Winter is upon us and tire safety in cold conditions should be a topic that every car owner needs to be aware of. Tire safety in hot weather is what most drivers focus on to avoid blowouts. However, the same precautions should also be taken in winter. The best way to ensure safety on the road is by using a winter tireSpecially made for cold weather.

All-season tires have a tread compound that hardens as temperatures drop below 45 degrees. This causes a decrease of traction. These tires can also collect snow and ice from winter roads, which can affect a vehicle’s performance.

Mark Ballard is the spokesperson for Discount Tire Company, America’s largest independent tire retailer and wheel retailer. He advises motorists replace all four tires in winter if they expect to encounter snow and/or ice in winter. “It’s best to use winter tires, especially if you live in an area with extreme weather conditions where temperatures are below 45 degrees on a consistent basis,”He explains. “Relying on an all-season tire to do the work of a winter tire can be dangerous to you and other motorists.”

The Rubber Manufacturers Association (1996) has grown in recent years.www.rma.orgThe ) established new standards for winter tire traction. This led to technological advances in the manufacturing of winter tires. The tread’s flexibility is maintained even in freezing temperatures thanks to a higher silica content.

The tread block design was also greatly improved by the addition of thousands upon thousands of “sipes,”Small cuts in the tread block provide additional biting edges to increase traction.

“Every aspect of today’s winter tire has been engineered to provide better traction and greater ability to quickly expel water, slush and snow, provide a quieter ride and allow for longer tread life,” says Ballard.

Winter tires are generally more expensive than regular all-season tires. Winter tires are more expensive than all-season tires. However, they perform well when properly inflated. Keep in mind that air pressure can be reduced by a significant temperature drop. A typical 10 degree drop in temperature will cause tires to lose 1 pound of pressure.

For more information about winter tire safety, please visit www.tires.com.