If you live in snow country, wintertime probably isn’t your car’s best friend. Here are some easy steps to “winterize” your car.

Cold temperatures make it harder for an engine to work properly. Snow and ice limit traction. Potholes damage wheels and tires. Salt causes rust and gravel pits the paint. Edmunds.com reveals some things you can do, however, to prepare your vehicle for snow season.

Use Snow Tires The condition of your car’s tires is critical during the winter. If the tires are worn, or they are high performance tires, braking, acceleration and handling are all negatively impacted while driving on slippery roads. Because of reduced vehicle capabilities, the likelihood of a crash increases.

If you have the cash, consider buying a set of winter tires. Winter tires are optimized for snow and ice. Remember though, they aren’t magic tires-even with winter tires, your car will still be worse on slick roads than dry ones. But winter tires do help to improve traction on slick surfaces more than all-season tires.

Check Tire Pressure Tire pressure is especially important during the winter. Traction is often at a minimum due to wet or snowy conditions. It is critical to have properly inflated tires because this guarantees the best possible contact between the tire and the road. A properly inflated tire will also help protect against wheel damage that might occur as the vehicle is driven over potholes.

Maintain 4WD System A big selling point for SUVs is that they offer 4WD, which improves traction in slippery conditions. But most people don’t use their 4WD systems during the summer. And while a four-wheel-drive system requires minimal maintenance, it’s still a good idea to check that it works properly before the onset of winter.

Make sure the system engages and disengages smoothly, and that there are no strange noises emanating from the drive train when the system is in use. Check to make sure that the transmission and gear oil levels are correct.

Change Oil Viscosity This isn’t nearly as hard as it sounds. Viscosity simply refers to how thick or thin the oil is. Engine oils are sold with different levels of viscosity, such as when winter arrives, and outside the temperature drops, the oil inside your vehicle’s engine thickens. Basically, the colder an oil is, the thicker it will be. A thicker oil doesn’t circulate as well in an engine during start-up as a thinner oil would. If the oil is too thick, the engine doesn’t get the proper lubrication. Also, dirty oil doesn’t circulate as well as clean oil.

To solve this wintertime problem, you should change your vehicle’s engine oil to one that performs better in cold weather. Determining what type of oil your car should have during the winter is easy. Simply read your vehicle’s owner’s manual or check with your local mechanic. The manual will list the manufacturer’s oil recommendations for different climates.

Inspect Belts and Hoses The belts and hoses in modern cars typically last quite a while. But that doesn’t mean they don’t wear-out. Cold temperatures can accelerate the demise of a belt or hose. Before winter starts, have the belts and hoses inspected on your vehicle.

Inspect Wipers and Fluid Visibility is particularly key in winter, as it is often compromised by precipitation, salt buildup on the windshield, and reduced daylight. The life expectancy of a wiper blade is one year. If your car’s blades are older, replace them. Also check and fill your wiper fluid reservoir. A harsh winter storm is the worst possible time to run out of wiper fluid or to discover your blades aren’t performing properly.

Check Battery A battery gives little notice before it dies. And it absolutely loves to croak when you can least afford it doing so. Very cold temperatures can reduce a vehicle’s battery power by up to 50 percent. If your vehicle battery is older than three years, have it tested at a certified automotive repair facility. Also, make sure the posts and connections are free of corrosion.

Check Antifreeze Mixture The ideal mixture of antifreeze (coolant) and water inside your vehicle’s radiator is 50:50. If the mixture deviates from this norm, then hot- and cold-weather performance can be compromised.

If you were to put pure water in your vehicle’s radiator, it would freeze at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. But if you combine the water with an equal amount of antifreeze, the new mixture won’t freeze until -34 degrees Fahrenheit!

You can check the composition of a radiator’s mixture by using an antifreeze tester. You can find these at all auto parts stores, and they are inexpensive and easy to use. If the mixture is off, adjust it by adding either coolant or water.

CARRY AN EMERGENCY KIT

Wintertime requires you to load more junk into the back of your vehicle. But hey, better safe than sorry, right? Things you might want to consider carrying:

• Flashlight, flares and first-aid kit
• Jumper cables, tool kit and tire chains
• Blanket, warm clothes and gloves
• Paper towels
• Bag of abrasive material, such as sand, salt or non-clumping kitty litter to use for added traction when a tire is stuck
• Snow brush, ice scraper and snow shovel
• Extra washer fluid
• Extra food and water

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