Wintertime Driving Snow Tires And Safety

It amazes many who live in warmer climes that those up north regularly as a matter of course as a vehicle owner have to get their “car ready for winter”. Many think its simply a matter of checking your antifreeze coolant levels in their radiators , making sure that that windshield washer antifreeze is good for 40 below zero , that their batteries hold a good charge ready to start their vehicles on the coldest January Northern Alberta night and lastly that their interior heaters work “just right”. Few think of their tires when it comes to the pre-winter seasonal tune ups at their local garage or auto dealership.

Wintertime driving conditions in many parts of the country call for special tires , sometimes chains to pull in snow and ice – as well as to stop in both a short distance safely. Without question, snow tires increase traction for both pulling and stopping on both ice and snow. There are two reasons at least for this – the deep groves and the much larger tyre footprint areas. On ice and packed snow this larger “footprint” often means much more than any differences in tread design and designs. That being said winter-time tire studs, although once very popular, are now relatively uncommon among seasonal drivers, due to their destructive effects on roads and highways and are not legal in many precincts. Check with your local highway department.

Relative stopping distances on ice depend somewhat on temperatures. On glare ice near freezing, stopping distances may be up to 10 times farther than on dry pavement. Snow tires under similar conditions will cut the distance to only eight or nine times the dry pavement distance to stop.

If you decide that you need the all out gripping and hence stopping powers of cold weather seasonal tire chains first all take the time to either order your tires early from your big box automotive store or auto factory local dealer. Shop early – way ahead of the winter season. Why – first availability . Its a case of the early bird gets the worm – or in this the reduced price and availability of winter time snow chains. When the blizzards hit you can bet that your local suppliers will be plum out of wintertide automotive products. Never mind the long waits in line or the holdups in installation on your vehicle or fleet of vehicles.

Lastly what about tire chains? Not every driver knows how or wants to under their vehicle to put them on. If there is one simple and practical point it can be said about tire winter time chains is that when buying chains purchase them early – way ahead of the winter time driving seasons. Pleasant and safe driving.

Wintertime Dodge Ram Truck Winter Tires Studs Chains Fort Mc Murray and Wpg Used Auto Info

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