subject: Gather Some Info On Tires And Winter Weather [print this page] Winter is here and there is only more to come, and it is very important to note that our vehicles also need a little caring for this winter season. You may have noticed the little sprinkle of snowflakes on your car but there is more that winter may be doing on your vehicle.
Winter is the time when the inflation of your car's tires drops. This is because the air inside the tire goes down as the temperature around also drops.
If the temperature drops to around ten degrees, the tire pressure also goes down by about one to two pounds. If you are not quite so observant about this on your tires, you may be experiencing some tire trouble later on as you do your winter driving.
It is very likely that many motorists haven't checked their tire pressure since the weather began turning colder. If the last time the tire pressure was checked was during the heat of summer, with temperatures around 80 degrees, many people could be riding on severely underinflated tires without realizing it.
Even though consumers can simply and quickly check the air pressure of their tires, it becomes a neglected practice by many. That's too bad, because the four patches of rubber that come in contact with the road surface are vitally important to the performance of the vehicle.
They are key for acceleration, lateral traction and braking grip. To be sure, check your car's tires and make sure that you maintain the required air pressure as specified in your car owner's manual.
Winter tires, or snow tires, are manufactured specifically to gain traction in less than favorable weather, that is, when there's plenty of stuff under your car that's not road.
Most substances that can mean loss of traction work against your car in pretty much the same way, by getting between your tire and the road. This means the spin of your tire is expended on moving the mud, snow or rain instead of "moving" the road.
The way to combat this is by using tires with specially designed grooves that trace diagonally from the middle of the tire's tread towards its outer edges. As your tire presses down onto the driving surface, it forces the mud or snow into those groves and out towards the edges of your tire, ensuring that more of the flat, raised parts of your tire are gripping the road.
The more of your tire that is in direct contact with the road, the more traction you get and the safer your drive will be. After all, if you have underinflated tires and you continue on using your vehicle, you would be surprised to find severe tread wear on the outside edges of your tires.
Check your owner's manual for specs on tire types and sizes. Equip your car with mud and snow tires, which are legal everywhere if not equipped with metal studs.
Install metal-studded tires if you need to drive on ice. Keep in mind that these are illegal in 10 states and approved for only seasonal use in 31 states and the District of Columbia.
Check your tire pressure often in cold weather. Tires lose about 1 p.s.i. each time the temperature drops 10 degrees.
Driving on ice is very dangerous, and most tires don't have what it takes to deal with it safely. The problem is that the pressure of your car's weight bears down through your tire and onto the ice, which causes the top of the ice to melt and become a tiny layer of water between your tire and the driving surface.
The best way to combat this is through the use of metal studs, cables or chains. Ask your dealer if studs, cables or chains are right for your vehicle and your local winter conditions.
There are many pieces of equipment on your car that are essential to your safety while driving. Tires and brakes rank at the top of the list.
