The turn of the season brings a radical change in temperature that can have adverse effects on your vehicle. To keep it in good condition in time for the holidays, you need to ensure that all of its components are prepped and ready for winter.

Here are some of the parts you should focus your car care efforts on:

• Tires: Roads tend to become slippery during the winter months. If your area experiences heavy snowfall, you should consider using winter tires until spring comes. If you don’t get much snow and would prefer not to purchase a new set of tires, you should still check the treads to make sure your tires will have enough traction on wet or frozen roads.

• Coolant: The coolant you use in autumn acts as antifreeze during winter, preventing radiator fluid from freezing when your vehicle is not being used. Coolant degrades over time and has to be replaced after every 30,000 to 50,000 miles, depending on the manufacturer’s recommendation.

• Wipers: Snow is a lot heavier than rain, which is why some wipers are designed specifically for use during winter. If you don’t feel like replacing yours with winter wiper blades, however, you should at least check to see if there are signs of damages. Bear in mind that visibility is more difficult with fog and snow.

• Battery: The cold weather can wreak havoc on your battery’s performance. Once the temperature goes below freezing, the chemical reaction that occurs inside your battery’s cells will start slowing down, and its capacity will be cut down significantly. This, combined with the thickening of motor oil, will make it harder to start your car. Check your battery posts for signs of corrosion, and keep the battery sufficiently charged at all times.

If you need car care services to make sure your vehicle is roadworthy for winter, drop by Privitt Auto Service Center in Columbia, MO. Their mechanics specialize in suspension and transmission repair, oil change, and other services. Give them a call at (573) 449-7941, or visit the website to learn more about the additional car care services available.