In some climates, changing seasons and winter weather bring on the need to change the tires on your car or truck. If you live in a climate where snow and ice are common, you may want to consider snow tires or even studded tires. Here are a few things to consider before you run out and buy those new tires for your car or truck this winter.

Deciding What Type of Tire You Need

The area you live in and the weather you expect during winter should both be considerations when you start looking at tire options. If snow is the only concern, a good snow tire will offer you traction and durability, but if you are dealing with a lot of ice on the roads through the winter months, a studded tire might be a better choice. Consider the conditions from winters past to get an idea of what you need.

Picking between Studded or Not

Snow tires are pretty common in the colder climates and are basically tires with large, open tread patterns that promote self-cleaning of the tread. While these are often enough, if you will be driving in an area that sees a lot of ice, studded tires may be required. These tires are snow tires that have small metal studs screwed or pressed into the tread to promote traction on the ice. The downside to a studded tire is that they are very loud on paved roads, and if you drive on bare asphalt with them, the studs can become loose and fall out.

Considering Quality and Reusability

Often people will buy snow tires for their car and have a second set of wheels so that they can take the snow tires off the car in the spring and store them for the next year. If you are buying a high-quality tire, this is a great option. Some lower quality tires may not stand up for more than one or two seasons but a good set of snow tires, stored properly, could last for many winters to come.

Storing Your Snow Tires

If you buy a high-quality snow tire that you want to use for several seasons, you can remove the snows and store them in your garage at the end of the winter. For the longest life, store the tires on a shelf or rack, not on the floor, and inside where they will be out of direct sunlight and hot summer temperatures. You can even have them wrapped in plastic at some tire shops to help keep them in good shape for the next season.

For more information, contact local professionals like Collier Tire Auto & Truck Repair Center.

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