When to choose winter tires? It is a good idea to choose dedicated winter tires when you live in an area that experiences long and severe winters. This is because nothing handles better on snow and ice than dedicated winter tires. Their special rubber compound and tread pattern are especially made to tackle the toughest of winters. Since winter tires are made only for the winter season they do not have to compromise for the other seasons. This makes the winter the best performing tires for the winter road conditions. There is no doubt that dedicated winter tires both studded winter tires and non-studded winter tires give the ultimate performance in severe winter conditions but how do you know when to change into winter tires?
The general indications for winter tires are when the temperature drops near 40 degrees Fahrenheit. With studded tires this becomes more complicated as each state in the United States has different laws for their use. There are some States that allow their use as early as September while others not at all. There are also some States only allowing rubber studs while others allow both metal and rubber studs. In certain areas in the United States it is still the safest choice to equip your car with dedicated winter tires however not necessarily studded winter tires. When to put them on depends on where in the United States you live. Check your local laws before changing into winter tires, especially studded tires as they are not allowed in all States. Winter tires will improve traction, braking and handling, with today’s winter tires not being designed to perform just in snowy conditions, but perform better on cold, dry pavement as well. The big drawback with winter tires however is the need to change tires once the winter season is over. This is because the winter tires are not made to be used in other seasons but winter and in some States, it is even illegal, especially for studded tires.
When equipping your car with winter tires, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s recommended tire dimensions. For example, if the recommendation calls for the dimensions 225/65/17 then you need to either look for 225/65/17 studded tires or 225/65/17 non-studded tires. it is important that winter tires are installed in sets of four to help maintain control and stability of your vehicle. Whether you invest in studded or non-studded tires, you will be able to handle the toughest of winter conditions and if you live in an area with severe winters you will not be disappointed in their performance.
You should choose winter tires in areas that endure long and treacherous winters as nothing outperforms dedicated snow tires. You should choose studded tires if those winter conditions entail lots of ice and hardpacked snow and if not, then non-studded tires are probable more suited for your needs. However, if the area where you live has mild winters, then maybe all-season tires could be considered.
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