The month of November is here, which means it is time to start thinking about just how safe and reliable your tires are for the snow. You most likely have all-weather tires on your vehicle, but winter tires really do make a difference if you want to be prepared for driving in winter conditions. They have deeper tread, they stay softer during the winter to help with traction, and they are generally a bit thicker to help your vehicle stick to the road. If the area you live in regularly goes below 45 degrees during the winter, it might be time to switch since winter tires not only handle better in snow and ice, but also in colder weather. However, if you feel that your all-weather tires are perfectly fine for the winter, there are some steps you can take to regularly maintain them during the winter season.
* Check your tire pressure regularly – This needs to be done at least once a week. If your tires are underinflated, they can fail you. If your tires are overinflated, it might affect your traction.
* Check your tread – Use the old penny trick and stick it into the tread of your tire with Lincoln’s head down. If you can see all his hair or are getting close to that level, it’s time to look for new tires!
* Check your tread wear pattern – Check the outer edge, the center, and the inside edge of each tire to figure out if your tires are wearing evenly. If they aren’t, you could be dealing with improper tire inflation, an alignment issue, or even a suspension problem.
You should also take your vehicle in before heavy snow hits and have an alignment performed if it has not been done recently. Contact the helpful Service Department at
Mike Naughton Ford near Denver to schedule a time to have your tires inspected or an alignment performed. We are also able to tell you all about our selection of available snow tires so you can be winter ready.
