ALT-2 How to Put Snow Tires on your Car
Living in an area where it snows in the winter can prove challening on many fronts, not the least being driving on snowy or icy roads. Snow tires are a must in such climates and knowing the ins and outs of snow tires is helpful. Before going into the “how” of putting snow tires on a vehicle, it may be helpful to understand the “why”.
Aaron Gold from About.comhas a great Q&A about snow tires. In the article he explains the main difference between snow tires and regular tires is the type of tread pattern and the type of rubber they are made from. Softer rubber is used for colder weather beause the compounds maintain their flexibility allowing the tire to grip the road better. Harder rubber gets cold and brittle in colder weather allowing tires to slip and slide on the surface of the road.: The deeper treads dig into the road to help keep traction.
Many people ask if all-season tires are good enough to drive in snowy conditions. The general answer is no. In Gold’s Q&A he explains that all-season-tires are like sneakers - it is possible to walk on an icy sidewalk with them, but snow tires are safer because they're like heavy duty snow boots and grip to the walking surface better.
So now that the why has been answered, it's time for the how of putting snow tires on a vehicle. Most people who are accustomed to driving in snow will already know how to change to snow tires, or will simply take their car in to the local mechanic or tire store at the first snow fall and voila, it’s done. But for those who insist on going it alone or for first timers,WikiHow has a step-by-step guide. Click on the link for these simple instructions.
Also, for the more independent minded person who would rather do it themselves, but also understands what a pain it can be having to change tires twice a year or more, Gold from About.com has this suggestion:
“Buy an extra set of wheels from a salvage yard and use those for your snow tires. The wheels don't have to be the exact same design, so long as they are the same diameter and have the same bolt pattern as your car's original wheels. If you've purchased aftermarket wheels, keep the stock wheels and use those for your snow tires. That way, when it comes time to change from summer tires to snow tires, all you have to do is have the wheels changed - a quick and inexpensive job.”
For people living in colder climates snow tires are a part of the culture. Having the experience once of being in a car or truck that is slipping or skidding on snowy or icy roads is all it takes to understand the importance of avoiding that type of scare again. There are many brands of tires to choose from so do a little research and check reviews before buying. Snow tires can be pretty pricey, and like anything, you get what you pay for. Snow tires can mean the difference between life and death for winter travelers - so don't be caught without them when the road requires this simple but sometimes pain-in-the-butt investment..
