Every year, around 900 people in the United States die in car accidents during snowy weather. It’s no secret that driving in the snow can be both difficult and dangerous. If your car isn’t well-maintained with strong tires, your chances of getting in an accident increase significantly.
Are your tires worn out? Before driving in the snow (or in general), you should check to see whether the rubber on your tires are worn out. If they are, you could very easily slide on ice or get stuck in the snow. To quickly check the tread depth of your tires , you can insert a penny into the rib of your tire with Lincoln’s head pointing down. If you can still see the top of Lincoln’s head even after putting the penny into the rib of the tire, the tire has been worn down and will likely need to be replaced. A certified auto technician can also use a tread depth gauge to help you determine whether the tires need to be changed.
Are you seeing the “tire pressure too low” message on your dashboard? Chilly weather can often cause your tires to under-inflate, so you often see this message on your dashboard in winter mornings before you’ve started driving your car, especially if you’ve parked your car outside. The message should go away after you start your engine and your tires warm up. However, you should still be diligent about checking your car’s tire pressure regularly with an accurate tire gauge. After all, the last thing you want on a freezing cold day is to be stranded on the highway with a flat tire.
Do you need snow tires? If you plan to drive in snowy weather, you may want to invest in winter tires. Although high quality all-season tires are typically very dependable, they won’t start and stop as smoothly in snowy and icy conditions. With winter tires, you will experience better grip and braking abilities , and you will also also extend the life of your regular all-season tires by not using them during winter weather.
Give yourself peace of mind when driving by taking care of your tires and getting them replaced when necessary. At Revolution Motor Works, our team of trained import auto technicians are here to help you make it through this winter safely!
