Tire Safety Tips For Winter Driving
Winter is just a few months away in the US, which means that it's a good time to learn what you need to do to prepare your vehicle for the worst time of the year to drive. Reduced visibility, slick roads, and poor traction are some of the things you must ensure that your vehicle is ready to handle, not to mention the extremely cold temperatures that can wreak havoc on various parts of your vehicle.
One area you must pay close attention to is your tires. As the part of your car that touches the road, tires have a huge impact on the handling of your car, and having the right ones could be the difference between making it home safely and spinning out in the middle of the road. Here's how to take care of your tires this winter.
Examine the tread
Before winter arrives, it's crucial to carefully examine the tread of your tires, particularly if you don't plan on swapping them out for winter tires. If you wait until the first ice or snowstorm hits, you may find that your worn-out tires are causing your car to skid and slide on the roads, which is extremely dangerous for you and other road users. You can start by using the classic penny trick, where you stick a coin upside down within the treads; if you can see Lincoln's head, replace the tires immediately for safety. While you're at it, it's also a good idea to check that tire wear and tear is even. For example, if your tires are wearing out more in the middle, this could indicate that you're over-inflating them. Similarly, too much wear on the inside could be a sign of a bad wheel bearing or poor wheel alignment.
Change your tires
If you live in a place where there's a lot of snow and ice, consider swapping your current tires with a set of winter tires. When temperatures drop, all-season tires start to lose traction and grip, making handling a tough challenge, even for seasoned drivers. Since winter tires are designed to maintain better traction and grip in cold weather, they provide more control in situations involving snow and ice. The difference between all-season and winter tires is the tread compound: the compound used in winter tires stays soft in cold temperatures for superior traction. Winter tire treads also have multiple extra gripping edges that can give a traction boost of up to 50 percent. If you're getting a set of winter tires, it's also a good idea to have a set of wheels specifically for them. This not only eliminates some changeover costs, but also saves your everyday wheels from damage caused by ice, snow, slush and salt during winter.
Ensure your tires are properly inflated
Freezing temperatures may cause the pressure in the tires to drop. A 10-degree temperature drop can cause a pressure loss of one pound per square inch. When your tire pressure gets too low, it can lead to problems such as decreased steering and braking control, excessive tire wear, low gas mileage, and an increased risk of tire failure. Check your tire pressure often, or install tire pressure monitors so that you can check at any time with the click of a button. Don't forget to keep your spare tire properly inflated as well in case you need it.
While staying at home is the only surefire way to avoid the road dangers caused by winter's chill, there are many ways you can enhance your vehicle's safety and performance. Perhaps the most productive way to keep yourself and fellow drivers safe is by taking good care of your tires this winter