SOUTH BEND, Indiana, SEPT. 27, 2010 – With cold temperatures looming, warmer coats, thicker socks and scarves won’t be enough. The inevitable sleet, slush, snow and ice that require boots for your feet will also require winter-tuned treads for your vehicle. Tire experts at www.tirerack.com, America’s largest independent tire tester and consumer-direct source for tires, have proven the importance of winter tires for all drivers who will face freezing temperatures this winter.
Switching from all-season to winter-grade tires isn’t just smart in theory; it can save you money and even your life. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows crash rates spike from October to February, and in 2008, wintry weather accounted for more than 829,000 crashes.
“The majority of winter-weather accidents are preventable through maintaining control of your vehicle,” said Matt Edmonds, vice president at Tire Rack. “Consumers who live in cold climates should equip their vehicles with appropriate tires to help avoid being part of the thousands of winter crashes that occur annually. On the flip side, consumers who have plans to travel through icy weather this season should also explore installing winter tires on their vehicle.”
A team of Tire Rack experts conducted real-world research for consumers by testing tires on a hockey rink, a test track and even winter courses in Sweden to uncover which tires perform in snow, ice and sleet. The data, available at http://www.tirerack.com/winter, also includes consumer-generated feedback from thousands of seasoned drivers.
To stay safe behind the wheel this season, consumers should keep the following tips from Tire Rack in mind:
• Winter Tires are an Investment. The best way to improve winter tire traction and increase safety is with a set of dedicated winter tires. Starting as low as $200 for a set of four, winter tires can last three or more winter seasons. Plus, temporarily substituting a set of winter tires for all-season tires during the winter months will preserve the all-season tires for use in the following spring, summer and fall months.
• Tread Depth Matters. If sleet, slush and snow covered roads are in your future, replace tires when they reach approximately 6/32" of remaining tread depth to maintain good mobility. Tires with more tread depth offer additional traction to claw their way through sleet, slush and snow.
If the winter season means rain and wet roads are a concern, consider replacing tires when they reach approximately 4/32" of remaining tread depth. Use a quarter, not a penny, to measure tread depth. Tire Rack’s team proved through testing that insufficient tread-depth doubles your stopping distance. Adequate tread reduces hydroplaning and helps prevent accidents.
• Test the Pressure. The air inside your tires supports the weight of your car. For every 10-degree drop in temperature, tires lose about 1psi of air pressure. A tire filled to 32psi at 70 degrees will have only 28psi at 30 degrees. Underinflated tires offer less traction, can reduce fuel mileage, can wear out prematurely and cause irreparable damage that compromises their durability. Check tire pressures monthly with a quality air pressure gauge. Fill them to vehicle manufacturer specifications.
• Stay in Traction. Traction loss appears as ambient temperatures near freezing, even without slush or snow on the road. Lower temperatures reduce a tire’s flexibility and grip. At 32-degrees, the tread rubber on the summer tires found on many performance vehicles become so stiff they offer little traction.
• Don’t Tailgate! Adding distance behind the vehicle ahead gives you more time to react and distance to stop. While it’s often recommended to follow two seconds behind at 30mph; four seconds at 60mph. The following times should be doubled in wet conditions and tripled for snow.
• Be a Smooth Operator. Accelerate, brake and steer as if you had a full cup of hot coffee on the dashboard. This helps improve fuel mileage and prevent loss of control.
Consumers can consult a free tire decision guide and a wealth of additional information about buying the correct tires for any driving condition and climate at www.tirerack.com.
About Tire Rack
Tire Rack, family-owned and headquartered in South Bend, Indiana, is America’s largest independent tire tester and consumer-direct source for tires, wheels and performance accessories. Their team of 90-plus test drivers (their sales team) tests tires from every major tire manufacturer on the company’s state-of-the-art, 10-acre test facility. The findings are then posted on the company’s website, www.tirerack.com, where consumers can make an educated decision on a tire, wheel or performance accessory purchase. Tire Rack has also collected results from more than 150,000 consumer surveys representing over 2.5 billion miles of real-world tire data, the largest known cache of such information anywhere. In addition various testing and informational videos are available online in their Video Center at www.tirerack.com/videos/index.jsp.
Since 1979, Tire Rack has grown from a single-point retail store in Indianapolis to encompass over 1.8 million square feet of space in six distribution centers across the country. A diverse and broad in-stock inventory from 17 major tire and 40 wheel brands can be delivered anywhere in the country in two days or less. A national network of more than 5,000 independent Recommended Installers are available to service customers’ local installation needs.
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