Prepare your car and yourself for winter driving conditions

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Slick conditions made for difficult driving on major roads in eastern Iowa. According to Cedar Rapids police, there were 41 crash-related emergency calls between 6:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Monday morning.

Eleven of the calls involved accidents or weather-related maintenance on I-380 alone.

Some roads were still a bit slippery on Monday afternoon.

One tire dealer said the best way to avoid slipping on slippery surfaces is to make sure your tire’s tread is in good condition. You can check this yourself for a penny.

The phone at Mt. Vernon Road Tire rang a lot this morning after one of the first snowfalls of the season.

“Given the winter weather we had this morning, a lot of tire and general service calls are actually handled in the winter,” said Layne Vandersee of Mt. Vernon Road Tire.

In winter, drivers should check the age of their tires.

“In general, you should rotate tires every 5 to 6 years,” Vandersee said. “Rubber just gets older. The older it gets, the more brittle the rubber becomes, so even if there is still some tread left on the tires, the rubber will fall apart.”

Tire tread can be checked right in the driveway by inserting a penny into the grooves.

“I can clearly see Abe’s head and his entire body on this tire. This tire absolutely needs to be replaced,” Vandersee said. “Compared to a new tire, I can just see the top of Abe’s head there, that’s our goal.”

Wear bars in the tire’s grooves can also provide an indication of when a tire needs to be replaced.

“You can see on the old tire that the wear bars, especially in the middle, actually no longer need to be replaced. Compared to a new tire, I don’t know if you can see it or not, but they’re pretty low down the treat. “Lots and lots of life on the new tires,” Vandersee said.

It’s not just the physical characteristics of the car that can ensure your safety on the road. It’s also what you do behind the wheel.

“In the event of a skid, back off the accelerator, do not lock the brakes, steer in the direction you want the vehicle to go, and straighten the wheel once the car is moving in the direction you want,” Brian Ortner said with AAA.

So that everyone can get home safely this winter.

“We all have family members on the streets. Kids, parents, take your time, even if it takes a few extra minutes, just leave a little early and make sure you arrive safely,” Vandersee said.

There are other things you should check on your vehicle before you hit the road this winter.

Make sure all fluids in your car are topped off, especially coolant, and make sure general vehicle maintenance is taken care of so it doesn’t break down when it’s cold outside.

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