There’s already been a few days of chilly weather in the Tri-State area, which may mean that it’s a good time to consider preparing used cars in New Jersey for winter driving.

Owners of sport sedans or high-powered vehicles are likely to have a special set of grippy tires for summer driving, but those won’t provide good traction on snowy or ice-covered roads. It may make more sense for drivers to consider a set of snow tires, according to some mechanics at Meineke.

Even if the car is a daily driver, making sure that there’s enough tread to provide traction in inclement weather can help keep a car between the yellow and white lines during the winter months.

“To see if your tires need replacing, look at the grooves and make sure that the tires have not worn down to the tire wear bars,” Don Rauch, Meineke director of dealer communications. “These are ridges of rubber that run perpendicular to the grooves in your tires. If your tires are past this point, you should replace them.”

Another possibility to improve winter driving capabilities of used cars in New Jersey is to replace the windshield wiper blades, since they may otherwise be affected by road salt and other debris.

Insuring a used car in New York is an added cost that may not always come up in budgeting discussions by some buyers, but rates can change each month and buyers will want to be aware of the potential for savings by locking in rates.

According to an analysis by Carinsurance.com, September saw rate decreases across the board, including in New York and New Jersey, with the average quote dropping by $37 per year in the Garden State and $165 annually in New York.

Prices are one portion of the policy options available to those who drive used cars in New York, but coverage availability can play an important role as well, considering that many respondents to a recent survey didn’t understand what their car insurance coverage entailed.

According to Allstate, 92 percent of participants felt confidence about their understanding of what would be covered; that number dropped below three-quarters after drivers found out that leaving a car running before it was stolen would affect the claims process. Other questions also contributed to the decline.

A growing residential population in formerly rural areas of the Garden State mean that there are more frequent collisions with used cars in New Jersey and wildlife that can’t read road signs.

Chief among the states experiencing an increase in the number of deer-vehicle collisions is New Jersey, where incidents have increased by more than 50 percent when comparing estimates of claims made by State Farm customers between 2007 and 2009 to those five years earlier. That is the greatest percentage change in any state outside of Nebraska.

“We want to call attention to potential hazards like this one,” said Laurette Stiles, State Farm vice president of strategic resources. “We hope our updated information will inspire motorists to make safe decisions.”

The twilight and early evening period are when deer are most active, and drivers may want to use high beams as much as possible to improve visibility on rural roads or those with low visibility while driving used cars in New Jersey. If preventive measures don’t seem to work, use the brakes rather than swerving to avoid hitting a stationary object or oncoming vehicle which could result in increased injuries or property damage.

Race fans can find a variety of motorsports options in New York, from dirt tracks to full-size tracks both at home and in neighboring states, but a new league could provide a new twist for interested owners of used cars in New York.

It’s called Caged Heat, and has received the endorsement of one member of the famous Andretti racing family. The biggest difference between it and other series is that the races can be run in hockey facilities with NHL regulation ice surfaces.

The race entries will be smaller than most used cars in New York, roughly half the size of a normal race car, and will be traveling around a steeply banked track that includes 125-foot-long straightaways. The size of the cars and the length of the track will enable speeds of up to 50 mph on the miniature track.

“With the popularity of racing in the United States and an economy on the rebound, now is the perfect time to offer race fans and sponsors a new, affordable, exciting sport,” said Thomas Wall, Caged Heat CEO.

For interested fans in New York, there is a race scheduled in Rochester at the Blue Cross Arena August 27 and 28, 2010.

Auto lots are filled with used cars in New Jersey, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the cars originated in the Garden State. As the recent flooding in Georgia shows, nature can have an affect on previously pristine vehicles.

That’s why buyers will want to check for a couple of things with some used cars, to ensure that the car they buy is safe for use. Many businesses will inform potential buyers of vehicles with salvage titles or flood damage, but caveat emptor.

A used car in New Jersey that has completely new interior materials should raise a red flag, according to some automotive experts, as should one with excessive rust or corrosion in the undercarriage and spare tire holder.

Other tips include ensuring the electrical system functions properly and using one’s nose for any moldy smells that could be a sign of previous water damage.

“Flood-damaged cars that are not structurally or mechanically sound could be repaired, re-titled, and sold to unsuspecting buyers,” notes Jason Day, vice president of one used car retailer.

Some researchers are finding that where you land along the political spectrum may influence which vehicle you purchase, which could affect the sales of some used vehicles in New Jersey.

A study published in the Journal of Consumer Research focused on consumer attitudes as they related to the Hummer line of vehicles from General Motors, all of which fit into the large or midsize SUV class.

They found in interviews of current Hummer owners that they felt morally comfortable driving a vehicle that they told scientists represents American ideals like the “rugged individual” and the “boundless frontier.”

Contrary to those who focus on fuel consumption, the Hummer owners were more likely to be conservatives who felt that their vehicle purchase represented a desire to maintain American culture.

If those ideas resonate, then used cars in New Jersey like the Hummer H3 may offer the best fit of the ideals proposed by other buyers provide a vehicle small enough to navigate some of the more congested cities in the Garden State.

“Hummer claims the H3 is about the same length as a typical midsize sedan — and therefore is able to maneuver through urban traffic,” notes a Cars.com review of the 2006 model, adding that the vehicle can also travel in less civilized areas with ease.