Winter in the Snow Belt
Snow tires are a crucial thing to have in areas that are frequented by snowfall in the winter. A recent article on Bankrate discusses the importance of investing in a good set of snow tires, and how the right investment can save money.
The VP of Tire Rack, Matt Edmonds, had this to say: “Changing to snow tires is a lot like changing your shoes. When the weather gets bad and we want the ultimate in terms of control and safety, we put on a good pair of winter boots. The same goes for tires.” Having good tires is key in areas where snow hits hardest. The area referred to as the US Snow Belt is where cars are in the most danger of problems with traction and safety. Drivers can easily protect themselves during travel with a good set of snow tires for winter driving.
Are snow tires actually worth anything?
Your tires begin to wear down long before winter. Normally traction loss begins at about 40° Fahrenheit and anything lower than that can reduce grip quickly. Edmonds added, “At 32° Fahrenheit, the summer tires found on many high-performance vehicles are so stiff they offer no traction at all.” Winter tires are designed to provide maximum traction in snow, ice, slush and sleet. They have deeper treads and utilize silicone-rubber compound that keeps them pliant and flexible on winter roads. Flexibility is important when maneuvering through tough roads and bad weather.
The US Rubber Manufacturers Association
In 1999, the US Rubber Manufacturers Association, or RMA, agreed on a unified standard when it comes to vehicles and traction in the snow. The logo that signifies the approval and reliability is a “snowflake in the mountain.” Ask your local tire dealer about snow tires with the RMA logo. Steve Jambor, manager of a tire service in Greenfield, Wisconsin, said, “Winter tires fall into one of two categories: stud-less ice-and-snow tires and performance winter tires. The former use a silicone rubber compound and they give much better traction in ice and snow.”
When looking for snow tires, look for narrow ones
Research has shown that narrow snow tires dig deeper into the snow and grip. They can considerably increase driving safety on roads. Wider tires tend to “float” over snow, rather than maneuver efficiently through it. Narrow snow tires on all four wheels can lessen the chances of a spin-out. Edmonds adds, “It is a safety issue because so many vehicles today utilize stability control, traction control and anti-lock brake technologies that monitor and modulate wheel-speed and wheel-rotation at all four corners of the vehicle.”
The one downside
Despite the many virtues of getting snow tires, there is one downside: cost. Normally snow tires can cost anywhere from $ 50 to $ 200 per tire, depending on the size. Changing snow tires back and forth with regular tires can cost you. Jambor adds, “Mounting and dismounting a tire places a lot of stress and wear upon the tire’s bead and shortens its life.” Swapping out tires twice a year can get costly. Despite the cost, changing tires twice a year saves a lot, if it prevents you from being in accidents. Having good snow tires will save you some money in the budget every year, and keep you safe.
