Track-tested consumer tips for maximizing your safety on snowy roads and
slippery slopes
SOUTH BEND, Ind., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Jack Frost has already made an early
visit in parts of the country, surprising plenty of motorists (and some
football fans) not yet prepared for the challenges of inclement weather.
Colder weather doesn't just translate into swapping flip-flops for boots; the
inevitable sleet and snow also require tougher treads for your vehicle. With
the right gear, winter driving doesn't have to be a "white knuckle"
experience, say tire experts at www.tirerack.com, America's largest
independent tire tester and a leading resource for consumer tire information.
Switching to winter-grade tires isn't just smart in theory; it can save you
real money and even your life. Crash rates spike during the October through
February time frame, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA). In 2007, 738,000 crashes occurred in rain, sleet or
snow. Most resulted in costly property damage, and on average, one in three
involved an injury or fatality.
"Those numbers are needlessly high," said Matt Edmonds, vice president at Tire
Rack. "A little caution, a little research and most importantly the right
"footwear" can mean the difference between wintertime gripping and slipping."
The team of test drivers at www.tirerack.com/winter conduct the real-world
research for consumers on the company's test track, a sheet of ice at a hockey
rink and even the demanding winter test courses of Sweden to uncover how the
latest tire technologies from multiple manufacturers perform in the snow and
on ice. In addition, consumer-generated feedback from thousands of drivers
adds valuable data on different types of terrains, road surfaces, altitudes
and other variables that can impact a tire's performance.
For a stress-free winter behind the wheel, the Tire Rack team offers the
following tips:
-- Choose the Right Footwear - Function, not fashion, should dictate your
choice. Like snow boots, purpose-designed winter tires offer maximum
traction and control in cold, snow and ice. In Tire Rack tests,
Winter
tires offered up to 21 percent more traction than All-Season tires.
-- Winter Tires - Only Winter tires are designed to excel and provide
maximum traction in the colder temperatures, slush, snow and ice
that many parts of the country experience for three or more months
a
year. Winter tires start with deeper tread depths to obtain
maximum
traction.
-- All-Season Tires - All-Season tires are for the drivers of
passenger
cars and minivans, as well as some small SUVs and pickup trucks
who
want dependable tires that provide all-season versatility,
including
traction in light snow, but face true winter conditions rarely.
-- Summer Tires - For anyone lucky enough to live in parts of the
country where winter conditions mean nothing more than cooler
temperatures and rain, Summer tires are the best option.
-- Let Your Tires Lunch on the Elements - If rain and wet roads are a
concern, you should consider replacing your tires when they reach
approximately 4/32" of remaining tread depth. Use a quarter to
measure
tread depth - not a penny
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/includes/tread_depth_press.html.
Insufficient tread depth can double your stopping distance, a fact
that
Tire Rack team proved through testing. Since water can't be
compressed,
you need enough tread depth to allow it to escape through the tire's
tread grooves. If the water can't escape fast enough, your vehicle's
tires will be forced to hydroplane (actually float) on top of the
water,
loosing contact with the road and thus traction.
If snow covered roads are in your future, consider replacing your tires when
they reach approximately 6/32" of remaining tread depth to maintain good
mobility. You need more tread depth in snow because your tires need to
compress the snow in their grooves and release it as they roll. If there isn't
enough tread depth, the "bites" of snow your tires can take on each revolution
will be so small that your traction will be reduced.
-- It's All About the Pressure - Tires don't carry the weight of your
vehicle, the air inside them does. For every 10-degree drop in
temperature, tires lose 1psi of air pressure. A tire filled to 32psi
at
70-degrees will have only 28psi at 30-degrees. Underinflated tires
offer less traction, can reduce fuel mileage, can wear out prematurely
and most importantly suffer unnoticeable and irreparable damage that
compromises their performance. Check tire pressures monthly with a
quality air pressure gauge. Fill them to vehicle manufacturer
specifications. For a list of quality air pressure gauges or to
address
all of your tire buying needs visit www.tirerack.com.
-- Stay in Traction - Traction loss starts at about 40-degrees
Fahrenheit,
even without rain or snow on the ground. Lower temperatures reduce a
tire's flexibility and grip. At 32-degrees, the Summer tires found on
many performance vehicles are so stiff they offer no traction at all.
-- Stay Off Their Tail - Adding distance behind the vehicle ahead gives
you more time to react and distance to stop. In rain and snow follow
two seconds behind at 30mph; four seconds at 60mph.
-- Be a Smooth Operator - Accelerate, brake and steer as if you had a
full
cup of hot coffee on the dashboard. Just as abrupt actions would
spill
the coffee, so too could they cause a loss of control. It's also one
of
the best ways to improve fuel mileage.
Hedge Your Bets: Winter Tires are Cheap Insurance
The best way to improve winter traction and increase safety is with a set of
dedicated Winter tires. Starting as low as $300 for a set of four, winter
tires can last three or more winter seasons, depending on your driving habits.
That's significantly less cost than most insurance deductibles and potential
rate increases should you have a winter driving-related collision. Resting
your regular tires during the winter season also increases their lifespan,
saving you even more money in the long run.
Consumers can consult a free tire decision guide and a wealth of additional
information about buying the correct tires for any driving condition and
climate at www.tirerack.com.
About Tire Rack
Tire Rack, family-owned and headquartered in South Bend, Indiana, is America's
largest independent tire tester and consumer-direct source for tires, wheels
and performance accessories. Their team of 90-plus test drivers (their sales
team) tests tires from every major tire manufacturer on the company's
state-of-the-art, 10-acre test facility. The findings are then posted on the
company's website, www.tirerack.com, where consumers can make an educated
decision on a tire, wheel or performance accessory purchase. Tire Rack has
also collected results from more than 150,000 consumer surveys representing
over 2.5 billion miles of real-world tire data, the largest known cache of
such information anywhere. In addition various testing and informational
videos are available online in their Video Center at
www.tirerack.com/videos/index.jsp.
Since 1979, Tire Rack has grown from a single-point retail store in
Indianapolis to encompass over 1.8 million square feet of space in six
distribution centers across the country. A diverse and broad in-stock
inventory from 18 major tire and 47 wheel brands can be delivered anywhere in
the country in two days or less. A national network of more than 5,000
independent Recommended Installers are available to service customers' local
installation needs.
SOURCE Tire Rack
Lindsay Wagner, Brandware Public Relations, Office: +1-516-594-0072, Mobile:
+1-949-357-6781, lwagner@brandwarepr.com, or Matt Edmonds, Tire Rack, Office:
800-428-8355 x336, Mobile: +1-574-532-8571, medmonds@tirerack.com
