A few weeks ago, those of us who run “winter tires” were all so proud of ourselves for leaving them on. Now, not so much.
Your winter tires now belong in the shed, the corner of your garage, or in the “Tire Hotel”—not on your car.
Here’s some food for thought:
Snow tires are great and more common than they used to be. On average, you can expect to get a good 3-4 seasons out of them.
There is always a big rush to get them on as winter approaches, but not so much to take them off in the spring. So what’s the big deal?
Snow tires have a softer compound than all-season tires. They are designed to operate in low heat/low friction conditions.
This time of year, with roads clear and dry, the sun beating down and temperatures rising, snow tires actually can just melt away, especially at higher speeds.
Rusty’s top 5 snow tire recommendations, or recs (as the kids say these days) to consider:
#1. Fuel efficiency
If those snow tires are still on, you are wasting money. Not only are you lessening the life of the tire and making it less effective, you are also burning more gas. On a recent road trip, we ran our snow tires and got about 20 MPG, instead of the 22+ we get with the same vehicle + all-season tires. So what? Well, that’s 10% (I Googled the math). Saving 10% on fuel is like getting $0.35 cents off per gallon (Google the math).
#2. Storage
Don’t store snow tires in the sun. It’s not good for them. They like shade in the summer. And, don’t store worn-out tires. Don’t kid yourself. If they look like it’s time to say goodbye, say goodbye. You’ll be more motivated next season to make the wise investment in new tires and less likely to think, Nah, I can get just one more run! Snow tires do the hard work for you during the worst driving conditions. Don’t push your luck.
#3. Tires
What about what you are putting back on your vehicle? The same rules apply: If it’s time to move on and get some new tires, do it. This time of year, there are lots of rebates and deals to help you avoid putting worn-out lumpy ol’ tires back on. After all, you are carrying precious cargo. If you’re not sure about the current state and safety of your tires, ask your service provider.
#4. Alignment
To Align or Not To Align, that is the question. You get used to how your vehicle handles with snow tires and how it feels. But it might not be the same with the summer tires on, and it’s been a rough pothole season. I recommend getting it checked for alignment, especially if you opt for new skins.
#5. Wellness
Wellness Check Plus+ time. Take your car or truck to someone you trust to make sure it’s road-ready with the changing season. We recommend making an appointment at Brake & Alignment Plus+ to have the tires changed and the alignment checked, and get a thorough ‘health physical’ for your car. Fix a few things and get a punch list of things you need to keep an eye on and plan for.
Thanks for reading and Keep It Movin’.
– Rusty Fender
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