How to Buy Snow Tyres for Your Car?
by Brian, under Cars, Safety & Advice.
Driving in winter conditions can be particularly challenging even for the most experienced drivers. This is because the surface of the road is filled with slush and snow and this make it impossible to have good friction with the road. Hence, such conditions need a different set of tyres that can manoeuvre your vehicle safely. Snow tyres are one such set that are required in areas with extremely low temperatures.
Steps for Buying Snow Tyres for Your Car
1) First and foremost you must decide the tyre of tyre that needs to be bought. Good information about the same can be found in your car’s manual. You will able to decide the size and make of the tyre with the help of instructions given in this booklet. Mostly the size will be same as your regular all-season tyres.
2) Next, you should find out the make that you would like to buy and also compare the models of various manufacturers. This will help you in finalizing the model and make for your snow tyres and will save your time when you go to the tyre dealer. A good comparison can be found on most websites.
3) Check your present tyres and inspect their condition. If these tyres have not been subjected to too much wear, chances are that you will be able to trade this when you buy your new tyres to handle snow. In case, you do not want to sell these tyres and intend to use them later at an appropriate time, then you can add tyre covers to your shopping list to preserve your existing tyres.
4) When you make a visit to the tyre dealer and have shortlisted few tyres of your choice, you need to check for their traction rating. Traction rating refers to the grip that a tyre will provide when they are moving on icy conditions and contact with road surface is minimal. The ratings will read as B, A or AA. Out of these, AA is the best rating and a tyre with this rating provides the best traction. Consider your driving conditions and then decide upon the rating. When in doubt, always opt for AA rating.
5) If you are driving in extremely cold conditions, you might consider buying studded tyres. These tyres provide excellent grip over snow and ice as the studs can dig into the surface to provide the grip. However, with deep snow these might not work and you can then choose tyres with deeper treads only. Also, remember that studs are illegal in some states and hence, perform this necessary check before buying studded tyres.
You can then mount your newly purchased tyres and be assured of a safe ride in the challenging driving conditions. Make sure to get your wheels balanced and the air pressure upgraded to the right level before you embark on a journey with your new car tyres. This will ensure the safety of your family and yourself.