While it’s not likely that you’ll leave the house in a snowstorm without a coat, gloves, and a hat, many people don’t take the time they need in order to prepare their car for winter.

Fortunately, there are just a few simple things you can do this fall to help you get your Toyota vehicle ready for those cold and snowy winter months:

Use the right tires. If you live in a colder climate, it is probably worth buying winter or snow tires. You won’t want to use these tires during the summer, as they’ll break down with the heat of the road. In addition, they do make your fuel efficiency just a little bit worse, so you’ll want to put them on just during winter. If you’re not sure what kind of tires, your local Horsham Toyota dealer may be able to help you figure out the best tires for your car.

Inspect your coolant system. The antifreeze contained in your coolant system helps your engine to keep from freezing up during the winter. If your car is low on coolant, or if you have too much water in your coolant, it can cause problems with the way your Toyota runs.

Change your oil. During the winter month, you will want to use a motor oil that is thinner and less viscous than the oil you’ll use during the summer. When you take your Toyota in for your fall oil change, switch out to 5W-30 motor oil. Of course, it's always best to check your owner's manual before making this kind of change.

Inspect your battery. During the cold months of winter, your battery is vulnerable. It has a reduced capacity during winter, as well. You should inspect your battery. Look to see that the cables, terminals and battery fluid all look good. If there are cable breaks or corrosion on the terminals, make sure to get your battery serviced before winter starts.

Stock your emergency kit. You need to have an emergency kit that includes blankets, a radio, a flashlight, flares, oil, coolant and washer fluid, in the event that your car breaks down during the winter.