If you live in an area that gets a decent amount of snow every year, you might wonder if buying snow tires is worth the investment or whether all-season tires would suit your winter needs. Years ago, using snow tires on dry pavement would ruin the tread in no time, but times have changed, and snow tires are essential in areas where snowfall is high during the winter.
Wet and Snowless Roads
Snow tires are beneficial for driving on snow-free roads when it is cold and wet. They are effective and safe when driving during weather conditions that might not require snow tires. The rate at which individuals in vehicles with snow tires stopped in an emergency situation is comparable to all-season measurements. This is due to the tread pattern, remarks Woody Rogers, a specialist in tires. The pattern is specifically designed to work the best when temperatures dip below 40 degrees.
The rubber works best, and tread wears less during the cold temperatures, but driving when it starts to get warmer as spring approaches wears the tread faster than all-season tires and overall performance dips slightly below vehicles equipped with the standard all-season tires.
Handling
Similar to stopping power, handling with snow tires years ago was atrocious and something that most people avoided. They increased the chances of losing traction and skidding due to the design.
Snow tires are more functional than 20 years ago because the majority of vehicles have electronic stability control or ECS to aid the driver in handling. If the vehicle senses that it is losing traction, the ECS will help prevent it from going off the road or quickly going into a spin.
Quality
All tires are not created equal. Choosing a cheap or poorly rated snow tire won’t give you the same results as something that costs a bit more or has a more aggressive tread pattern. If you purchase brands that are friendlier to your wallet, you’ll sacrifice the performance you expect out of your snow tires. Consider getting one of the title loans Tampa has to offer to get a nicer tire for your car when winter comes around.
Read reviews to get a feel for the best tires for your car, truck, or SUV. Keep in mind that some tires will perform better on certain classes of vehicles than other, meaning it’s essential to pay attention to the vehicle an individual has when they write a review. Expect to spend around $150 to $190 per tire with installation costs.
Timing
Even with the changes in technology, it’s not advisable to keep winter tires on all year long. Get them around Thanksgiving and take them off once the forecast starts showing frequent temperatures above 40 degrees.
Don’t forget to recycle your tires when the tread wears out, which is around 6/32 of an inch because a worn out tire is ineffective and puts you at risk of losing control while on slick roads.
Do you need them?
If you only get snow a few times a year, snow tires might not be the right decision for you. When snow and ice are a regular part of winter where you live, snow tires can make the difference between whether you lose control or even get into an accident or not.