Car tire safety is a necessary practice, regardless of the conditions in which you may be driving. Out of all conditions that make driving difficult, winter is probably the most challenging. It affects how tires perform, especially in areas with heavy or frequent snowfalls. One of the best solutions for this issue is to use snow tires. While there are many options for winter tires, it is hard to select one.
Here are some options for winter tires and car tire safety tips for each of them:
1. Performance snow tires
If you generally use performance tires for your car, performance winter tires are the perfect option for you. These tires have an H rating, which translates to higher size and speed. These tires allow you to make turns that you would not be able to with regular tires. Also, they give you better control of the car. Performance snow tires allow you a better grip on snow and ice as compared to regular tires. Here are some car tire safety tips to use these tires efficiently:
- Install performance snow tires on all four wheels, regardless of whether your car is a front, rear, or all-wheel drive to maintain balance in the car’s performance
- Maintain the recommended amount of tire pressure
- Apply the brakes slowly and steadily before taking turns instead of slamming on them
- Complete the turn and straighten the steering wheel before accelerating
2. Studless snow tires
Studless snow tires have more biting edges and deeper treads. This gives your car a better grip on snow and ice. As they are flexible and made of softer rubber, the tires can adjust to the shape of the road regardless of the cold temperature, but these tires are only meant for use in winters. Here are few car tire safety tips for studless snow tires:
- Keep track of your tire pressure as cold weather can cause changes in it
- Lower the speed before making turns
- Install these tires on all four wheels
3. Studded snow tires
During the 1960s, people inserted metal studs into their car tires for better traction on ice, leading to the popularity of studded snow tires. The studs inserted in the tire would chip at the ice, making even the most slippery surfaces easy to drive on. However, the studs would cause damage to the pavement of any surface without ice. Due to this reason, studded tires have been declared illegal in many parts of the country. It is better to confirm through local law enforcement whether they are legal for use in your area. If yes, here are a few car tire safety tips to follow when using studded snow tires:
- Drive slow if your studded snow tires give your car more traction than expected
- If your car loses traction despite the studs, decrease acceleration, slowly turn the steering wheel in the desired direction, and keep your foot on the brakes in case you need to stop