Get your car winter weather ready with these tips and Goodyear

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WeatherProven #CollectiveBias

Winter is coming! Yes, I know it’s fall, and some of us are still experiencing summer-like temperatures, but we are getting so close to winter and all of the hassle that comes with traveling in the winter. I’m finally prepared and I hope you’ll be prepped for winter travel before you’re stranded in snow.

My car was inspected in July, and when they finished, I was told I needed a few things in the coming months, one of which was tires before winter. I try to keep up with maintenance on my car, and this gave me a reason to try out the Goodyear® Assurance® WeatherReady™ Tires at Sam’s Club. I ordered the tires one Friday night and had my installation appointment the following weekend at my local club. The employee who helped me was pretty impressed that I was getting the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady Tires, but also wanted to know how I’d heard about them because they were so new. (And side note, these tires do not fit every vehicle. You can check Sam’s Club’s Tire Selector Tool to see if they’ll fit yours.)

So why am I so concerned about tires of all things? I live in the mountains of North Carolina and my drive to work is about 30 minutes – or roughly 26 miles – one way. There have been days that I can’t get out of my neighborhood because of the snow and ice. When there’s a chance of snow, the town I drive through to get to work most likely is covered. There were days last year that I had a tough time seeing because of the snow and wind, and when you’re responsible for picking up two children and getting them safely home, you want to be sure your car is in good working order.

Also, fall is here and these tires can handle pretty extreme weather conditions – including driving on wet leaves. We have so many leaves that will be changing and are gorgeous! But they’re a mess when they fall and it rains.

The one thing that stood out when I was paying for my tires is the fact that there is soybean oil in the rubber compound that helps the tread stay pliable and grip the road in colder temperatures. The tires also have specialized tread compounds that will help grip the road in water, snow and ice.

Check out the tread! It’s definitely different than your standard tire, and who wants standard these days?

Tips to get your vehicle winter ready:

Change out your wiper fluid. This is something I tend to forget to do. Yes, you can get your wiper fluid topped off when you get your oil changed, or you can pay a few dollars for the type of fluid that won’t freeze in the winter – and you can change it yourself. There are few things more frustrating than trying to see out of your windshield when there is salt and brine stuck to it – and your wiper fluid is frozen.

In that same instance, go ahead and replace your windshield wipers. It’s worth the investment.

Check your tires! I knew my tires were going bad because it was mentioned by a mechanic, but then I could feel the wear on my tires when driving. There was no way I was going to make it through one flurry event on my old tires. You really don’t want to be caught in a storm or slippery situation without good tires. Be prepared!

Make sure you have a snow brush in your trunk. I have had mine for years, but bought another one to put in my husband’s car (because his car is a little larger, and he needs something that will reach higher.) Last winter, I remember I was caught off-guard with a snowfall at work, and I used an umbrella to brush some of the snow off my back window. An umbrella does not do the trick. Trust me on this. And stores are getting their snow brushes in now, so why wait until it’s too late?

It’s also not a bad idea to change out your floor mats to protect the inside of your car. Think of everything that is on the sidewalks, parking lots and roads – and inevitably on your shoes. While it’s important to keep everything in working order, it’s also smart to protect the inside of your car.

Pack an extra pair of gloves and a hat in your trunk. Put it in a container with your snow brush! You may get a pair of gloves wet and need something dry to change into. While you’re at it, toss a blanket into your trunk.

Rather than having all of these items floating around your trunk, store them in a cloth bag or bin. This way, you aren’t having to search too far when you need them most.

When you purchase a set of four Goodyear® tires, you’ll save $80 off the displayed retail price at Sam’s Club.* While the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady Tires are not their first all-weather tire, they are currently the best.

Like I mentioned before, I placed the order for my tires online, and once I received confirmation that they had been delivered to Sam’s Club, I set up an appointment for installation. My appointment was at 8am on a Saturday, and I was headed home by 9:15am. It was one of the quietest Saturday mornings I’ve spent in a while and I even managed to find some of my groceries during that time.

(*Save $80 off the displayed retail price. Excludes medium commercial truck tires. Not to be combined with any other offer. Offer can be changed, modified or cancelled at any time. No rain checks. See a Sam’s Club® Tire & Battery Center Associate for eligible tires, details, terms and conditions.)

Tell me, is your car winter ready?