7 Things to Know About Winter Tires
Do you need winter tires? Here's what you need to know about them.
1. Don't Mix & Match
Winter tires are obviously designed for winter months, and some people think they can be more economical by mixing and matching their tires. So, they get two winter tires and two all-season tires, thinking they will have at least half the traction. This is a myth and a recipe for disaster. Having uneven traction around your tires could send your car spinning in a direction you do not intend on going, so DO NOT mix and match your tires.
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2. Changing Size
Some people like to buy winter tires already installed on wheels, and they swap the wheels as the season changes. This is a great investment, as you get the benefits of the winter tires, and you can quickly replace and store them when the winter is done. Another good tip is to purchase smaller wheels and tires for the winter. In fact, the smaller winter tires offer more traction than the big ones, so you're saving money and gaining more traction.
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3. Handling in Rough Weather
Numerous people don't believe in winter tires, but if you've driven in snow before, you know how important it is to gain any sort of traction advantage. Driving on snow without winter tires will make your turns a lot scarier, not to mention occasionally going off the road. Winter tires offer great traction in rough weather conditions; you will almost feel as if you're driving on a dry road when turning.
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4. All-Season Tires
Winter tires are designed for winters, and all-season tires don't exist. All-season tires are a marketing strategy to sell regular tires that have no specific purpose. So if you think your all season tires will work as well as the winter tires on wet roads, think again. However, if you live in a state where it never snows and barely rains, then the all-season tires could work for you, as they simply are regular tires.
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5. Sudden Stops
You may be a great driver, and you may be able to drive on wet roads with just about any type of tire. But when it comes to driving in an emergency situation, winter tires will save you the headache of an accident. The traction that winter tires offer could make your sudden emergency stops tremendously quicker than normal tires, so even if you don't think you need winter tires for turns and normal driving, you may be needing them when you least expect it.
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6. Replacing Winter Tires
When it comes to dangerous driving conditions, you need the most traction. With this in mind, winter tires should be replaced earlier than regular tires. If you're retiring regular tires, then you need to replace them when they reach a 2/32" tread; however, if you are retiring winter tires, then replace them when they hit 6/32" of tread depth.
>>Join the conversation about winter tires for your Ford truck right here in the Ford-trucks forum!
7. Who Needs Winter Tires?
Winter tires are designed for rougher weather conditions. In other words, if you can go to your car wearing a light t-shirt in the winter, then you don't need winter tires where you live. If you live in an area where it always snows or constantly rains, winter tires are a smart investment in keeping you safe for the season.
>>Join the conversation about winter tires for your Ford truck right here in the Ford-trucks forum!
For maintenance and repair guides for your Ford truck, browse our technical How-to articles right here at Ford-trucks.com!