Taking care of your car will help you in dangerous settings

As Jack Frost slowly starts to creep his way into the area, people must be prepared, patient and diligent about their vehicles being ready for winter driving.

There are several simple and easy steps to ensure the highest level of safety and performance when being faced with driving in hazardous conditions.

"The best time to start getting your vehicle ready for winter is around the Autumnal Equinox, which is normally September 23rd," said Kevin Seabaugh, district manager for Plaza Tire Service. "Making a checklist and going over the items the same time every year helps ensure accuracy."

He said that many of the tasks on the list are not very time-consuming and can be done at home but that there a few that should only be done by professionals.

"It's very important that the tires on your vehicle are well cared for all year-round but especially before winter when it becomes wet, snowy or icy," Seabaugh said.

"Checking your tire pressure is extremely important because you need the best possible traction when you face those conditions. As the weather gets colder it's very likely that the air pressure in your tires has dropped. I recommend checking them at least every 30 days to see where they stand. You can find your target tire pressure in your owner's manual."

The penny method is also a popular technique used in checking how much tread you have left on your tires.

Place a penny vertically between the treads of any tire and if you see Abraham Lincoln's head stick up farther than the tread, it's time for it to be replaced. Also, any professional garage can look at your tires while using a gauge and make affordable recommendations.

Seabaugh also recommends checking to see if your oil change is up-to-date and that the right viscosity of oil is being used. All of those levels can be found in the vehicle owner's manual.

"Check the wear and tear on your wipers and replace them if need be," Seabaugh said. "Also, your coolant system is a really big deal this time of year."

He wants to make sure people aim to having an equal mix of antifreeze and water inside their radiator.

"It's pretty easy to check the status of what you have with an antifreeze tester that can be found at most retail stores and if anything seems off it is recommended to have the whole system flushed to prevent blockage," Seabaugh said.

"There are a ton of things we can do to winterize our vehicles for the season but it's also just as important that we are prepared ourselves in case of accidents or unforeseen events," said Amber Timberlake, an employee of Roy's Tire and Auto in Jackson.

"I do recommend for everyone to check batteries, hoses and water temperatures but also to make sure they have a safety kit located in their vehicle with them," Timberlake said.

Some of the items she recommends are gloves, rubber boots, a warm blanket, jumper cables and a small bag of snacks just in case you break down while traveling a long distance.

She also said that it was a good idea to purchase an inexpensive, mobile air compressor available at most retail stores that has the ability to plug into your cigarette lighter.