GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — When it comes to tackling the roads in West Michigan during the winter, preparation can really go a long way! Part of that prep should be making sure your tires are best suited for the task.
Of course, basic tire maintenance is the first step, but should you consider a set of winter tires as well? We spoke with Alpine Tire and Alignment here in Grand Rapids to find out!
The Question:
Are winter tires actually worth it?
The Why:
The general vibe we've gotten from everyone who drives on winter tires is that they make a world of difference, and the experts seem to agree as well!
Paul Armock, the owner of Alpine Tire and Alignment, told us, "If you've never ran a snow tire you'll want to run one." Continuing, "once you do you'll never want to have an all-season out in the winter. They do have a huge benefit."
So what are the benefits? Well, it mostly has to do with the rubber compound and the traction it provides.
Paul added, "So for braking, winter tires have a big benefit because of the way that the tires open up. They have a softer rubber compound, so that allows your stopping a lot faster."
These claims are backed up by data from the Michigan State Police as well.
Their data shows that cars moving at 10 mph on ice in summer tires take 47 feet to stop. All-season tires that drops to just about 40 feet. Winter tires, on the other hand, that number plummets to just about 21 feet.
When asked about any drawbacks to making the switch, other than cost of course, Paul said, "No there's not a drawback besides fact that you're gonna have to change them out when the weather starts to get above 45 degrees and staying that way. You really want to put your all-seasons back on."
The reason you will need to make this switch is that the softer rubber compound in winter tires will wear much faster in warm weather, resulting in quickly worn-out tires.
Another barrier to getting winter tires may be tire storage for those without garages or sheds. Some tire shops do offer storage options for you, so just make sure to do your research here before making a choice.
Even if you don't take on a set of winter tires, the following are good tire tips for any time of the year! These include things such as monitoring your tread depth, inflation levels, and overall tire condition.
At the end of the day, there are a lot of factors to consider when picking tires for your car. In cold weather climates though, for maximum safety, winter tires are certainly a strong recommendation!
-- Meteorologist Michael Behrens
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