As winter weather season approaches, officials said it is important to make sure vehicles are prepared for the many mishaps that may happen on the road.
Most of the wintertime calls to AAA are for tire or car battery issues. Officials with AAA said it’s important to make sure those items are in good working order before hitting the road.
Lori Weaver-Hawkins is the public affairs manager for AAA Bluegrass. She said cold weather is extremely hard on car batteries.
“If your car battery is about three years or older, we recommend that you get that tested with a trusted car care center. They’ll test your battery, make sure that it’s able to withstand the winter, colder winter weather,” said Weaver-Hawkins
When the temperature hits 32 degrees Fahrenheit, car batteries lose around 35% of their strength. At zero degrees, batteries lose 65% of their strength. It takes about twice as much current to turn batteries on in the cold.
Weaver-Hawkins also recommended inspecting batteries for signs of corrosion. If a car’s lights seem dimmer than usual, that is an indicator that it is time to purchase a new battery.
During cold weather, tire pressure decreases about one to two pounds per square inch for every 10 degrees the temperature drops. Drivers should check the owner’s manual to see what the proper tire pressure is as amounts can vary between front and back tires.
Weaver-Hawkins added beyond tire pressure management, it is important to keep an eye on the tire tread, which can be checked at home.
“Take a Washington quarter, turn it upside down so that George’s head is facing downward, and then put that quarter into the tire tread headfirst. If you can see any top of George’s head when you do so, that’s an indication that it’s time to go tire shopping. You want to do that in several places on each tire,” said Weaver-Hawkins.
Weaver-Hawkins said it is also important to keep a winter safety kit that should include flashlights, kitty litter for traction, warm clothing, food and water, flares, and jumper cables.