Winter wiles: Head off rain and snow with these cold-weather car tips

Carry a can of Fix-A-Flat to avoid snowy tire changes. Also check your spare. (Peter M. Fredin / The Associated Press)

Thinkstock

Is your car ready for the cold? Here are some tips to keep in mind.

• Is your antifreeze up to the task? In warmer climes, a central use for antifreeze is its anti-corrosive properties. It is easy to forget that it also keeps the fluid in the engine block from freezing, which could cause the block to crack.

A proper mixture is half water, half antifreeze. If you have had to top off your radiator frequently, and you have been doing it with just water, you have been diluting the mixture. Any good auto-parts store should have a gauge that will tell you, in seconds, how much protection your radiator fluid still has.

• Cold weather is tough on batteries. The top of the battery and the terminals should be clean and corrosion-free. Try using WD-40 to clean them.

• Modern car tires tend to settle a bit on the bottom when your car is parked for a while. In cold weather, it's more pronounced. Start up and drive, and the tires may feel "lumpy" for a mile or so as they warm up and return to their round shape. As long as the tires have the proper air pressure, it's nothing to worry about.

• Speaking of air pressure, check your tire inflation more frequently in fall and winter. As the temperature drops, so will tire pressure.

• No one wants to change a tire on the side of the road in freezing temperatures. Carry a can of Fix-A-Flat -- on a simple puncture, it works. At the very least, it could get you to a warmer, safer place to change the tire. Also, check the spare.

• Help prevent skids by replacing any tire that has less than 3/32-inch of tread. In heavy winter-weather areas, snow tires will provide the best traction. All-season tires work well in light to moderate snow conditions.

• If you've been using water instead of window-washing fluid with antifreeze (never use radiator antifreeze in the windshield washer!), expect it to freeze up overnight.

• Inspect the underside of accessory drive belts for cracks or fraying. Inspect cooling-system hoses for leaks, cracks or loose clamps.

• Wiper blades should completely clear the glass with each swipe. Replace any blade that leaves streaks or misses spots. In areas with heavy snow, consider installing winter wiper blades that wrap the blade frame in a rubber boot.

• That half-empty bottle of soda pop you left on the back seat could make quite a mess if it freezes and ruptures. Good time for a quick car cleaning.

• Make sure your oil has been topped up. When you start the car in the cold, let it warm up for about 60 seconds -- no longer is there a need for a lengthy, five-minute warm-up -- before you take off, and before you crank up the heat. That will allow for both the oil and the coolant to heat up a little.