4 Car Tire Safety Tips For the Winter
When driving a car or any vehicle during winters roads can be a challenge to ride on. And, one factor which is crucial when driving is tires. So, here are some winter safety tips that will help you keep both your car and tires healthy.
Periodically Check Tire Pressure
You should check the pressure of your tires once a month, especially during the winter season. See that they are appropriately inflated. Low tire pressure can lead to several issues such as decreased braking control, bad gas mileage, and decreased amount of steering, and worst of all it can even lead to failure of the tire which can be lethal. The air pressure of tire changes by 1 pound per square foot for every 10 degrees of temperature change.
Consider Purchasing Snow Tires
If you’re thinking of buying snow tires during the fall season, it is the right time to make a decision and buy a set of snow tires especially if you are living in areas with extreme cold and heavy snow. Snow tires can withstand low temperatures with ease and are designed in a way that they exhibit increased tread. This is why they provide you with better traction and their material remains pliable for a longer period.
Adhere to Careful Driving Habits
First thing first, one of the winter care tire safety tips that you can follow is brake steadily and slowly especially before the turns instead of braking on a whim with a slam. Before you accelerate, wait until you are out of your turn and your steering wheel has become straight. If despite having studs you are losing traction, turn your wheel slowly in the direction you wish to head to and then put your foot on the brakes. Intermittently taking your foot off the gas is also advisable.
Change Tires and Wheels
If you frequently ride below a temperatures of 45 degrees Fahrenheit, it is important that you now exchange your all-season tires with dedicated snow tires. The difference between all-season and winter tires is that the latter is made of a much softer rubber, because of which tires can grip the road better. Also, consider having a dedicated set of wheels for winter tires. This eliminates costs that you might otherwise incur on a changeover. This would also save your wheels from slush, salt, snow, and another kind of wear and tear that winter months bring along.
Your truck or car or any vehicle that is running on tires needs its tires to be safe and the above winter car tire safety tips would help you ensure that. You could be driving on ice roads, facing snow, or simply riding on winter roads, the safety of tires is of utmost importance.