2009.12.22 All About Tires


Winter Tires vs. All Season Tires


Snow tire treadAll-season tires ought to be good enough for all four seasons, right? Not according to winter tire manufacturers, some of which are downright passionate about the need for different tires for different seasons.

Most people would agree that winter tires provide better performance than all season tires in snow. Winter tires are designed for snow, slush, and icy weather conditions, but the importance of winter tires is often misunderstood because they’re also designed to outperform all season tires in low temperatures as well.

Manufactures have put a lot of effort into developing winter tires that are nothing like the noise, fast-wearing “snow” tires of even 20 years ago.

Some Myths:
  • All season tires are so good that they deliver the same performance as winter tires.
  • Winter tires cause a rough, noisy, and bumpy ride that isn’t as comfortable on the road.
  • Winter tires are meant only for snow clad, hilly, or mountainous terrains.
  • Metal studs are required to really get traction on ice and snowy surfaces.





blizzak snow tireThe Facts:
Winter tires are made from a superior rubber compound designed specifically for traction while the makeup of all season tires is a lesser quality designed to provide traction for normal driving conditions.

Rubber begins to harden at 45 degrees, which reduces tractions. The compounds in winter tires keep the rubber flexible and pliable for more control and better traction. The rubber’s flexibility is retained in a winter tire even when the temperature goes below zero degrees because winter tires have a silica-based, micro port compound designed to “bite” through water film and to increase traction on snow and ice.

Traction decreases in an all season tire when the temperature drops. Winter tires provide better traction in cold temperatures because special tread compounds are used.

All season tires offer a flat tread design to enhance dry traction, but this design is not intended to cut into snow. While all season tires cater to both dry and wet driving conditions, winter snow tires are designed specifically for winter conditions.
 
Modern winter tires are now designed with a tread that offers more comfort and a much quieter ride than their predecessors.

Grooves on winter tires are 25%-35% deeper than all season tires, adding traction and providing better grip. The snow is packed into the tread and expelled as it rotates for deep snow traction and better contact with the road.

All season tires are not designed to pack nor expel snow. The groove designs on all season tires compromise traction to meet the wear and cornering requirements of normal driving conditions.

Soft stud tread fibers are available for some winter tires that bite like metal studs. These soft studs are quiet and do not harm road surfaces.

Winter tires provide for safer travel on snow and ice and offer additional safety for you and your family. Years of research have produced more sophisticated, more advanced, and much quieter winter tires than what they once were. And, while you’re using your winter tires, your all-season tires are not used – saving wear and tear for these tires in the less treacherous seasons of the year.

changing tires

UNDER PRESSURE


tire pressure gaugeMany car owners drive their new vehicle off the lot and only consider the only part that actually touches the road when a tire is flat or needs to be replaced. You may not even be aware, but the most common adjustment we make in our Tire Centers with regard to tire care it correcting improper tire pressure. Because we perceive tire pressure as a safety issue, it’s a routine check for every vehicle that enters our bays.

When you think about the fact that your tires are the only contact between your vehicle and the road it becomes more apparent that paying attention to your tires is important. Need more convincing? Over 30,000 injuries and more than 650 fatalities occur every year due to tires in the U.S. alone, so clearly proper tire care is an essential safety issue.

Tire pressure is the level of air in the tire. The amount of air pressure is measured in Pounds per Square Inch (psi) and the level will affect the wear of your tires and the overall performance of your vehicle. Under- and over-inflating tires can both be safety hazards. Over-inflating tires can adversely affect vehicle maneuverability, make your vehicle ride harsher, and potentially lead to loss of control and crashes. Under-inflating can result in tire stress due to overheating, irregular wear of tread, tire failure, and again loss of driver control.




round air pressure gauge
CHECKING TIRE PRESSURE
Like any porous material, rubber allows a continuous amount of air to escape over time. Tires continually lose 0.5 psi per month from natural air loss, but can be much more sudden when you strike a curb, hit an object in the road, or drive over a pothole. Since it is almost impossible to confirm a lack of pressure by visual inspection, it is recommended you check your vehicle’s tire pressure at least once a month.

Different vehicles have different tires so you don’t want to just inflate your tires until it “looks right.” Purchase a tire pressure gauge to keep in your vehicle. Gauges can be purchased at any Executive Auto Group dealership, auto supply store, and other retail outlets. The psi number on the side of your tire reflects only the “maximum permissible” inflation pressure for that tire. So to do it yourself, look for the detailed information on your vehicle certification label. You’ll find the vehicle’s manufacturer’s tire information including:
  • Recommended tire size
  • Recommended tire inflation pressure (usually given in PSI cold)
  • Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR): The maximum occupant and cargo weight a vehicle is designed to carry
  • Gross axle weight ratings (GAWR) for front and rear axles: The maximum weight the axle systems are designed to carry.









When is it time to replace your tires?
LET OUR SERVICE ADVISORS HELP YOU


tire components
When your vehicle goes up on our lift for a routine oil change or any other reason, a thorough inspection of your tires takes place. We have trained technicians and state-of-the-art equipment to diagnose the cause of every tire wear situation. We don’t wait until your tires need replacing to look for potential causes of wear that may be developing.

We begin by inspecting all the way around the circumference of the tread area of each tire looking for punctures, cuts, foreign objects and any distortions. Then we examine the outboard and inboard sidewalls looking for scuffing, cracks, bulges, breaks, cuts, or weather cracking. Finally we move to the interior of the tire looking for inner-liner penetrations, cracks, blisters, or wrinkling.









bald tire
We highlight any and all suspicious areas as we work our way around each tire and then begin our analysis. Some conditions take more extensive diagnosis than other. For example, it’s possible that a sidewall bubble could be a result of a road hazard or improper repair that can be confirmed only by inspecting the interior of the tire.

In addition to detrimentally affecting the quality of the ride, a worn tire can shorten the life of other suspension components such as bearings and shocks or worse yet, present safety issues.






penny in tireTREADWEAR
The tire tread provides the gripping action and traction that prevent your vehicle from slipping or sliding, especially when the road is wet or icy. In general, tires worn down to 1/16 of an inch are note safe and should be replaced. “Bald” tires have a noticeably smooth surface caused by excessive wear beyond the 1/16 of an inch replacement point. Tires also have built-in tread wear indicators that let you know when it is time to replace your tires. These indicators are raised sections spaced intermittently in the bottom of the tread grooves. When they appear “even” with the outside of the tread, it is time to replace your tires. Such tires have reduced traction, which can lead to loss of vehicle control during braking and turning maneuvers.

You can use a Lincoln penny to determine when it is time to replace your tires. Turn the penny so that Lincoln’s head is pointing down and insert it into the tread. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, it is time to replace your tires.