As the seasons change from fall to winter, it is extremely important that you make the necessary changes to your vehicle. This will ensure that your vehicle is working to its full potential and will keep you and your passengers safe on the road. One of the most important changes that need to be made is switching over to winter tires. Even if it isn’t snowy, there are a number of benefits to installing winter tires.
Better Grip
Many drivers feel that all season tires are able to perform properly throughout the whole year. Although this is somewhat true, all season tires do not provide the same level of grip as winter tires. Winter tires are made out of a soft rubber material that holds its flexibility in cold temperatures. Winter tires have a different tread pattern from all season tires; this tread pattern allows for optimal control in snow, slush, ice, and water. All of these features not only improve the winter driving experience, but it will also minimize the chances of getting into an accident.
Narrow Build
In comparison to an all season tire, a winter tire is noticeably narrower. As an example, a vehicle with 215 all season mm tires will ride on 195 mm to 205 mm snow tires. This narrow build allows the tire to slice through snow and slush. This narrow build also provides the driver with a better ability to combat hydroplaning. This is all due to the fact that a narrow tire experts more pressure on the surface than a wide, all season tire.
Minimize the Dangers of Black Ice
For a vehicle with all season tires, black ice can be a one-way ticket to the mechanic. However, for those with winter tires, this is often not the case. Winter tires have a better ability to deal with black ice than all season tires. This is due to their ability to stick to ice better. This is thanks to the high-quality rubber and narrow build of winter tires.
In some places, citizens are required by law to install winter tires on their vehicles. This means anyone caught driving without them in the winter is fined. Although this is not the case in Albuquerque, one can see how necessary winter tires are for a number of drivers. With this in mind, it is important to understand the benefits of installing winter tires. There are a number of benefits to winter tires including better grip to the road, a narrower build, and a lower chance of being affected by black ice. All of these features will make any driver safer and more efficient during the winter season. However, these are not the only benefits of winter tires. Go out and purchase a pair and find out the rest of them for yourself.
For more information on the benefits of installing winter tires, feel free to contact the automotive experts at the McKinney Motor Company.