Winter Tires Help Drivers Stay Safe In The Snow

When the cold winter months roll around, it signals to all vehicle owners that it's time to get those winter tires installed. While it may be easy to forget and stick to all-season tires, one will easily be able to tell the difference when adverse weather conditions hit. Winter tires are specifically designed to handle ice, snow, sleet, and other harsh weather conditions that all-season tires simply aren't.

The treads constructed for winter tires are specifically designed with channels, grooves, and biting edges that work in unison to dig into harsh snow and water. This directs the elements away from the tire's actual contact patch, so there is less snow and water coming into contact with the tire's tread. This leads to safer driving conditions and a reduced risk of slipping off of the roadway.

It doesn't matter what type of vehicle one drives. Winter tires are produced to fit it. Tire manufacturers make winter tires for SUVs, trucks, and cars alike. This is to give all drivers the added advantage of better control of their vehicles when winter conditions arise. It's never a good idea to be stuck driving on all-season tires when the snow and ice hit.

Who Needs Winter Tires?

One of the biggest questions that vehicle owners have when we're approaching the cold winter months is, "Are winter tires necessary?" The truth is that winter tires are made for a reason. Every vehicle owner who will be facing the snow should have winter (snow) tires installed on their vehicle. Yes, they are going to cost more than regular tires. However, they're going to be well worth their weight in gold.

Snow tires have a unique rubber compound that is constructed into specific tread designs. These designs work to allow the vehicle to maintain a better grip in adverse weather conditions. This is the main difference any vehicle owner will notice when comparing the performance of their snow tires to those of their all-season tires. Whether it's ice, snow, or sleet, winter tires grip the road better and provide more traction than one will get with all-season tires.

Maintaining Winter Tires

Just because one spends the money on winter tires doesn't mean that they're all done. Winter tires, just like all-season tires, require regular maintenance to be effective in adverse weather conditions. First and foremost, any vehicle owner should know when it's time to take off those winter tires. One doesn't want to continue to run them throughout the spring and summer as this can wear out the tread faster. Remember that winter tires are more expensive than all-season tires, so one should try and preserve them for as long as is safely possible. One will know it's time to switch out from their winter tires after a couple of weeks at 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Once winter tires are taken off, it's important to give them a good washing. This will remove excess debris, like salt, that can damage the tires over time. If possible, one should place each tire in a tire storage bag or, at the bare minimum, a large garbage bag. When storing winter tires, it's best to stand them straight into the air. This is unless the tires are still on rims, in which case, stacking is preferred.

Best Brands of Winter Tires

Any smart vehicle owner knows that choosing the right brand of vehicle product makes a big difference in performance. When selecting winter tires, one wants to go with a brand that has been proven to perform well year after year. Remember that tires are what sits between one's vehicle and the harsh roadway. Tires are not an area that one wants to cheap out on to save a couple of extra bucks. Some of the best winter tire brands include:

• Bridgestone
• Michelin
• Pirelli
• Firestone
• Goodyear
• Yokohama
• Dunlop
• Continental
• Nokian

It's important that one chooses one of these tire brands and purchases all four tires for their vehicle. It's never a good idea to purchase various tires of different brands. Each tire company specifically designs their winter tire to work together to provide optimal performance in snowy conditions.