Understanding the importance of winter tires
/Winter tires are important to keep yourself and others safe on the road during a season filled with various types of precipitation.
Here are nine ways to better understand the world of winter tires.
When to install them
Pro tip: it’s not on the first snowfall.
Once the weather is consistently at 7 degrees Celsius or lower for a few days, put them on as the rubber compound in winter tires are designed for better traction, grip and handling.
Get them on dedicated winter rims
If you have one set of rims (summer) and put your winter tires on those rims every season, you’re increasing the wear on the rims and both sets of tires.
You’re also paying more to have this procedure done twice a year.
And finally, your summer rims won’t be exposed to salt, rust, corrosion that good ol’ winter brings.
The black steelies are my choice but if you want style, opt for an aluminum alloy set.
What makes a winter tire unique?
Winter tires are made with flexible rubber that’s engineered to stay soft in temperatures below 7°C.
Summer tires are made differently and become rigid in lower temperatures, which makes it harder to stop, steer and accelerate.
There’s a different tread design made to push snow/ice/slush away from the tire and give you better traction. Additionally, the siping (thin lines on the tread of your winter tire)works with the tread pattern to further push away obstructions.
As a comparison, summer tires have grooves that will collect snow/slush/ice in the tread opposed to pushing it away.
They can save you money
You can receive a discount from your auto insurance provider by installing winter tires on your vehicle.
Rates vary by provider and the average annual savings hovers between three and five percent.
Do your homework before investing in winter tires
The lowest cost isn’t the highest quality and vice versa.
Consumer Reports, the Automobile Protection Association, Car and Driver, along with several other resources have plenty of data and rankings done through extensive testing. Speak with you trusted automotive specialist as well before making a decision to get a full scope of information.
Get a set of four
Regardless of front, rear or all-wheel drive, it’s crucial that all four tires on your vehicle are equipped with winter tires. Ignore that thought of it being a budget-friendly decision to opt for two.
Instead, realize that your vehicle will be better equipped for winter driving with four winter tires, especially as it will increase the handling capabilities of your vehicle.
“All season” tires do not include winter
Do you have one piece of footwear that’s good for the beach, hiking, mud, rain and snow? Me either.
The same holds true for tires. Winter tires are made from a different compound that are designed and engineered to perform better than your summer/three-season tires.
They increase stopping distances and provide better maneuverability in temperatures lower than 7 degrees Celsius.
They’re not only for snow
Winter tires should never be called “snow” tires. Winter tires handle cold weather, icy, slick road conditions and snow/slush. The reality is that there won’t be massive snowfalls every day of winter. There will, however, be many cold days and having the right tire can increase the control you have while you drive.
Your stopping distances are reduced
Putting two identical cars side by side on an icy/snowy road, one with and one without winter tires, is something that’s been done dozens of times, all with the same results; the car with the winter tires stops faster than the car without. In situations where you’ve got to stop the car quickly, it’s always smarter to have the right equipment at hand, well, foot.
