Thinking proactively is the best way to go when it comes to winter weather, and for very good reason.

Some area car care experts say you need to think about what's under your hood and what's touching the road. They say that at this time of the year, car maintenance takes on a whole different meaning.

The Custom Complete Automotive Center on Nifong is a busy place with drivers eager to get their cars fixed or ready for the cold.

Steve Casey is a veteran mechanic. He says in icy weather like this you simply must make sure your car is ready to handle the cold no matter what the cost.

"Usually if you do it preventively, it costs less and then you're not inconvenienced by having a vehicle that won't start or, you know, cause you problems," said Casey.

He says mechanics need to check your car's battery for wear and tear, your car's fluids for leaks, and most importantly your tires.

"Because that's the thing between you and the road," said Casey.

Drivers are beginning to understand the need for all of this maintenance. They say with the official start of winter just around the corner, it's better to be cautious.

"There's a lot of people that take this stuff for granted. I mean they figure you know if it's good enough for the summer, it's good enough for the winter - well that's wrong," said Sturgeon resident Jeff Richards.

Cautious or not, and no matter how "up to snuff" your car is, Casey also recommends an alternative.

"If you don't have to go out, I would advise not to because it doesn't matter if you have snow tires on there or not, in an icy situation you're still gonna slide," Casey explained.

Generally if the tread on your car's tires is very thin, you should strongly consider a tire rotation or tire replacement.

When it's icy, if you don't have four-wheel drive, the tires will just keep spinning and you won't go anywhere. Also don't forget just because you might have four wheel drive to get moving, that doesn't mean you'll be able to stop any faster.