While the calendar might have winter another six weeks away, when it comes to the weather affecting your car, it鈥檚 already here.

And to stay safe on the road this winter, it鈥檚 best not to wait until the first storm hits to get prepared, says Chris Dirkson, owner of location.

The right tires are key for safe travels

Safe winter driving begins with the right tires, and here in B.C., that usually means .

鈥淭he most important thing is that winter tires are designed to out-perform all-seasons in cool-weather conditions,鈥� Dirkson explains.

Even where winter tires aren鈥檛 legally required, they鈥檙e still your best bet once temperatures drop to 7掳C. At that point, the rubber compounds in all-season tires change, providing poor traction. That means that even if temperatures are not below freezing, wet roads become a challenge for vehicle traction and handling.

鈥淲hen you have those icy conditions, or even wet conditions at cooler temperatures, all seasons just don鈥檛 have the same traction as winter tires,鈥� Dirkson says.

B.C.鈥檚 winter tire rules are in place on various highways throughout the province from Oct. 1 to March 31. In the Lower Mainland, that includes sections of Highway 1 and Highway 99 to Whistler. Drivers on these marked roads must have tires displaying the three-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol or the M+S (mud and snow) symbol, with at least 3.5 mm tread.

While mud and snow tires are acceptable according to the driving regulations, the true winter tires offer the best traction for snow, ice and cold weather, Dirkson notes.

鈥淎dditionally, you want to make sure the tread depth is at least 4 mm for proper traction,鈥� Dirkson says.

Winter driving prep doesn鈥檛 end with your tires.

That same wet weather and cold temperatures means it鈥檚 important to have the professionals check your vehicle鈥檚 other systems as well.

The arrival of the Lower Mainland鈥檚 rainy season means it鈥檚 a good time to check your windshield wipers, and all bulbs, replacing them as needed to ensure excellent visibility and safety as you navigate winter鈥檚 dark, wet commute, Dirkson says.

Make sure all your fluids are geared for cold weather. As they age, fluids break down and become less effective. To protect your engine, make sure you鈥檙e up to date on scheduled preventive maintenance and fluid changes.

鈥淚t鈥檚 common for weak batteries to fail when the temperature drops,鈥� Dirkson says, noting service technicians can provide peace of mind with a charging system check.

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is a Canadian company that has provided quality tires and automotive service to Canadians since 1956.