Are Your Winter Tires Ready to Go for the Season?
Best Time to Put Snow Tires on Your Car
As we enter the fall period, we need to keep our eyes on the weather and be ready for snow and ice to re-enter our lives – and commutes. One of the most important things a driver can do to be as safe as possible travelling this winter is to use winter tires. Obviously, those tires can’t be used year-round, so when is the best time to put snow tires on your car? This is where the classic 7°C rule comes into play. Let’s take a closer look at some critical information before the temperatures fall and the snow flies.
READ MORE: Find the Perfect Winter Vehicle
What is the 7-degree Rule?
There are a lot of rules of thumb in the automotive industry. When it comes to dealing with seasonal tires, the 7°C rule applies. In a nutshell, the 7°C rule means that when the average daily temperature is below 7°C, it’s time to put winter tires on a vehicle. This is the threshold where summer tires lose effectiveness and winter tires find their element.
The chief difference between winter tires and summer tires is the kind of rubber used. In order for winter tires to provide better traction, the rubber needs to remain soft in the coldest conditions. Additionally, the tread bed is lined with small cuts, called sipes, that will help direct water away from the road. On the other hand, summer tires are designed to hand dry, hot pavement.
Why Aren’t All-Season Tires Enough for Winter?
In reality, all-season tires should really be called ‘most-season’ tires. However, the rubber formulation of all-season tires is still likely to stiffen at low winter temperatures. Also, the tread pattern isn’t explicitly designed to handle cold and snow.
Fuel economy scores are important all year. Drivers using all-season tires in the winter may see a drop in fuel economy because the engine needs to work harder, thus burning more fuel.
If there is anything a Davey Auto Sales product expert can do to make your next car ownership experience even better than your last, make an appointment with us today.
Sep 25th, 2024