In winter weather, it’s crucially important to ensure that your tires keep maximum contact with the road. Because even the best highways can be dangerous when sleet, snow and slush create a thin coating of water between the road and your tires, maintaining traction will help keep you safer on winter roads.
Here’s some advice for getting through winter:
- C heck the pressure in the tires every month.. If you’re not sure of the recommended PSI settings for your tires, take a look at the label inside the driver’s door. Cold temperatures will lower tire pressure, causing the tire to have less contact with the pavement and therefore become more prone to hydroplaning, while the treads on severely under-inflated tires may trap water if they become concave. Heat causes tire pressure to rise, so it’s advisable to wait to check the tire pressure until at least a half-hour has passed since you last drove on them.
- Think about buying a set of winter tires. The tread compounds in regular tires can become extremely hard in the cold, reducing grip; winter tires feature compounds that are designed to stay soft and keep their grip, while the larger treads will allow for more road surface contact – helping push through ice and snow.
- Replace your tired tires. Worn-out tires can be dangerous on wet roads, as the grooves may no longer be deep enough to channel water out. If your tires don’t have built-in wear indicators, try inserting a penny in the groove with Lincoln’s head upside down and facing out -- if the entire head is visible, you need new tires.
- Slow down. Generally always a good piece of advice, but even more true in winter.
Be sure to visit Lithia Ford of Missoula when you’re ready to look for your next Ford vehicle.