Are Snow Tires Really Necessary During the Winter?
Do You Really Need Snow Tires in the Winter?
Winter is fast approaching! It’s time to winterize your vehicle. But is it really necessary to replace your tires with snow tires? Find out here.
Winter is fast approaching and will be here before we know it. Preparation is the only way to survive the coldest season of the year, and getting your vehicle ready for winter weather should always be a top priority.
According to statistics, 17 percent of all car accidents occur during winter conditions. Discover how snow tires can make the difference between a safe and a dangerous drive.
Winterize Your Car
Winter conditions can be harsh, so it wouldn’t hurt to prepare before the cold season hits. By doing so, you can avoid potential hazards and repair costs. Here are some ways to winterize a car.
Maintenance Check
Have the auto mechanic inspect everything under the hood to make sure everything is in working order. Maintenance should also include inspecting belts, hoses, antifreeze levels, windshield wipers, and a proper oil change.
Tire Replacement
Changing your tires is a must if they are old and worn and when the tread depth is less than 2/32 of an inch. Look for signs of dry rot, as old tires lose their elasticity and become brittle over time.
Fluid Change
Check on your windshield-washer fluid, fill it up, and make sure to put an extra jug in the trunk. Also, check your car’s gas, oil, coolant, transmission fluid, and power-steering fluid.
Battery Inspection
Blizzards and cold weather are very hard on batteries. When temperatures drop, car batteries lose power. So if yours is old, have it checked out.
You and the mechanic should look for cracks, holes, or corrosion around the positive and negative terminals and make sure your cables are well connected. If you’ve recently had a few batteries die, you should just buy a new one.
Emergency Kit
Having an emergency kit is handy to prepare if something goes wrong on the road or you get stranded. You can buy vehicle safety kits or make your own to save money.
A basic car kit should contain a supply of water, a blanket, a flashlight, a first aid kit, a small scraper or shovel, extra clothing, food that won’t spoil, and a fully charged spare cell phone.
Importance of Snow Tires
With winter coming soon, many will contemplate whether to get a tire replacement and if the expense is necessary. Let’s discuss the importance of snow tires and why they are a worthwhile investment.
Winter Performance
Winter tires are designed specifically for driving in the most hazardous weather conditions. Their tread patterns and rubber chemical compounds are designed to provide superior traction and control in snow, frost, slush, black ice, and heavy rain.
Better Grip
All winter tires are of a soft rubber that stays flexible even when the temperature drops. This makes them easier to control. In snow and ice conditions, having a good tire grip is critical for ensuring that the car brakes when you want it to and steers well when in motion.
More Traction
Winter tires have very deep sipes (slits in the tread) and wider grooves that drain water and improve traction, which helps prevent hydroplaning (skidding on a wet surface).
Winter Tires Versus All-Season Tires
With winter just around the corner, it’s essential to think about what will keep you the safest in challenging weather conditions. Continue reading to learn about the differences between winter tires and all-season tires.
Winter Tires
- Specifically designed to withstand severe weather
- Provide superior traction 25 to 50 percent more than all-season tires
- Rubber compounds are more pliable in cold weather for easier braking and turning
All-Season Tires
- Not built to withstand harsh elements
- Lose traction when exposed to low temperatures of about 7 degrees Celsius
- Rubber compounds harden in sub-zero weather and cause tires to skid on ice
Driving safely on a snowy road leans heavily on how our tires react to road conditions at that very moment. But choosing the right tires will also depend on where you live and the weather conditions you drive in.
Tire Replacement Made Easy
At a service center, changing all four tires usually takes between 30 to 45 minutes. Getting your tires changed at a tire shop is usually the most efficient way to do it since they have tools that make the job easier.
A hydraulic lift raises the car, and an impact torch wrench removes the lug nuts from each tire. Before putting on summer or winter tires, the tires are balanced to make sure they don’t shake when you drive.
Once the tires are balanced, they are put back on the car, and the lug nuts are tightened in a star pattern so that none of the tires vibrate due to one nut being looser than the others.
The car is then put back on the ground, and the lug nuts on each tire are torqued to make sure they are all tight enough.
Deep Roots
Service is about more than the final product, it is about the customer experience and how they treat you from the time you walk in the door to the time you leave.
You don’t need to look any further than A Plus Transmission in Brighton, MI. The dedication to their craft, their quality of service, and their deep roots in the industry are only some of the reasons why visiting A Plus will feel more like an experience than a service. Customer satisfaction is a guarantee, along with integrity and core values.
Make Safety a Priority
There are certain things you should never compromise on, and safety is one of them. Replacing your tires with snow tires can mean a world of difference in protecting yourself and your loved ones.
Our mission is to prepare you for the winter season on the right foot. Contact us and discover why changing to winter tires will be the best investment you will ever make.