As springtime comes to a close, we Connecticut residents are gearing up for the dark mornings, cold air, and rainy afternoons that winter brings with it. If you’ve lived in Connecticut for awhile, then you probably know just how cold, rainy, and snowy it can get. While the number of storms have varied recently, there is bound to be at least 1 or 2 major ones ahead.
While most people are familiar with some key winter car maintenance tips, many still seem to overlook the importance of winter tires. Since most people drive with all-season tires, it’s common to think that winter tires aren’t all that necessary. This belief is just plain incorrect--especially when you don’t drive a vehicle with all wheel drive.
Here are 3 reasons why you should install winter tires this winter.
Winter tires provide much better traction than all-season tires, period. This is because winter tires have more siping (thin slits cut horizontally across the tread) than their all-season counterparts. Not only does the stronger tread pattern allow the tires to grip snow / ice more effectively, but it also helps to curb snow build up.
Slippery ice isn’t the only winter road threat you need to worry about. As tight as the ice may appear during your morning commute, there’s always a chance that it’s going to melt underneath. In fact, it’s very common for a layer of water to coat frozen pavement after enough car tires have rollen over it. Unlike all-season tires, winter tires are made with specialty groves that push this water off to the side when they encounter it. Needless to say, winter tires provide an impressive amount of resistance to hydroplaning.
When most drivers feel that the weather is preventing them from stopping, they’ll generally stomp on their brakes. While it is better to pump the brakes instead, all-season tires can be less effective in such situations than winter tires: all-season tires are comparatively stiff, while snow tires are soft. It is this softness that gives snow tires the ability to stop the car more effectively.
Tire Country of Enfield has a variety of tires to choose from. Browse for yourself, and if you can’t find what you’re looking for, please call us at 860-763-0846.
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