The winter weather can wreak havoc on your car, especially the tires. Taking a few extra steps to protect them from the cold will keep your vehicle in good shape all season long, and help you avoid the need for a tire repair. The following are some steps you can take to shield your tires from harsh weather this winter.

How to Winterize Your Tires

1. Check Your Tire Tread

Treads keep your tire grooves free of ice and snow, so your vehicle doesn’t skid or slide while driving. It’s essential to check the tread of your tires early in the season before nasty weather hits. Otherwise, you may end up in a dangerous driving situation. To check if your tread is low, stick a penny into the groove with the head down. If you can still see President Lincoln’s head while the penny is inside, your tires are too worn and should be replaced.

2. Invest in Winter Tires

When facing winter conditions like ice, snow, sleet, and freezing rain, winter tires are safer because they’re designed to grip the road in ways that regular tires can’t. They’re also made of a particular type of rubber that’s not compromised by frigid temperatures, which can help prevent flats and tire repair.  But, here in Saint Louis winter/snow tires may not be the most efficient use of funds so investing in “high tread” tires will solve many of your issues.  

3. Keep an Eye on Air Pressure

When temperatures drop below freezing, it can cause the pressure in your tires to drop. This can create uneven wear on your tires, which can cause blowouts and other types of damage that require expensive tire repair. Using a tire gauge to check your wheels’ pressure regularly is important to help minimize this risk.  Make sure you adjust your tire pressure up slightly from normal summer pressure to compensate for the winter temperature loss.
 

For more tire maintenance tips, contact Phil’s Tire Shop in Saint Louis, MO. For more than 25 years, they’ve been helping clients get their tires ready for the area’s tough winter weather. They also have a large inventory of new and used tires on-site, and provide fast, affordable, and reliable tire repair and replacement services. Visit their website for more information and call (314) 544-3181 to speak with an experienced technician today.