Winter is here – and with winter can come more hazardous road conditions, depending upon where you live. Between snow, ice, and sleet, the roads can become quite slippery, making driving for any amount of time extra treacherous.
One option to increase your safety on the road in winter is to opt for snow, or winter, tires.
Winter tires have special, high-tech rubber compounds that maintain greater flexibility even in very cold temperatures. They also have special, deep tread designs that allow for superior gripping on roads covered in snow or ice. With all these extra features, snow tires provide traction where normal, all-season tires might slip and slide.
Drivers who live in climates that routinely stay under 40 degrees in winter for several months at a time should consider snow tires. Additionally, if you often drive in the mountains or off-road for winter activities or other events, you should also consider swapping out for winter tires.
Some high-end vehicles may come equipped with “summer tires” which need to be swapped out when the seasons change. Winter tires should be used once the weather is consistently under 45 degrees. They are then swapped back out when nighttime temperatures are consistently above 45 degrees in the spring.
Snow tires can be expensive, which may discourage some drivers. If you don’t often see snow or live in a warmer climate, they probably aren’t necessary. Instead, you can opt to keep tire chains in your car in case you need them. If you choose to use tire chains, make sure you purchase ones for use with your specific make and model, and also be sure you know how to use them before the first snowfall.
Additionally, there can be charges associated with swapping tires from summer to winter sets. One way to save costs long-term is to consider purchasing a separate set of wheels to house the snow tires. Then, the wheels can be switched out entirely each season, which will save on some maintenance costs long-term.
Regardless of whether you choose tires or chains, one thing every driver should do is frequently check tire pressure. Tire pressure can change quickly due to changing temperatures, and a simple check at your local gas station can help ensure you’re driving with tires inflated to the proper level – increasing your car’s performance and protecting your safety.
If you want to learn more about winter tires, or want to swap your vehicle’s tires out, contact your local body shop to help you. Use Carwise.com to find a perfect shop near you and read real reviews from real customers for thousands of shops: carwise.com/auto-body-shops.
