Before the First Snow: Get Your Vehicle Ready for a Denver Winter

The best time to discover a weak battery or worn tires is while your vehicle is parked safely and you have time to fix the problem. Make that time now, before the first snowy commute.

For office personnel at an electrical contractor, safety includes the drive to work, a trip to a project meeting, and the journey home. The preparation we expect before starting a job applies before getting behind the wheel: check the equipment, recognize the hazards, and plan the drive.

Start with a vehicle check this week. Walk around your car, review upcoming maintenance, and schedule service for anything that needs attention.

• Tires: Check pressure when the tires are cold, using the pressure listed on the driver’s door label or in the owner’s manual. Inspect for uneven wear, cracks, bulges, and inadequate tread. Check the spare, if equipped.

• Battery: Have the battery and charging system tested. Cold weather reduces battery power and makes starting an engine more demanding.

• Visibility: Replace worn wiper blades, fill the washer reservoir with winter-rated fluid, and test the heater and defrosters. Check headlights, brake lights, and turn signals.

• Fluids and brakes: Have coolant protection, leaks, and brake condition checked. Follow your vehicle manufacturer’s maintenance requirements.

Give your tires particular attention. CDOT recommends winter tires for snowy and icy driving. Tires marked M+S can handle light snow but have limitations compared with dedicated winter tires. Ask a tire professional whether your tires suit your commute, especially if you regularly travel into the foothills or mountains.

Colorado’s traction requirements also deserve a fresh look. Under the passenger-vehicle rules updated in 2025, AWD or 4WD vehicles need qualifying winter, all-weather, or mud-and-snow tires with at least 3/16 inch of tread. Vehicles that do not meet that combination—including two-wheel-drive vehicles—require chains or an approved alternative traction device when the traction law is active. Under the stricter Passenger Vehicle Chain Law, every vehicle requires chains or an approved alternative. Check CDOT’s current requirements before traveling through restrictions.

Prepare for the possibility that a short trip could become a long wait. Keep an ice scraper and snow brush, compact shovel, flashlight, blanket, warm gloves, hat, boots, water, nonperishable snacks, first-aid supplies, and jumper cables in your vehicle. Bring essential medications with you and keep a phone charger handy. Your office shoes and a light jacket may be comfortable indoors, but consider what you would need while waiting for help in winter weather.

Keep fuel above half a tank during winter travel. If you drive an electric vehicle, plan charging with extra margin because cold weather can reduce range.

Before leaving home—or leaving the office—check the forecast and COtrip for road conditions and restrictions. Allow time to clear snow and ice from the entire vehicle, including the roof, windows, mirrors, lights, and cameras. Snow left on your vehicle can come loose while driving and create a hazard for others.

Once on the road, slow down and leave more room between vehicles. Accelerate, steer, and brake smoothly, and leave cruise control off on slick roads. Give snowplows room to work. Be especially cautious approaching bridges, overpasses, and shaded areas. A road that looks wet may be icy, and melting snow can refreeze overnight.

For office staff, planning also means communicating early. If conditions may affect your arrival or a project visit, contact your supervisor before driving and discuss the plan. Follow company procedures for schedule changes. Put the phone away while driving; work messages can wait until you are safely parked. Choose footwear with traction for the walk across the parking lot, and keep your hands available for balance instead of carrying everything in one trip.

If you become stranded in a winter storm, generally stay with your vehicle unless an immediate hazard makes it unsafe. Call for help. Keep the exhaust outlet clear of snow and run the engine only intermittently for warmth to reduce carbon monoxide risk. Never run an engine in an enclosed garage.

Put a winter vehicle check on your calendar this week. Inspect the tires, arrange needed service, pack supplies, and make a commuting plan. Give yourself the same preparation and care that we expect on every project.