With fall right around the corner, now is the time to start thinking about how to keep your tires safe this winter. Weather and temperature have an impact on your tires, and you want to make sure that your vehicle is equipped with the right tires to keep you safe when you are on the road.
Check Tire Pressure
It cannot be said enough that checking your tire pressure is extremely important. As the temperature drops outside, so does the pressure inside your tires. As the pressure drops inside your tires, you will lose some of your steering and brake control. Additionally, low pressure in your tires can also lead to poor fuel economy as well as unnecessary wear on your tires. In the winter, when the temperature can vary greatly, you should check your tire pressure every two weeks. Most gas stations have air stations so you can check your tires' pressure and either add or remove air from your tires. Additionally, most oil change places will check your tire pressure for free if you get your oil changed at one of their locations.
Check Your Tread
The tread on your tires is really important. The tread on your tires is specially designed to move water and snow away from the road and provide your tires with the grip they need to keep the right amount of traction no matter what the weather is like. If the tread on your tires is too worn, your tires are not going to get the grip that they need to keep you safe on the road. If your tires are getting to the end of their life, you are going to want to contact a tire shop to get a new set of tires.
Change to Winter Tires
It really is advantageous to switch to winter tires. All-weather tires do not provide you with the same traction and grip as winter tires do once the temperatures outside start to approach freezing. Winter tires are designed to function smoothly even when it is really cold outside. They are made out of slightly different materials than all-weather tires; the rubber on winter tires is made for the cold. Winter tires are also designed to provide you with more grip. The traction on the tires is designed to provide you with more contact on the road, which is important when you are driving in wet and freezing weather.
Keep your tires safe this winter by switching to winter tires, making sure your tread is thick enough to provide you with the traction you need, and checking your tire pressure on a regular basis.
