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Tag: snow tires

  • Snow Tires: When And If They Should Be Put On

    Snow tires are great if you happen to live in a cold climate that sees a lot of snow and ice.

    They help with braking on slippery surfaces and keeping a grip on the road when driving in wintery weather, but when are you supposed to switch over to snow tires from regular tires?

    Carolyn Goard, communications manager with the TRAC, which represents Canadian tire manufacturers and importers, says that you should put them on about two weeks before snow is expected.

    Regular tires tend to harden in cold weather, making it harder for them to keep a grip on the road. Snow tires, made especially for all kinds of cold weather conditions, stay softer when the weather gets brutal.

    “There is nothing wrong with getting a head start and putting them on in, say, October,” Goard says. “Many people are pro-active about getting their winter tires on a bit earlier so that they are prepared when the first big snow comes.”

    However, she also cautioned against putting on the snow tires too early in the season, as it can cause unnecessary wear.

    “If your vehicle is wearing winter tires in the summer, or year-round, they are going to wear out a heck of a lot quicker because they are not manufactured to be used during the months other than the winter months,” Goard said.

    Also, apparently snow tires don’t perform as well as all-season tires when the weather isn’t cold. In tests by Consumer Reports, snow tires took an average of almost 23 feet further to stop from 60 mph on a dry track. On a wet track, it took snow tires over 40 feet further to stop.

    If you don’t live in an area that gets a ton of snow and wintery weather, it’s best to check with a local tire dealer for a recommendation on whether or not to use snow tires.

    Drive safely this winter!

  • Winter Tires, Are They Worth Buying?

    Winter Tires, Are They Worth Buying?

    Winter is here, and for most of the country the roads are slick, icy and full of snow. Is it worth it to buy snow or winter tires?

    Many drivers who live in icy snowy winters use all-season tires throughout the year and some use chains. But winter tires or snow tires can be a better choice, if the winters are extended.

    Deciding whether winter tires are worth the cost, not to mention the time and trouble to remove and store when no longer needed, it might be a good idea to look at the differences in tires and understand their purpose.

    Summer tires are designed to use in warm weather, obviously, and perform best when there is no chance of snow and ice. They are not made to withstand cold and freezing weather, they could crack and wear too quickly. But, they do have better traction on wet and dry pavement than other kind of tires. However, they tend to wear out more quickly than all-season tires.

    All-season tires have deeper and more sturdy tread designed to grip the road better in all seasons, and perform well in a more varied temperature range than summer tires. They also, because of the thicker and more sturdy tread, last longer than summer or street tires.

    Winter tires are made to perform better in snow and ice, remaining more flexible and soft in an effort to grab the road more efficiently . They feature extra thin grooves, also called sipes, a feature that creates numerous tread edges for added grip. As the winter tires turn, the treads open and close, which is designed to push snow away from the tire.

    Winter tires, however, don’t perform well for non-winter conditions. They have proven to wear more quickly than all-season tires or summer tires on dry or rainy roads. So changing them during spring and summer conditions is a must.

    Checking out prices of all season tires as opposed to winter tires, depending on your climate, will determine whether winter/snow tires will keep you safer in cold and snowy regions. Tests prove they are the best performers in wintery conditions.

    Image via YouTube

  • Winter Tires Risk Being Banned After Research

    It’s 32 degrees with a low of 28 in Sweden right now, and medical researchers there are calling for a ban on studded winter tires.

    Many people worldwide use the drop in weather to determine when its time to change into their winter tires, but according to the Alaska Dispatch, researchers in Sweden are declaring that studded winter tires actually do more harm than good.

    A Sweden newspaper named Dagens Nyheter recently released an article featuring two medical researcher’s belief that winter tires rarely have much effect on your driving safety, but they do cause extreme harm to the environment. These researchers believe that winter tires release particles in the air that cause respiratory, cardiac, pulmonary and vascular diseases. The Swedish medical researchers believe that winter tires actually cause more harm to the body than any recorded traffic accidents suffered by those who do not use winter tires.

    Many people believe that winter tires, sometimes known as snow or studded tires, are only necessary for environments covered with snow. Since Sweden is covered with snow, these findings are pretty significant to both those in cold countries as well as for those who experience a smaller amount of snow.

    If you do decide to purchase winter tires, be sure to do your research on the best tires. The best winter tires provide the most traction for your vehicle and also contain the least amount of studs and extra rubber that could prove harmful for you and the environment.

    (Image: Youtube)