There are a lot of variables to consider when purchasing new tires for a car or truck. Many tire types and sizes might impact how your automobile performs in different weather situations. For the most part, tires are classified as either "summer," "winter," or "all-season." There is a distinct set of criteria for each unique to the brand.
Choosing the right tires for your vehicle and location may help keep you, your passengers, and other drivers safe on the road. Drivers should take additional precautions to ensure the safety of their cars, including tire awareness, when the warm weather begins to cool. The term "all-season" signified that the tires could be used in a wide range of weather conditions. In some scenarios, it's still possible for all-season tires to be pushed to their limits.
Car Seasonal Tires Types
All-season Tires
These tires may be used all year round and have an extended tread life, making them an excellent choice for year-round use. It doesn't matter whether the pavement is dry, wet, or covered in snow; they may be utilized all year round. Only in extreme driving situations, such as on a racetrack or in heavy snow, can they fall short.
In general, all-season tires are quieter, more fuel-efficient, and more durable than other kinds of tires. All-season tires lack the cornering grip and steering accuracy of summer tires. A summer tire's handling and traction will not be comparable to a winter tire's. To get the most out of your automobile dealer, you should look for tread-life warranties of more than 50,00 miles.
Summer Tires
Softer rubber composition and more giant tread blocks are characteristic of summer tires. Because of the hardening of its weak rubber composition at colder temperatures, their traction is reduced. Temperatures below freezing may cause the tread block edge to chip or the rubber compound to split. Because tire manufacturers consider these failures to be the consequence of inappropriate tire usage, warranties seldom cover them.
Summer tires are intended to be used all year round, but they aren't recommended for use in the winter because of the reduced performance they provide. When it's chilly outside, summer tires just don't grip the road, whether there is snow or ice on them or not. Summer tires aren't simply inadequate for temperatures below 45 degrees; they're a danger to yourself and others.
Winter Tires
Tread depth and a series of highly tiny incisions called sipes make up the tread pattern of winter tires. To provide a better snow-on-snow grip, the tread blocks include sipes and other ridges to assist pack the white stuff between them. All-season or summer tires may cause rough handling if mixed with snow tires.
Metal studs implanted or fitted into the tread of a snow tire offer an alternative. Be aware that they are louder than ordinary winter tires and might cause damage to local roads. If you don't like the idea of having to change your tires twice a year, consider purchasing a second set of steel or alloy wheels for the winter.
All-terrain Tires
The versatility of all-terrain tires allows them to be utilized on and off-road. Mud, dirt, and pebbles are no match for off-road tires' traction. A more incredible riding noise than most other tires may be expected while driving on these tires. Because of the way they are treated, they also have reduced treadwear.
When to Swap Seasonal Tires?
When the average air temperature while driving drops to 45 degrees or below, you should change from summer tires to winter tires. You should be looking at the temperature, even if it's 60 degrees during the day if you're only driving at night and in the morning because winter tires are equipped with various unique features that help them maintain a grip on slippery, cold, and snow-covered roads.
They are constructed of a distinct rubber composition that performs best at lower temperatures. On icy, snowy, or damp terrain, they also have characteristics called "sipes." Microscopic grooves open up as the tire rolls, allowing water to enter the tread and remove the rubber's contact patch. This improves the tire's grip.
Even if the road is dry, the rubber compound in summer tires will harden and lose traction in cold temperatures. You'll need your snow shovel and winter tires as the snow begins to accumulate. Remember that your summer tires might be damaged by lowering temperatures even if you don't see any ice on the road!
How to Change Your Seasonal Tires
We recommend installing your winter tires on a different set of rims. But they don't have to match your existing ones in terms of style or quality. They only have to check in terms of the bolt pattern. As an added benefit, keeping an extra set of wheels on hand for the winter means you won't have to worry about damaging your lovely, shiny wheels when it gets nasty outside.
Secure its place
Wheel chocks or blocks should be put on both sides of a tire to be changed as an added safety measure. The parking brake should be engaged, and the vehicle should be in gear for manual or park for automatic.
Loosen the nuts
If you have a locking wheel nut, use it with caution. The keyed section of these sockets may be easily stripped or broken if they are not correctly aligned or seated all the way on. As long as the tire is still on the ground, it may be required to break the wheel nuts lose using air tools. This step is necessary if you're utilizing hand tools.
Remove the wheels
After lifting the wheel from the ground, we can remove the nuts and bolts that secure it. To avoid any misunderstandings, after you've removed the wheel, make a note of where it was installed using chalk (which may wipe off).
Inspect the brakes
When the axle nut and the center flange are sprayed with an anti-corrosion agent, it prevents them from rusting. A thorough cleaning of the flange is necessary to eliminate any dirt or rust. The threads of the wheel studs should not be lubricated or treated with anti-seize agents. Make sure your brakes are in good working order when removing the wheels.
Replace the wheels
A torque wrench should be used to tighten the wheel nuts, regardless of whether they are installed using air or manual tools. The proper cross-sequence of nut tightening should be followed at all times. Wheel nuts should be run in far enough to center the wheel before final tightening if aftermarket wheels have bigger center holes.
When a tire goes flat, or it's time to purchase new ones, drivers seldom think about them and may not know what sort of tire they're driving on. Some of you may be more concerned about fading tans and missed beach days as the balmy summer air gives way to the chilly air of approaching winter. But if you live in a snowy area, knowing when to convert to snow tires or winter tires is critical for your safety.
Need help in changing your tires for the new season? Book your service now with iTaskApp. We can change your tires, maintain them, and ensure that you can drive them properly at an affordable price! New to iTaskApp? No worries because iTaskApp has a user-friendly platform, so register now and get up to a $25 discount on your first booked service. Download the app or visit itask.com for more details.
