How to Pick the Right Tire for Places With Winter Snow
Rather than wait until the first winter snow, the time to install your winter tires is during the Fall season, sometime from the month of October until early November. Even if your vehicle has all of the best safety features, the tires matter the most when driving through winter ice and snow. The advantages of having winter tires include better stopping power, traction in icy and snowy road conditions and more flexible rubber in cold temperatures. Purchase your winter tires at department stores, retail stores, tire shops, auto shops, dealerships or online.
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Instructions
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Find out the exact type and size of tires you currently have by looking for your car manufacturer's recommendations in your glove compartment, in your doorjamb or in your car manual.
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Spot a winter tire by the mountain and snowflake on its sidewall, which represents the Rubber Manufacturers Association's Severe Snow Performance Marking. This lets you know the tire has been tested for braking and cornering and has a rating of 110 plus for the snow spin traction.
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Use four winter tires of the same type--do not mix the tire types. You want to be able to drive your car through snowy roads with the same tread depth, as well as accelerate and brake. The same tire types allow you to handle your car properly and safely. Pick tires with a depth of 4.8 mm or deeper, which can last about two to three winters.
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Select a set of steel wheels for the winter, if you want to save money. Steel wheels will take you safely through the winter.
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Pick out four ice and snow tires for your SUV for the winter snow. Although four-wheel drives and front-wheel drives perform well on slippery roads, you still need to have four, quality winter tires, especially since vehicles like SUVs have a longer braking distance than other cars.
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Choose good, reliable all-season tires if you would rather not have winter tires. These tires have labels with "M + S," which represents mud and snow, but note they may not be suitable for the heavy snow. All-season tires wear out faster, and you must replace them every season or every two seasons.
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Tips & Warnings
Read current winter tire reviews and ratings from reliable sources before shopping for winter tires.
To see if you need to buy more snow tires, place a quarter upside down in the groove of your current winter tire. You should only see George Washington's hairline, a depth of 1/8 inch. Buy new winter tires if you see more of Washington's head.
Check the air pressure in your winter tires on a regular basis. Your winter tires lose about 1 lb per square inch (psi) for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit the temperature falls. Your maintenance manual will provide the recommended pressure for your winter tires.
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- Photo Credit Snowy UK Scene image by Carlos from Fotolia.com
