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It's that time of year when it is so bitterly freezing that even a 30-degree day can feel like a balmy respite. Temperatures plummet into the single digits, wind chills are painful and dangerous, and talk of polar vortexes and bomb cyclones fills the media. It's cold outside.
We talked with the Car Care Council to find out how the cold can affect cars and trucks and hear about any possible solutions.
As the air in your tires gets colder, it contracts and has less pressure. Tires correspondingly become underinflated.
Solution: Check your tire pressure more often than you normally would. The Car Care Council recommends doing so once a week. You might think a little deflation provides better traction, but tire experts caution against running tires below manufacturers' recommended pressure, as that can cause uneven or unsafe tread wear. Getting winter tires is always a good idea in places with inclement weather.