Buying Winter Tires: What You Should Know
If you are moving to or have recently moved to an area that is known for its wintry weather, you may have heard of people talking about switching their tires out for the winter. Proper tire traction is imperative during the winter in order to stay on the road, slow down, and accelerate properly. Ultimately, this all helps you in reducing close calls in accidents and minimizing the overall risk of having a fender-bender. If you are considering having winter tires installed on your vehicle, here are a few things you should know before you go through with it.
Winter Tires Will Help Your Vehicle Grip the Road Better
All-season tires can be great when it comes to driving in rain and mild weather conditions, but winter tires are designed for improving the safety and handling of your vehicle when driving in wintry conditions. Once the temperatures reach a certain temperature, the rubber on all-season tires will stiffen, which will reduce traction. However, winter tires are specifically designed to maintain their malleability in extremely cold conditions, which allows them to grip the road better. In addition, winter tires are designed with larger blocks of treat, allowing more of the tire surface to eat into the snow.
Make Sure to Purchase and Install Four Tires That Match
The handling of your vehicle can be directly impacted by the wear and pattern of variations in the treat of your tires. If you plan on owning your vehicle for an extended period of time, you will need a couple sets of tires. The first set will be on the one that initially comes with your vehicles. The second set will be one for when that one wears out. Purchasing a set of winter tires will help to double the life expectancy of your vehicle's all-season tires.
Consider Purchasing an Additional Set of Wheels
In addition to having two sets of tires, you should also consider having an extra set of wheels. This extra set of wheels should be designed for wintry conditions so that they can be used with your winter tires. In the long run, this will save you both time and money since you won't need to worry about having your tires taken off and re-mounted at the beginning and end of the winter season.
Keep an Eye on the Tire Pressure
When the temperatures begin to drop outside, you can expect the pressure in your tires to drop as well. Therefore, throughout the winter season, make sure to take the time to check the pressure in all of your tires—including the spare—at least once a month. If you are bad at forgetting things, one way to remember to check the tire pressure is to check it when you fill up your tank with fuel.
If you are in need of winter Nissan tires, contact a tire shop in your area like Western Avenue Nissan.