Driving safely in the winter is extremely important, especially in hazardous weather conditions. You can follow these Winter Driving Safety Tips, which can help you to decrease your chances of being involved in a winter-related motor vehicle accident. However, another thing that you can do to help your vehicle to handle better in winter weather is to purchase snow tires. By having snow tires, you can help further decrease the chance that you will lose control of your vehicle on slippery winter roads. There are many different types of snow tires available, which makes choosing the best snow tire for your vehicle fairly difficult. Here are some general tips to help you choose the best snow tires to fit your needs.
Studded Snow Tires
Many people are tempted to purchase studded snow tires as a first-choice option. However, studded snow tires are not the best choice for everyone. Studded snow tires are prohibited in some states, while strictly regulated to certain months in other states. Studded snow tires are currently prohibited in:
- Wisconsin
- Mississippi
- Minnesota
- Illinois
- Hawaii
- Louisiana
- Maryland *
- Florida
- Texas
- Alabama
* Except in several mountain counties, where they are permitted with regulations.
Even if you are not a resident of these states, these restrictions still apply. This means that if you have installed studded snow tires on your vehicle, and you are pulled over for a traffic violation, you can also be ticketed for having studded snow tires. If you travel to these states frequently, or are a resident of any of these states, it’s not recommended for you to purchase studded snow tires. There are many other snow tires without studs that will still provide you with enough traction to drive safely in winter weather conditions.
By contrast, some states do allow studded snow tires without regulation. These states are:
- Wyoming
- Vermont
- New Mexico
- Kentucky
- North Carolina
- New Hampshire
- Colerado
Any state that is not mentioned on either of these lists does allow studded snow tires, but with strict seasonal regulations. It’s always best to check with your state’s Department of Transportation if you have any questions about the rules regarding studded snow tires.
Choosing Snow Tires by Price
In general, it’s best not to choose your snow tires by price alone. Even if it seems like you will be getting a similar tire for a much cheaper price, you do have to remember that you may be making sacrifices on your tire’s quality. Inexpensive tires are cheap for a reason, in that they are most likely made with lower-quality materials. While this does not necessarily mean that cheap tires are unsafe, it does mean that your tire might wear down faster, or have a higher likelihood to spring a leak.
All-Season Tires
A common mistake that many people make when purchasing snow tires is to assume that “All-Season” tires will be effective as snow tires in the winter. Though all-season tires may work well for most months of the year, they tend not to provide any additional traction in winter weather conditions. It’s best to purchase a separate set of tires to be used in winter, which can be removed after the winter season is over.
Purchasing Four Tires
When buying snow tires, it’s best if you purchase all four from the same manufacturer. Traction is important with snow tires, especially on slippery roads. If your rear tires are mis-matched, this could mean that you may slip when braking on winter roads. Though it may seem like a huge expense, if you purchase high-quality snow tires, they should last you for more than one winter season.
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