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.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

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.