When is it time to think about winter tires?

As you have probably noticed, the nights are cold and the days are cool. This means that fortunately or unfortunately, all depending on which side of the fence you find yourself, winter will be here soon.

That means that soon enough, you will need to think about winter tires. Although they are not required by law, anyone who has faced an icy road on all-season tires know that they should be. So, the first important thing is to realize just how crucial winter tires are to keeping you and your family safe. The next step is determining when it’s time to put them on.

That time is coming soon.

“When the temperature drops below seven degrees, a summer tire’s rubber loses much of its effectiveness. It becomes harder and traction is greatly diminished. So when the temperature dips below 7 degrees on a regular basis, it’s time to change your tires”, says a service technician at Kentville Mazda.

This means that by the time November rolls around, winter tires are basically a must.

If you currently have winter tires, it’s best to check them out to make sure they are still capable of doing what they are supposed to do. If you want your winter tires to survive until spring, their thread depth needs to be about 6/32”. Any less than that, or if the thread-wear indicator is touching the road, your tires need to be changed. Moreover, a tire that has a thread that is thinner than that will not be as effective in gripping the road.

Once you have determined that your tires are in good shape, it’s time to book that appointment. Dealerships and tire centers will be filling up quickly in October and November, so book now if you do not want to face the first snowstorm on summer tires.