Buy Snow Tires
The first snowfall each year is always an exciting time for most people, but it can also be a little stressful. For those who drive regularly and live in areas with cold winters, icy roads and snowstorms, it's important to think about safety. Snow tires have a higher quality of rubber, and they may have studs to improve grip. These aspects give your car better traction on unpredictable surfaces like snow or ice, ranking them superior to all-season tires.
Steps
- Do your homework before you buy snow tires.
- Check the consumer review ratings and compare snow tires based on safety, handling, braking, noise, tread wear and comfort.
- Shop around. Snow tire prices will generally vary from one retailer to another. Watch for sales, search the Internet and check with department stores and tire dealerships.
- Read and understand the manufacturer warranty. Manufacturers specify the length of the snow tire's limited warranty in months or years starting from the purchase date. Be sure you know what the warranty does and does not cover.
- Look for the snowflake-on-the-mountain symbol, found on the sidewall of the snow tire. This industry standard symbol represents only those tires that have been fully tested in packed snow and meet the required performance.
- Purchase 4 snow tires, preferably all matching, to maximize the performance and control of your vehicle.
- Generally, it's more important for the tires on the front pair of wheels to match each other, and the tires on the back pair to match each other, than for the front to match the back.
- If your car has all-wheel drive, all four tires may need to be replaced at once for a precise size match to avoid premature wear of the expensive center differential.
- Buying snow tires for 2 wheels only may have an adverse effect on the way your car handles, causing it to spin.
Tips
- Leave extra room between your car and other vehicles. This will help you stop in enough time to avoid an accident.
- Snow tires have softer rubber, which causes them to wear down much faster than all-season tires.
- Be aware that some states prohibit the use of studded tires. Even if you are an out-of-state driver, a police officer can pull you over and give you a ticket if you have snow tires in a state that prohibits them.
- A tire imprinted with M+S or M&S (mud and snow) on the sidewall is an all-season tire, not a dedicated snow tire.
Warnings
- Used snow tires may not offer additional protection over all-season tires if they are more than a few years old. You can verify the tire's age by the DOT number on the sidewall: the four digit number at the end specifies the week and year of manufacture, for example "4407" means the tire was manufactured in the 44th week of 2007 (late October 2007). Tires with a three digit number were manufactured before December 1999 and shouldn't be used.
- Never keep studded tires on your vehicle year round or longer than necessary. They tear up roads, causing faster deterioration and potholes.
- Avoid ruining the tread on your snow tires by taking them off your vehicle as soon as possible once the weather warms up, which will make them much too soft.
- Don't wait too long to order snow tires. It's best to order early while most products are available, allowing you to choose what you want rather than having to settle for what is left.
- Never use cruise control in poor weather conditions like snow, rain or ice.
Related Articles
- Put Snow Tires on Your Car
- Install Snow Chains on Tires
- Drive a Car in Winter Weather
- Install Your Premounted Winter Tires
