What is the life expectancy of winter tires?
Winter tires can make all the difference in handling icy, snow-covered roads when cold weather arrives. All-season and summer tires can remain on your vehicle year-round, but winter tires cannot. Due to seasonal use, it can be difficult to determine precisely how long they will last, and we have learned that a variety of factors contribute to their wear. If the roads are icy this year, will last year’s winter tires work?
How Many Years can I Use a Set of Winter Tires?
It can be difficult to determine the exact lifespan of tires when you only drive them for a few months every year. Winter tire longevity is affected by many factors, including driving habits, mileage, local winter weather, road conditions, and tire maintenance.
Blizzak is a product many drivers are familiar with as it is associated with safe and dependable winter driving. Bridgestone Blizzak tires require replacement every three to four years, depending on the driving environment. Blizzak’s optimal design and durability allow them to last longer.”
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What is Best Time to Replace my Winter Tires?
Identifying a set’s tread depth is an easy way to determine when it is time to replace a set of consumer tires by using the penny test, says McKenney. If Lincoln’s head is fully visible when you dip a penny upside down into the tread of your tires, it’s time for new tires.” “If your tires don’t have enough tread to grip the road safely, you should replace them.”
Winter tires have a higher performance requirement despite tread being an important factor for regular tires.
- Weather damage: Cold temperatures may cause tire rubber to crack, discolor, or stiffen.
- Driving performance: Poor traction on snowy or wet roads and frequent air pressure losses suggest that the tires are in need of repair, even if they do not show signs of damage.
- Age of the tires: Snow-rated tires shouldn’t be stored longer than six years, even with minimal use. Rubber compounds in these tires degrade over time, which affects their traction in snow and overall performance.
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What is the Best Time to Put Winter Tires on your Car?
Winter tires should be put on at the right time. In cold weather, rubber compounds maintain the flexibility that’s required to grip cold roads when temperatures consistently fall below 45°F (7°C). Tires may be more stressed if you don’t experience typical winter driving conditions but have them on.
Check Out this Cheat Sheet
- Forecast and local conditions: Keep an eye on upcoming weather patterns. You can prepare for snowy conditions early if they’re forecasting a cold snap.
- Temperature consistency: Snow tires are recommended when the daily temperature stays below 45°F, regardless of whether there has been snowfall or not.
- Avoid premature or uneven wear: Winter tires can wear faster when they are switched too early in the season due to warm weather conditions and dry roads. When they are regularly exposed to high temperatures, they may shorten their lifespan. It is also important to rotate them seasonally. Winter tires wear evenly if rotated, just as summer or all-season tires do.
What to do when Storing winter Tires
Make sure your tires are stored properly when not in use. It is important to store winter tires properly during the warmer months so that they remain in good condition.
You can Maintain their Quality by Following These Tips
- Clean and dry them. To prevent accumulation of salt, dirt, and debris, wash the tires before storage. It is important to let them dry completely so any moisture can’t cause them to degrade.
- Store in a cool, dark, dry place. Tires should not be exposed to direct sunlight or extreme temperature changes. In an ideal world, a garage or a basement would be temperature-controlled.
- Stack or hang tires correctly. You can stack or hang tires mounted on rims when storing them. If you want to prevent deformation of unmounted tires, store them upright.
Cover or bag your tires. Rubber compounds can harden when exposed to oxygen, which can result in dust accumulating on the surface of the plastic bags or dedicated tire covers.