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As another year winds down, for many people, annual and season-ending chores are in full swing. Rake the leaves. Clean the gutters. Get the furnace prepared for winter. But seasonal chores aren’t limited to homeowners – car owners should also include these winterizing essentials to their end-of-the-year to-do list:

1. Check the tire pressure

As temperatures fall in colder weather, the air pressure in your tires will naturally drop, too. In fact, your tire’s car lose as much as 1 pound per square inch of pressure for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit the temperature drops.

That loss can be significant when temperatures in colder climes plummet to 30 degrees or below. Take five minutes to make sure your tires don’t need a quick recharge. And don’t forget to check all four tires and the spare.

2. Check your tires

While you’re at checking the tire pressure, you should also give your tire treads a thorough inspection, too. Traction is important year-round, but it’s especially crucial during the winter when roads get slick with snow and ice.

If you don’t have a tire tread depth gauge handy, you can rely on the age-old trick of using a penny to determine tread depth. Insert the penny with the top of Lincoln’s head facing the tire tread into the groove. If Lincoln’s head is covered, you probably have adequate tread depth. But if you can see all of Lincoln’s head, it’s time to get new tires.

Uneven wear, bulging sidewalls, abnormal nicks or holes are all additional signs it may be a good time to purchase new tires.

3. Replace wiper blades

The driver’s ability to see clearly through the windshield is paramount in winter. Quick response time is vital and in colder climates, salt deposits, frost and blowing now can all easily obstruct vision. If your car’s wiper blades aren’t doing a good job of clearing the windshield now, how will they perform against frost, snow and sleet?

Check your blades ahead of time and replace blades that are cracked or don’t cleanly sweep across the windshield.

4. Check the windshield defroster

"Winter usually means that your your vehicle's windshield defrosters will be used on a regular basis," says Ron Montoya, consumer advice editor for automotive tips and advice site Edmunds.com. "It's a good idea to check that they are in working order." He adds it's also a good idea to make sure your heating system is in working order before it gets too cold.

5. Inspect the coolant system

Yes, even though it’s cold out, your car’s coolant system is an important feature during cold-weather driving. If you have had a recent radiator flush, you should be more than prepared for winter. Otherwise, check to make sure that your radiator fluid levels are adequate, that you’re using the proper coolant and that all hoses are in good condition without wear indicators like cracks, bulges or stiffness.

6. Check the battery

Your car’s battery will be one system that will have to work harder during the colder months of the year. Cold-weather starts can quickly deplete an older battery, so check your battery’s condition before temperatures become low.

Check the installation date that may be marked on top of the battery. If your car’s battery is older than two to three years, consider buying a new one. Clean battery terminal connections are important, too, so look for any signs of whitish powder that signals corrosion at the battery posts. You can remove buildup with a solution of baking soda and warm water. After cleaning, make sure all the connections are tight.

7. Get a tune-up

Your car’s engine works harder in the cold, so it’s important to make sure it’s working at an optimum level. An engine that sputters or struggles to start in warm weather will only have more trouble when cold weather arrives. A tune-up by a qualified mechanic or auto service center manes you'll be proactively diagnosing and fixing small problems, as well as adjusting the vehicle's performance to manufacturer’s recommendations, which can help make sure your car has no problem running smoothly throughout the winter.

8. Put an emergency kit in the trunk

Even the best-maintained vehicles can break down or get involved in a slide-off, stranding or accident. A driver left stranded on the side of the road during warm months may be inconvenienced and frustrated, but safety is a serious concern in cold weather.

Be prepared for those circumstances by equipping your vehicle with the supplies and tools you may need to stay safe when stranded with your vehicle in cold weather. Recommended kit supplies include fire extinguisher, a hazard triangle or warning flares, blankets, a tire gauge, a spare tire jack and lug wrench, tire repair kits, jumper cables, a shovel, jumper cables, a flashlight, and gloves.

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