt and jumper cables (if you don’t have those already). Hopefully, you’ll never need them, but better to be safe than sorry!  Also, keep the phone number of your local Plaza Tire Service handy.

 It is also worth getting your tires and car checked by a professional (Plaza Tire Service will give you a free tire inspection and visually evaluate your alignment) if you haven’t recently, to make sure that everything is in working order. With a little preparation and Plaza Tire Service, you won’t get caught out when the weather turns.



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