How to Choose the Right Winter Tires for Your Car

Winter is coming and that means it’s time to take your car outside and get some quality time in the snow. Unfortunately, winter can also mean poor traction, which is why it’s especially important to choose the right winter tires for your car. Sure, your car isn’t able to enjoy the same level of outdoor fun as a snow-loving pet or kid, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be prepared either. After all, this is what separates your car from other types of vehicles. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can protect your car from the elements so you don’t have to worry about corrosive salt and grime damaging its exterior or suspension.

Choose the right tire size

The first step to choosing the right winter tires for your car is knowing what tire size your car needs. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s very important. After all, if you buy the wrong size ice tires, you may end up spending more money than necessary. The best way to ensure you get the right tire size for your car is to have a professional do it for you. This is because professionals have access to specialized equipment that can help them determine the correct size for your car and determine the tire’s load. And, if you have the equipment, you can easily determine your car’s load via the pounds per square inch (psi) measurement system. How do you do this? Ideally, you would use a standard weight and measure the length of the distance the weight travels. However, you can’t use this method due to the varying thickness of different types of rubber. For this reason, you would need specialized equipment.

Select the right rubber compound

It may sound simple, but choosing the right rubber compound is key to ensuring your car gets the protection it needs during winter. There are two main types of rubber compounds you can choose from:
Hot natural rubber: This is the most common rubber compound found in winter tires and is also a good choice for summer tires.
Synthetic rubber: If you’re looking for better fuel efficiency, rubber compounds with synthetic rubber are a good fit. Unfortunately, they’re usually more expensive.
If you want to protect your car’s paint and trim, you’ll want to select a rubber compound that isn’t a threat to your car’s finish. Fortunately, most winter rubber compounds are formulated to protect your car’s finish without causing damage.

Check the tread condition

When it comes to choosing the right winter tires for your car, the tread condition should be your main concern. This is because worn tires are much more likely to suffer from poor traction, which is unacceptable on winter tires. This is why it’s important to regularly inspect your winter tires for wear. Luckily, winter tires are renowned for being easy to check for wear. All you need to do is have a quick look to make sure they’re not too worn. If your winter tires are too worn, you can easily have them replaced before the snow starts falling. This is because winter tire replacement is a common occurrence in the winter months. This means you can always count on finding a good deal. If your winter tires are in good condition, then you can easily make sure they stay that way by regularly inspecting them for signs of wear. This can be done by using a tread depth gauge.

Consider Protection Features

It’s important to note that the best winter tires for your car are only as safe as their structural integrity. This is why it’s important to select winter tires with structural protection features. These features will help protect your car from damage caused by harsh winter driving. The first type of structural protection feature found on many winter tires is tread depth. A tread depth of 3/32-inch or more is a good indicator of structural protection. What’s more, most winter tires also have a low-profile design. This is what makes them so low profile, which helps prevent underbody damage from road debris and potholes. To make sure your winter tires provide maximum structural protection, select winter tires with a minimum tread depth of 3/32-inch.

Conclusion

Winter is the perfect time to get out and enjoy the outdoors with your car. However, this doesn’t mean you have to struggle to find good traction. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways you can protect your car from the winter elements. When deciding how to protect your car from the elements, you’ll want to make sure you select the right winter tires for your car. This is because the right winter tires can help you stay safe while enjoying the snow.

Get your car ready for Ontario winter. Prepare your car ahead of time to avoid any unfortunate surprises when you head out again. Some tips for making sure your car is ready for cold weather.

Wippy provide the right payment plan to get you the winter tires you need. Find out how much you qualify for today!