Spring Tire Tips

April 2019

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Spring Tire Tips
Get Your Winter Tires Off As Soon As Possible to Save $$$

FACT: Once the temperatures are consistently over 10 degrees it’s time to take off your winter tires! Driving winter tires on dry, warm roads in spring and summer will reduce your fuel efficiency and dramatically increase wear and tear because winter tires are made out of very soft materials which allow them to remain flexible and grip the road in freezing temperatures. In warmer temperatures, they wear out quickly. Over time that wear and tear will reduce the lifespan and effectiveness of your winter tires, or even potentially cause a catastrophic blowout, so don’t delay!

While taking off your winter tires you should examine them to determine if they are suitable for next winter, or need to be replaced. Similarly, before re-installing your all-season or summer tires you should first inspect them to make sure that they are up to the job.

INSIDER TIP: Mount your winter tires on steel wheels. This is actually a much safer practice and will save you money in the long run.

  1. Stretching (mounting and removing) tires off and on your summer wheels every year is actually pretty hard on a tire and it’s also hard on the fancy summer alloy wheels your vehicle came with. Every time you switch tires, you run the risk of scratching the alloy finish and allowing corrosion to begin.
  2. Paying to have those tires mounted and removed twice a year will cost more than the purchase of simple steel wheels after just two years and winter tires should last at least twice that long on average.
  3. Running those fancy alloy wheels through the winter will cut down on their lifespan dramatically as well. How many alloy wheels have you seen with that milky white corrosion all over them? That starts with a simple chip in the clear coat which allows the salt to directly attack the aluminium alloy they are made out of. And replacing an alloy wheel is MUCH more expensive than a simple steel one.
  4. In a worst-case scenario such as losing control on ice and hitting a curb, alloy wheels may crack or even break, stranding you on the road, but a steel wheel can bend, and even if permanently damaged, can still allow you to limp home or to a service centre without having to be rescued.

Check Tread Depth, Wear and Pressure

Proper tread depth increases traction and therefore handling, acceleration, fuel efficiency, and speed. Without traction, you risk sliding right off the road –, especially in the wet spring weather. Using a tire gauge or other method, your tire tread should be an absolute minimum of 1/32nd of an inch. Then use a simple air pressure gauge to check that they are properly inflated and keep the gauge in your car at all times.

Of course, if you aren’t comfortable doing the work yourself, simply click the SERVICE REQUEST button below to arrange the most convenient time to come in and have a licensed technician swap your tires and assess their condition so you can get back on the road feeling confident you’ll safely reach your destination.

Published by DrivingSuccess.ca on behalf of Trent Valley Honda
Includes copyrighted material of DrivingSuccess.ca and its suppliers.