Pin It

The Many Choices For Car Tires

slvrsrfr | Jun 19, 2010 |

0 Comments | Rating: 0

All season tires are thought to be comparable to winter tires by some, but the reality tells a completely different story. If you think that a tire that is made for all four seasons can double as a safety device in snow, think again!

Car safety experts say that you need to replace your wheels as soon as temperature hits 8C (about 45F) whether there is snow or not. Winter tires in regions where snow is a rare sight are not installed to give proper grip on a slippery surface, but to keep the traction even in a low temperature, where an all season tire would have lost its grip.

Winter tires come with added ingredients that keep the tire flexible even under harsh circumstances, and not only that, they come with a technology that's called soft studs. These are just like metal studs on football shoes, but made of a softer material so that they don't damage the road.

Due to the adequate performance shown by all season tires they are now the convenient choice for car manufacturers and customers in the United States. An example of this is the Goodyear fortera tripletred. They neither have excellent summer features nor the breaking distance of a winter tire during the cold months, but one thing makes them good enough for most customers. They give a compromise between price and performance.

If you plan on driving on snow or live where it tends to get colder than 45 degrees Fahrenheit, consider buying winter tires instead, your safety is worth more than an additional set of wheels for the cold season.

Most cars come with all-season tires like the Goodyear assurance tripletred, but they do not need to be replaced by the same type and model. In case you decide to do so anyway, make sure you pick a good quality set. Things to look for include long tread wear, good grip during winter, heat resistance and adequate speed ratings.

Speed ratings can be found on the tires and read as follows: M means that they're good up to 81 MPH (this is where low quality rubber ends up), H means 130 miles and V for 149 MPH. It doesn't necessarily mean that you should drive that fast under all conditions, but under the right set of circumstances you could reach such a speed without the tire failing first.

Remember that heat is proportionate with pressure in gases, therefore the colder air is in the tires the lower the pressure is going to be. About 5 degrees of change result in 1 pound per square inch. During the winter always monitor tire pressure and refill as necessary. While all-season tires are not the best for either season, they continue to be used where conditions are not that harsh. If you decide to use them, at least make sure you drive according to the tire's capabilities.