While winter is not quite h
ere for most, it is coming. Is it too early to install your
winter / snow tires? I get this question often and the answer varies depending on a few factors. In my opinion, the most important issues to consider are climate and the type of winter / snow tire that you're using.
Climate is arguably the most important factor in deciding when to install your winter snow tires. A driver in Alaska would install their winter tires earlier in the year than a driver in Illinois (and leave them on longer into the spring, as well). This is not only because some areas get snow before other parts of the country, but due to the fact that temperature also plays a role. It's a good time to consider installing your winter / snow tires when average highs are consistently below 50º Fahrenheit.
Most winter tires are designed to operate in lower ambient temperatures and may wear more rapidly when driven aggressively on warm pavement. This is especially true for more severe-duty winter / snow tires that we categorize as Studless Ice and Snow, including the
Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 and
Michelin X-Ice Xi2.
As mentioned above,
Studless Ice and Snow tires like the Blizzak WS70 tend to wear more rapidly in warmer temperatures due to their soft compound and heavily siped tread patterns. Performance Winter / Snow tires like the
Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60 can handle higher temperatures with less rapid tread wear compared to Studless Ice and Snow tires. Therefore, one can install Performance Winter / Snow tires earlier in the year and leave them on longer with less effect on wear. And to see how these winter performance tires perform, check out our
Tire Survey Results.
If you don't yet have a winter tire setup, check out our snow tire prices and create a
Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package for the ultimate in convenience, as you can install them yourself without waiting in line at auto tire stores.
After you buy auto tires for the summer and winter driving season, what is the best way to store the extra set that is not in use? Providing a seamless look for tire storage, the
Tire Garage keeps tires up to 27" in diameter organized while freeing up extra space in your garage.
- Keeps tires clean and dry
- Protects tires from UV degradation
- Universal fit due to unique buckle and internal skirt system
- Recommended for indoor storage only
Retaining its color and strength after years of use, buy Tire Garage after you purchase new auto tires for the winter and summer season to keep tires clean and protected. Read "
Storing Tires" to see how heat and exposure to the elements can influence a tire's aging process.
Auto manufacturers have eliminated the spare tire in many of their new models, opting instead for the use of run-flat tires or a portable tire repair kit. So far the trend has been most prevalent with higher-end vehicles, however General Motors recently introduced its new compact car, the Chevrolet Cruze sans spare tire.
Car makers today believe that the mandated implementation of tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) over the past several years has significantly reduced the likelihood that a flat tire will leave you stranded. In addition, eliminating the spare, including the jack and tools can reduce the car's weight by over 25 lbs. Decreased weight is one of the ways new car engineers are able to improve fuel economy.
Run-flat tires can allow you to continue to drive safely for 50 miles at up to 50 mph in most cases with 0 air pressure in the tire. Unfortunately, run-flat tires are more expensive than their non run-flat counterparts plus ride comfort and in some cases tread life can be less than stellar.
So if you don't have a spare but you don't like the idea of putting run-flat tires back on your car...what do you do?
Continental Tire North America, Inc. has introduced the ContiComfortKit (CCK) to the North
American replacement market. This system is designed to temporarily seal a tire puncture and provide extended mobility up to 125 miles.
The ContiComfortKit comfortably restores mobility in a few easy steps. The kit is simply plugged into a 12v power outlet; a flexible hose at the other end is connected to the valve of the flat tire. Once the sealant tank is flipped up, a twelve volt compressor re-inflates the tire at the push of a button and simultaneously fills the tire with a latex based, liquid sealant, which seals the puncture. As a result, the tire can be used at a maximum speed of 50 mph for up to 125 miles. Drivers can get to the nearest tire shop and do not rely on road side assistance. A built-in light allows for easy use even at night.
The CCK is only 9.5" long, 7" wide and 4" high. It weighs only 5.5 pounds and does not require permanent installation. It is simple to use and provides mobility in minutes. It can be easily stored in the trunk of the vehicle. The kit can also be used as a compressor to check and monitor tire pressure through a built-in compressor and tire gauge.
The CCK has already been a success with car manufacturers. Since its introduction, it has obtained original equipment approvals for BMW, Ford and Volvo to name a few.
- If your new car has no spare and no room to store an extra tire/wheel...
- If you don't like the stiff ride or the expense of run-flat tires...
To learn more about the ContiComfortKit, watch How to Use the ContiComfortKit.
Yep, that's right! This week is devoted to the tires on your vehicle. It's all about keeping them in top condition so that your safety on the road is never compromised. Proper tire care is extremely simple and truly very easy. And as one of your favorite auto tire stores,
Tire Rack is more than willing to help out with expert
tire safety tips and vehicle-specific advice.
For example, our
Tech Center is loaded with the latest information about tire pressure, alignment, rotation and more. Our easy-to-read articles help you through a variety of common tire issues. We share this information because we firmly believe that if you take care of your tires, they'll last anywhere from 40,000 to 80,000 miles.
But if you think it's time for a new set, now's the time to buy. We have a number of
Special Offers from some of the top tire brands in our inventory. Not sure what you need? Give our
Tire Decision Guide a try. Just answer a series of questions about your vehicle and it'll give you a list of tires that could potentially be your new favorites.
Remember, your vehicle is only as good as the tires it drives on. If yours are less than perfect, it will certainly affect the way your vehicle handles. Which, as you know, can lead to an entire list of problems.
Be tire safe this week. And encourage others to follow along.
When I started selling tires in 1988 they were almost exclusively found in a store and it was difficult to find performance tires.
(Tire Ad from the 90s)
The Tire Rack was different. We offered in-depth advice
on the best tires for a customers driving needs and a
large selection (for the time) of performance tires and
wheels. We could also tell customers not just what is
the largest size tire and wheel package, but what is
the best size for their car.
We offered information by phone or in one of our tire
or Autoweek. As you can see on the right from an ad from the early 1990s space limits the amount of information we could offer up front.
With the rise of the Internet we were able to offer a huge advance in the information about our products.
We started with better photos and details in 1996.
Since then we've added:
-Larger tire photos
-Tire Testing results
-Customer generated tire survey results and reviews
-Full tire specifications -Side by side option to compare performance tires
-Original equipment car or truck tires by specific vehicle listing exact tire make and model
-Best selling tires for a car or truckOur sales specialists are great resources also. After viewing all the tires for sale for your car you still may need more help making a choice. Our tire experts can help you finalize your tire choice quickly and easily. They have driven on a wide selection of the tires we offer on our tire test track and in real world drivingg situations.
Our reps have also spoken with other customers who have owned your car or truck. When you need
Honda Accord tires or
Chevrolet Impala tires or
Ford GT or an
E36 BMW M3 Lightweight we can help you make the best tire choice for your driving needs.
The Tire Rack started different than other tire dealers and we continue to work to maintain our leadership in auto Tires and Wheels and in offering the information to help make the right choice in replacement tires.
