How to Choose the Proper Tires for Winter Driving

Because you're carrying precious cargo (such as yourself, your children or other passengers), tire care is imperative in the wintertime. Your tire choice depends on where you live and how you drive.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Traffic Rule Books
• Mud And Snow Tires
• Car Jacks
• Tire Chains
• Tire Gauges

1. Check your owner's manual for specs on tire types and sizes

2. Equip your car with mud and snow tires, which are legal everywhere if not equipped with metal studs.

3. Install metal-studded tires if you need to drive on ice. Keep in mind that these are illegal in 10 states and approved for only seasonal use in 31 states and the District of Columbia.

4. Check your tire pressure often in cold weather. Tires lose about 1 p.s.i. each time the temperature drops 10 degrees.

Tips & Warnings

• Mount snow tires of equal size, type and tread, especially if your car has front-wheel drive. On these vehicles, mismatched rear wheels can lose traction when trying to slow down on icy surfaces.
• Installing tires bigger than those recommended in your owner's manual can make steering difficult. They can also rub against your fender wells or suspension.
• Snow tires generally have large void areas in the tread that allow them to grip snow better than regular tires, while all-weather (or all-season) tires attempt to combine a quiet ride with better snow traction.
• People who live in states that allow studded tires often install them on their drive wheels to increase ice traction. While unstudded snow tires and all-season tires are much less effective on ice, tire chains can increase traction from 80 to 200 percent on any surface.
• Make sure your tire chains are the proper type and size for your tires. Mismatched chains often cause tire failure.

[oldmailman]

on 11/7/2009 Reference Chad's and Anonymous's comments about never using traction tires ONLY on the front wheels of a front wheel drive vehicle, I must make the following observation: While driving from San Jose to my home in southern Idaho last winter (January 26, 2009) with my son, the road had been restricted to four-wheel drive vehicles, or others with chains, by CalTrans due to snow accumulations over Donner Summit. At the time, I was driving a 1991 Chrysler fifth Avenue, the handling characteristics with which I was VERY familiar under ALL road/driving conditions. It was equipped with studded snow tires on the front (drive) wheels. When stopped by CalTrans reps at the checkpoint on the California side, I was told I could go no further without putting chains on and would be forced to turn back or buy them if I was not in possession of chains. I had a set in the trunk but could see NO re...

[Chad]

on 12/6/2007 How to choose a winter tire. They are starting to put a symbol of a mountain with a snowflake in it on the side of tires. This symbol states that it is a winter tire and meets certain winter conditions criteria. What to look for in tires without this symbol. The rubber will be soft and pliable with a low mile warranty. Soft rubber wears much faster than an interstate tire that has a 70,000 mile warranty. AA, A, B and C are rubber grade. AA being the softest. CHEAPER IS NOT BETTER!!! Stay with an AA or A traction rating. Winter tires have open lugs or tread which allow the tire to clean itself. Almost, like a monster truck tire has. Remember NEVER to replace just two tires on a front wheel drive. If you put them on the front the backend might push or fishtail because of the lack of traction to the rear while the front tires hug the turn. BUY ALL FOUR AND DRIVE SLOW. Check pressure monthly

on 11/22/2005 Please remember that four wheel drive and all wheel drive vehicles should always have tires replaced in sets of four. The reason being, stopping on any slick surface may cause uneven stopping traction will cause your cars weight to be pulled(sideways in most cases) off the road in the direction of your momentum. The best advice on tires can be obtained from people who disign the vehicle, but if you can't afford that route, please remember that you usually get what you pay for, and sudden anything in the winter can be fatal.

on 11/22/2005 I work at a tire store. I disagree with some of the information regarding snow tires. When using snow tires it is best to put them on all four wheels. Tires such as Bridgestone Blizzaks and Michelin Alpine are excellent tires, providing better traction than studded tires. If only two tires are used they should be placed on the back, regardless of front wheel drive. If the tires are placed on the front the vehicle will not handle well unless they are on all four. This information is provied to our store (Sears auto group) from the tire companies themselves. Some of them won't let us sell their winter tires unless they are in a set of 4. Feel free to contact tire companies about this information.