5 Effective Winter Tire Safety Tips

5 Effective Winter Tire Safety Tips

As the temperatures drop, one part of your vehicle that needs extra care is the tires. There are numerous things that could go wrong with tires during winters because the roads are dewy and slippery. This is when they begin to lose grip on the road, increasing the chances of accidents. To avoid this, here are some winter tire safety trips that you should be aware of.

Let us list down the main tips for tires during winters.

Check winter tire pressure
The recommended pressure during winters is different from that during other seasons and you must take note of the same. The thermal fluctuations result in a decrease in tire pressure. Apart from this, you must also measure the tire pressure in cold conditions or at least half an hour after the vehicle has been brought to rest after a ride. Otherwise, the heat produced while driving changes the pressure on the tire. Furthermore, the tire pressure must be checked after going on a rocky road as well as in usual conditions once a month.

Consistency in the tires
It is advisable that the 4 wheels are of the same make, type, size, rating as well, as they should ideally be bought together so that the wear and tear happen at more or less the same time. The handling of the vehicle improves significantly when the tires are of the same age. Apart from this, the pressure must also be checked at the same time during winters so that there is a consistency in the performance of each.

Ensure durability
When the tires are not used, they should be preserved with proper inflation and they should be on the rims. In addition, the tire pressure must also be checked regularly even if its the spare, so that they perform well when they’re put back to use. The tires should be stored at a minimum of 10 cm above the ground and in a single line on a shelf. One should note that the profile of the tires should not be impacted when they’re stored. This is one of the most important but often ignored winter tire safety tips.

Take note of snow tires
Not all tires can perform well in snow and that is why there are particular snow tires that are wide and high-performance for extra safety. They do not skid easily on the snow and hold their grip firmly. If you’re going to drive on inclined roads that are snowy, you should make sure that the tires perform well on snow.

Drive gently
The simplest and most important tip to keep your tires, vehicle, and yourself safe during winters is to drive safely. Don’t be rash on the roads and try to drive in a straight line as much as possible. No matter how much you try, you might not have kept the tires in the perfect condition for winters and thus you should avoid all chances of the tires skidding on slippery roads.