None of us wants to talk about winter when it’s still summertime.  Understandable for sure.  Those in the automobile industry, however, are always thinking one season ahead of the rest of us.  They know that advanced thinking just might be the difference between a smooth-running vehicle and one that is broken down on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck.

If you are the owner of an SUV, now is the time to think about winter and not when it arrives with the first biting, blinding, paralyzing snowfall.  Now is the time to get that SUV of yours ready to do battle with Mother Nature.  Here are a few things that absolutely should be done in the next couple months.

$1·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Consider getting snow tires, or at least consider getting tires with sufficient tread to give you good traction in the rain, sleet and snow.

$1·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Check your tire inflation and make sure they are properly inflated.  SUVs are known for a “go anywhere’ spirit, but they won’t be going far if the tires are under-inflated.  Remember that tires generally over-inflate in the summer and under-inflate in the winter, so check them periodically.

$1·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Have your four-wheel drive system checked to make sure it is working properly.

$1·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Check your oil levels and viscosity.  Oil really should be changed prior to winter.

$1·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Check all hoses and belts.

$1·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Check the battery on your SUV.

$1·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Make sure your antifreeze tank reservoir is filled up.

$1·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Check your heater.

$1·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Make sure there is an emergency kit in your SUV

Those are the basic for pre-winter SUV care.  There will be those out there who will say they don’t have the time to do all that.  We get it.  Everyone is busy these days, but let us ask you this:  would you rather spend two or three hours going through this checklist now, or two or three hours stuck on the side of the road during a snowstorm waiting for help to arrive?

Basic SUV winter maintenance does not have to be expensive, either.  Find the parts you need at your local salvage yard, like All Import Auto Parts.  There you will find great discounts on heater parts, tires, hoses, belts and anything else you need.  There you will find excellent used car parts that will definitely erase any fears you have about failing car parts.

In other words, at your local salvage yard, you will find peace of mind.

Get it done now.  Do the maintenance check on your SUV and put any winter worries to rest.