Set yourself up for safe winter driving

(Family Features) Waiting for the first snow or ice storm to hit puts you and your tires behind the curve when it comes time to get behind the wheel.

Preparing your vehicle and brushing up on smart winter driving tips helps ensure you arrive at your destination safely, no matter the weather.

Consider winter tires

When temperatures drop below 45 F, winter tires maintain flexibility and road grip, contrary to all-season tires that don’t perform as well in these conditions. Winter tires are designed for better traction and stopping power in ice, slush, and snow.

Change out seasonal wheels and rims

Swapping summer or all-season tires for winter ones will ensure your vehicle has the best traction possible, but that’s just part of the story. Slippery, wet, and icy roads mean vehicles tend to skid and lose control, striking curbs and other objects that scratch, dent, and scuff. Snow and winter wheels are a smart way to protect summer rims from snow, ice, and road-clearing chemicals like salt.

Protect offseason tires

It’s important to protect your offseason tires from below-freezing temperatures, sunlight, moisture, and other harsh weather conditions. Consider Discount Tire’s Tire Hotel service, available at select locations, where stores help preserve the condition of tires, handling tire rotations, inspections, and maintenance when it’s time to change the winter tires back.

Maintain target air pressure

The impact changing temperatures have on your tire pressure can create numerous issues, including poor handling, worse gas mileage, excessive wear, and overloading. Prevent problems by checking your air pressure at least once a month when your tires are cool and before any long trip. For every 10 F in ambient temperature change, tire air pressure changes 1 PSI (pound per square inch). That means you need to check your tires more frequently as temperatures fluctuate and settle into lower winter levels.

Check tread depth regularly

Your vehicle’s tread depth plays a vital role in traction, which can affect your safety while driving in winter conditions. To ensure you have ample tread, stick a penny upside-down in a tread groove. It’s time to replace it if Lincoln’s head is visible. You can also visit your local Discount Tire store for a free tire safety check.

Practice good tire maintenance

Taking care of your tires ensures you get the longest life and best wear. Most experts recommend rotating your tires every 6,000 miles. Knowing the age of your tires, which can be found by looking at the DOT number stamped on their sidewalls, is important since tire rubber becomes harder and more brittle as it ages, increasing the risk of failure.

Choose tires wisely

Selecting the tires that are best suited for where you drive, how you drive, and what you drive helps protect you and your passengers, ensuring your vehicle is prepared for winter weather. When shopping, consider using an online tire guide like Treadwell, which provides personalized recommendations on the best tires for your driving needs. Find the tool online at DiscountTire.com/Treadwell.

SOURCE: Discount Tire

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Family Features has been creating and distributing free, full-page color editorial features for the food and lifestyle sections of newspapers since 1974. These formatted features combined attractive photography, kitchen-tested recipes, and tips from national brands and associations—helping media outlets increase readership, sales opportunities, and save considerable time and money.

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