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United Tire and Service News

When Should I Switch to Winter Tires?

12/10/2021 12:16:00 PM | (1241) View Count | Return

If you're in an area that has cold winters, such as the Philadelphia area, you've no doubt heard about the benefits of winter tires. However, many people do notcar with winter tires driving on snow know exactly what these benefits are. 

Also, many people aren't sure when they should switch their all-season tires to winter tires or when they should switch back to all-season tires. Read on to learn more about switching to winter tires for the coldest months of the year
 

The Benefits That Winter Tires Have Over All-Season Tires

Winter tires have many benefits over all-season tires in cold, icy weather. Unlike all-season tires, they have been designed specifically to give your car traction when there is snow or ice on the road. In these conditions, all-season tires would have little to no traction. This means that driving on all-season tires in these conditions would be extremely dangerous. 
 
However, driving on winter tires in these conditions is safe as long as you drive at a reasonable speed. Also, switching to winter tires reduces the wear and tear on your all-season tires and helps them last longer.
 

Why Should I Make the Switch to Winter Tires?

There are several reasons that you should make the switch to winter tires. The first and most important reason is safety. Driving on all-season tires in snowy and icy conditions can lead to an accident. This can mean expensive repairs, medical bills, and even lawsuits. If you use the proper tires for the conditions, you'll be at a much lower risk of getting in an accident.
 
Switching to winter tires can also benefit your all-season tires. As previously mentioned, if you do not use your car's all-season tires during the winter, they will last longer. Your all-season tires may wear at an increased rate if you keep them on during the winter due to the conditions. However, if you have them off for three or four months per year, you can go much longer before you need a new set of all-season tires. 
 

When Should I Switch to Winter Tires? 

Some drivers, even drivers who usually switch to winter tires, wait too long to make the switch. They may wait until it's snowing on a regular basis before getting their winter tires installed. However, this is dangerous. You shouldn't wait until it is snowing every day before you get your winter tires installed. 
 

Go By The Temperature 

Instead, you should have your winter tires put on when the temperatures regularly get into the 40s. In the Philadelphia area, this is usually in November or early December. Even though people frequently refer to winter tires as "snow tires" the truth is that they aren't just made for snow. 
 
Tires designed for this time of year keep you safe even if there isn't a lot of precipitation. Why is this? Well, regular tires tend to, well, freeze up in the cold winter months. The rubber compound of the tires can become stiff, leaving you with less control on the roads, even on a bright sunny day. 
 

Did you Feel That?

If you've ever gotten into your vehicle on a brisk morning, ready to head out to start your day, and felt like your tires were flat as you drove even though they had no punctures—this is a sign you could use winter tires. When regular tires sit for long periods of time in cold temperatures, they tend to develop flat spots. 
This is due to the same reason we mentioned above, the rubber of regular tires tends to stiffen up. Of course, when you drive for a couple of miles, the rubber eventually warms up and springs back to life, eliminating the flat spots. But ultimately, it's best to just make the jump to winter tires to protect the integrity of your summer tires. 
 

Watch Out For Wear and Tear

It's always good to keep an eye on your tread. If you're not in the habit of getting your vehicle into your local auto repair shop, it's especially important to make sure your tires aren't flat come winter. Gripping the road effectively is a must for winter driving—and bald tires are going to make sure that doesn't happen. 
 

winter tire on snowWhen Should I Switch Back to All-Season Tires?

While not switching to winter tires during the winter can be dangerous, not switching back to all-season tires when the winter is over can be just as dangerous. Winter tires are only designed to work in very cold and icy conditions. When the weather warms up, they will not have as much traction as all-season tires. 
Winter tires will also wear more quickly. You should get your all-season tires put back on your vehicle when the temperature stops dropping below freezing during the day. This is usually in March in the Philadelphia area.   
 

Visit United Tire for Your Winter Tires

If you need winter tires for your vehicle, United Tire is the place to go in the Philadelphia area. We offer a wide selection of tires at reasonable prices. If you have any questions about your vehicle's winter tire needs, you can always ask one of our expert team members. 
 
We are here to help you get the winter tires that are best for your vehicle. Call or schedule an appointment online at your local United Tire today and get your vehicle the winter tires it needs for the cold months ahead 

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At United Tire & Service, our staff is here to serve customers throughout Pennsylvania. We offer top-quality auto repair services done by expert technicians. From an oil change or brake repair to auto air conditioning repair, muffler repair, engine diagnostics, wheel alignment, car batteries, fleet repair, tire repair, suspension repair and Pennsylvania state vehicle inspections, we do it all. We also stock a wide selection of tires from all the top brands in the industry including Goodyear Tires, Dunlop Tires, Kelly Tires, and many more. Schedule an appointment with us today at one of our locations in Concordville, Downingtown, Emmaus, Feasterville, Phoenixville, Southampton, Paoli, West Chester or Willow Grove, PA. We are your number one source for top quality, affordable auto repair and tires!