DENISON, Texas (KTEN) -- Vehicle maintenance is a top priority in the battle against winter weather. 

Experts say your car's antifreeze, tires, battery, and windshield wipers are the most critical items. 

"Cars need to have an antifreeze flush once a year and bring back up to snuff," said B & B Automotive mechanic Eddie Brown. "A lot of people think it's a lifetime fluid, but it's not."

Most automotive shops will check your antifreeze for free to make sure your car will survive a cold snap. 

Brown also said you shouldn't be surprised to see the tire pressure warning light flashing at this time of year. 

"If you have less air in them, the better they track in this colder weather," he explained. "If you get the warning lights that they are low, leave them alone unless they are super low, because that will give you better traction in this kind of weather."

The best way to warm up your vehicle is to turn the defrost setting on full blast after starting. And if your key fob has a remote start option, you can stay warm inside while your car gets toasty.

"The vehicle will run 3 to 5 minutes before it automatically shuts off," Brown said. "That will warm a car before they get there."

But be sure your vehicle is not inside a garage while it warms up; that will lead to a buildup of deadly carbon monoxide.

Here's something you shouldn't do:

"People are in a hurry and will leave a vehicle running and go in a store and come back," said Denison police spokesperson Lt. Mike Eppler. "Sometimes when they come back the car is missing. Even if you are just wanting to get out for just a few seconds, go ahead and cut your engine off, lock the door, and go in." 

If the roads appear to be slippery, drive defensively... or don't drive at all.

"When you go to slow down, don't slam on the brakes," Eppler said. "Leave plenty of time to slow down, tap your brakes gently. The icier the roads get, the slicker they get, the more important that is."