It’s that time of the year when you need to make sure your car is in tip-top shape. Oil change? Check. Heater working? Check. New air filter? Check. Great, but don’t overlook one of the most important things of all, the tires.
Helpful Tips
You should keep your car in proper working condition at all times. However, this becomes even more crucial in the winter. After all, that’s when road surfaces are slick and potentially dangerous. So, if you live in a part of the country where it snows, make the tires your priority.
Here are some ways to do that.
Tread
Over time, the tread on tires wears down. As a result, they don’t provide much traction. That means if you drive on wet or snow-covered roads, there’s a good chance your vehicle will slide. Not only that, but you’ll find that your car doesn’t respond well when braking. So, always replace worn tires.
Air Pressure
Tires respond to the temperature on the roads you drive. When it’s cold, tire pressure decreases. If you drive a new or newer vehicle, you’ll know when you need to add air to the tires thanks to an alert. However, you want to check the pressure throughout the winter, whether your car’s new or old.
Upgrade the Tires
You need the right type of tires, especially when driving on roads with snow or ice. Some people don’t realize they have options. At a minimum, invest in all-season tires. However, for more extreme conditions, you’ll need tires designed specifically for winter driving.
As the name implies, all-season or all-weather tires work great regardless of the time of the year. That includes the winter when driving becomes riskier. You might also consider winter tires, which have sipes. These narrow and large tread tires do an amazing job gripping road surfaces.
You might also like: Winter Weather Brings New Skincare Challenges
The Value of Checking the Tires
By keeping the right tires on your car, you’ll enjoy several benefits. The following are just a few of those:
- Improved Fuel Efficiency – If you put quality tires on your car, you’ll notice that your car gets better gas mileage. With the high cost of fuel, this is a huge advantage.
- Better Handling – Your vehicle will handle better, especially when you’re on slick surfaces in the wintertime.
- Smoother Ride – Quality tires equal a smoother ride. This is ideal for long commutes or if you enjoy taking road trips.
- Enhanced Safety – Keeping the proper tires on your vehicle will increase your safety, as well as the safety of your passengers.
Regardless, if you need new tires or want the ones on your car inspected, turn to a trusted service center. The experts at Berglund Automotive in Roanoke, Virginia, will gladly help you.
Disclaimer: The stock image is being used for illustrative purposes only, and it is not a direct representation of the business, recipe, or activity listed. Any person depicted in the stock image is a model.