MileCheckHow to get your car ready for fall and winter
Before the first cold snap, an hour of prep makes winter driving safer and heads off the breakdowns that always seem to happen in the worst weather. Here's a straightforward checklist.
Tires and traction
Cold weather is hard on tires. Check your tread depth and tire pressure — pressure drops as temperatures fall, and worn tread loses grip on snow and ice. If you drive mountain or snowy routes, consider winter (snow) tires, and carry chains for passes that require them. What "chains required" means →
Battery, fluids, and wipers
Cold saps battery power, so have a weak battery tested before it strands you. Top off antifreeze/coolant to the right mix, switch to winter windshield washer fluid rated for freezing temperatures, and replace worn wiper blades — you'll use them constantly in slush and snow. Keeping the fuel tank fuller than usual reduces condensation and gives you a buffer.
Lights, heat, and defrost
Days are short and storms are dark. Check that all your lights work and the lenses are clear, and confirm your heater, defroster, and rear-window defogger all work before you need them. Clear snow and ice off the whole car — roof included — before you drive.
Pack a winter kit, and know your route
Keep a cold-weather kit in the car: ice scraper, blanket, gloves, flashlight, jumper cables, some food and water, and a phone charger. Before a winter drive, check conditions and passes on your route — and once you're moving, MileCheck shows your exact mile marker plus live DOT alerts and cameras, so a closure or chain control ahead isn't a surprise, and if you're stuck you can report exactly where you are. How to check road conditions →
Know exactly where you are — live
MileCheck shows your nearest mile marker in real time as you drive, plus live DOT alerts and the nearest camera on your route. Free to start, works offline, runs on CarPlay and Android Auto.
Questions, answered
How do I prepare my car for winter?
Check tire tread and pressure (and consider snow tires or chains), test a weak battery, top off coolant and switch to winter washer fluid, replace worn wipers, confirm lights and defrosters work, and pack a cold-weather emergency kit.
When should I get my car ready for winter?
In the fall, before the first hard freeze or snow. It's far easier to test a battery, swap tires, and top off fluids on a mild day than after you're already stranded in the cold.
Do I need winter tires?
If you regularly drive in snow, ice, or over mountain passes, winter tires grip noticeably better than all-seasons. If not, good all-season tread plus chains for the passes may be enough — check your route's requirements.
What should I keep in my car in winter?
An ice scraper, a blanket, gloves, a flashlight, jumper cables, some food and water, and a phone charger. Keeping the fuel tank fuller also helps if you're delayed or stuck.