Winter Car Preparation in Chicago: A Practical Checklist

The short answer: before winter, check your tires, battery, brakes, wipers and fluids, pack an emergency kit, and plan to wash road salt off the underbody regularly. If you are unsure about the condition of any of these, have a service department inspect them.

Pre-Winter Checklist

Item	What to check
Tires	Tread depth and pressure; consider winter tires if you drive in snow often. Cold air lowers tire pressure, so check it regularly
Battery	Cold weather is hard on batteries; have an older battery tested before the first deep freeze
Brakes	Listen for noise, feel for vibration and have pads and rotors inspected if unsure
Wipers and washer fluid	Replace worn blades and fill with winter-rated washer fluid
Fluids	Check coolant, oil and other fluids against the owner's manual
Lights	Make sure headlights, taillights and signals work

Emergency Kit

Keep a phone charger, flashlight, jumper cables, a blanket, gloves, an ice scraper, a small shovel and some water and snacks in the vehicle. If you drive an EV or hybrid, also read our cold-weather charging notes.

Protect Against Road Salt

Road salt accelerates corrosion. Rinse the underbody periodically during the winter, and avoid letting salt-laden slush sit for long periods.

Winter Driving Habits

Leave extra following distance, brake gently and early, and accelerate smoothly. Remember that all-wheel drive helps you get going but does not shorten stopping distance; see AWD vs 4WD.

Schedule Service

Dial service departments can inspect these items. Choose a Dial service location to schedule an appointment, or find parts locations.

Keep Researching

Shop at the Right Dial Location

Dial Auto Group has five Chicago dealerships. Each brand is sold at specific stores, so start with the store that carries the vehicle you want.

Dealership	Brands	Address	Shop
Dial Chevy of Chicago	Chevrolet	6603 S Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60636	New \| Used
Dial Nissan of Chicago	Nissan	7410 S Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60636	New \| Used
INFINITI of Chicago	INFINITI	2711 S State St, Chicago, IL 60616	New \| Used
Dial Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Chicago	Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram	7340 S Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60636	New \| Used
Jeep of Chicago	Jeep	5950 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60659	New \| Used

See all Dial Auto Group locations or search new and used inventory across the group.

Last reviewed October 2026 by Dial Auto Group. This guide is general information, not financial or legal advice. Vehicle features, availability and pricing vary by model and dealership; confirm details with the store.