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Why Switch to Winter Tires? | Mechanicsburg Tires

Mechanicsburg CAR CARE | Mechanicsburg TIRES | CAR TIRES NEAR ME

Tire specialists at the Meineke Car Care Center on Carlisle Pike in Mechanicsburg can help you decide if winter tires are right for you and your car. They can also help you choose the right tire for your driving needs.

As you were pulling out sweaters and other warm clothes for your trip to Boatoberfest today, your thoughts drifted to your car and to preparing it for winter, snow, ice and any other obstacles the weather might throw our way.

You thought mostly about your tires and whether it really does make sense to change from the tires on your car now to winter, or snow, tires. It's a pain and it's expensive and you wonder if winter tires are really that much better in cold weather.

Well, yes, they are MUCH better in cold and/or snowy and icy conditions than the set of tires currently on your vehicle. Just ask a Canadian.

"Canada knows something about cold weather. That country’s Traffic Industry Research Foundation said winter tires play a measurable role in increasing road safety and protecting drivers, passengers, and pedestrians," according to kbb.com. "The 2021 Winter Tire Report said 80% of winter tire owners in Canada believe the winter tires on their vehicle saved them from losing control of their vehicle or colliding with another vehicle. The study also found that 75% of Canadian motorists use winter tires."

So, what makes snow, or winter, tires so good for cold weather? The rubber compound, tread pattern and structure are all designed for warm or cold weather.

Kbb.com explains: "Winter and summer tires only have one thing in common: They are round. Each tire is composed of a specific compound made to handle extreme heat or extreme cold. They can’t do both. Engineers didn’t design winter tires for use in warm weather, so remove them when the snow season ends. High temperatures and hot pavement will quickly wear down the tread because of the soft properties of the tire compound."

Kbb.com adds, "The Tire and Rubber Association of Canada’s winter report said 'the superior grip of today’s high-tech winter tires is the result of more flexible rubber compounds that provide superior traction even at extremely cold temperatures.'

"'These specialized rubber compounds coupled with sophisticated tread designs allow for greater control and braking capability on cold, dry, snow-covered, icy, or slushy roads. Shorter stopping distances in emergency situations represent the primary safety feature of the advanced technology in today’s winter tires,' the report said.

"A winter tire’s tread pattern is quite different from an all-season tire’s. For example, 'a winter tire has lots of sipes, small grooves cut into the tread blocks that allow the blocks to move but also stay rigid when the tire is rounding a corner. That basically increases traction and braking' ... The tread pattern keeps the blocks free of snow by throwing the snow behind the vehicle as the tire rolls forward.

"Also, manufacturers design some winter tires to perform better in snow and others to perform better on ice, the association said. Take your time to select the right tire for your region."

If you're not sure where to start to make sure you're getting the best tire for you, your car and the Harrisburg area of Pennsylvania, it's time to talk with the tire specialists at Meineke Car Care Center. Meineke has 13 service centers in south central Pennsylvania - including our Mechanicsburg location - to help you:

MEINEKE CAR CARE | Mechanicsburg CAR CARE | Mechanicsburg TIRES | CAR TIRES NEAR ME | Tires Mechanicsburg | Mechanicsburg Auto Care

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