Driving in the winter months can be a tedious task that requires a lot of extra work. From getting up earlier in the morning to leaving time to defrost your car before work, shoveling the snow off the driveway and driving slower in icy conditions. Winter maintenance on your car is essential in order to keep it running properly and cannot be skipped if you value both your car and your safety.
One aspect of winter car maintenance and arguably the most important is tire maintenance. Statistics from the NHTSA show that 35% of all car accidents have been caused by worn tires, which is a significant finding that could help improve driver safety dramatically. Safety is just one aspect when it comes to winter tire maintenance, but by investing in specific winter national tires, you can remove some of the worry and hassle of driving in the winter season.
Not convinced it’s worth the investment? Let’s take a unbiased look below at whether winter tires are worth the investment.
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Driving in Low Temperatures
While a tire store might tell you that it’s definitely worth buying the winter tires, we will be honest here; if you’re living in the likes of Florida then you are probably not going to need to invest in winter tires unless you are making a trip up north.
Winter tires work best in temperatures below 44.6 °F. This is the temperature when standard tires begin to lose their flexibility and winter tires become more effective. Also known as ‘snow tires’, winter tires can commonly be mixed up with all season tires that are often seen as good enough to have in place of winter tires. However, this couldn’t be more wrong.
Winter tires are made differently in terms of both construction and functionality. Winter tires use a tread compound that will remain flexible below 45 °F, allowing them to retain traction on the road. However, all season tires start to stiffen when temperatures drop below this level, which makes braking, acceleration and cornering less reliable and more difficult.
As you can see, if you live in a warm climate then it may not be worth the winter tires, however if you are driving in a cooler climate for a considerable distance then it could be very important.
Improved Safety
While your own safety is paramount while driving, we’re also discussing the safety of everyone else on the roads too. Driving with tires that are worn or are not suitable for winter conditions could jeopardize the safety of everyone around you.
Winter tires are designed to handle winter conditions such as freezing temperatures, icy roads, lots of rain and snow and make it easier to drive in these conditions. If you’ve ever been driving in the rain and have slipped as you were pulling off or applying the brake, the chances are this could have been because your tires were not geared up for adverse weather conditions.
With this being said, you should still exercise caution while driving in adverse weather as winter tires will make the conditions safer, however they will not prevent an accident if you are not driving with caution and acting responsibly.
Saving Money in the Long Run
There’s no denying that winter tires can be expensive, and who wants to spend a lot of money when the holiday season is fast approaching, and you need to save all the money you can. However, by investing in winter tires you will be saving money as you won’t get through tires so quickly.
Standard tires are likely to get worn and damaged much easier in adverse weather conditions, meaning it will cost more in the long run to keep replacing them.
Overall, winter tires may seem like a hassle to buy and get installed, however they truly are a life saver when it comes to driving in winter conditions. What’s more, by exercising caution and using winter tires, you are preserving your own safety, as well as that of those around you, making them all round worth the purchase.
