Now that winter weather has arrived, it’s time to consult the Madison auto care specialists at one of Madison Auto Care’s seven NAPA service centers to decide on the best tire for you and your vehicle.
Winter weather has definitely arrived. And with the cold, snow and ice comes the annual decision for car owners: Should I change to a winter or snow tire or can I leave my summer tires on my car all year round?
It’s an important decision. The safety of you, your family and other passengers literally rides on that choice.
While you have a general choice between all-season tires, all-weather tires, and winter tires, there are variations within each type. What’s best for you and your situation is an individual decision.
“Most all-season tires have one thing in common – they are composed overwhelmingly of what should be called ‘rain tires,’” according to liveabout.com. “In general, what the industry calls all-season tires are summer tire designs with the addition of some minor siping patterns to deal with water on pavement. 90-95 percent of tires called all-season should never be driven in anything more than the lightest of occasional snow.”
Another type of tire is the “all-weather tire,” which, liveabout.com explains, “are year-round tires which carry the ‘Mountain/Snowflake’ symbol, indicating that the tires meet winter performance standards set for dedicated snow tires by the Rubber Manufacturers Association and the Canadian Rubber Association.”
Then, there are the dedicated snow tires. Liveabout.com says, “All-season tires being a balance between extremes, dedicated snows represent the wholehearted embrace of one extreme in particular – winter conditions.
“Unlike summer rubber compounds which become stiff in cold temperatures, they use special rubber compounds that are at their peak of flexibility and grip under colder conditions. Consequently, these tires must be taken off in the spring, as they will perform badly and wear fast in warm weather. However, in winter conditions they will outperform any all-season tire, with the possible exception of the all-weather niche.”
What’s a driver to do? Well, as we said before, that depends on your individual needs, your vehicle, your driving style, and the conditions under which you most frequently drive. (If you live on the side of a snowy mountain, you might want to invest in studded snow tires, for example.)
If you’re lost in the maze of tire types and brands, your best bet is to consult a Madison auto care tire technician who can help you decide what’s best for you. You can find a Madison auto care tire specialist at one of Madison Auto Care’s seven trusted NAPA service centers: Clausen Auto, Handel Auto, Genin’s Auto, Capitol Tire, Odana Tire, Hansen’s Auto, or Aeschbach Auto.
Madison Auto Care’s experts can help you with that.
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