car in winter

Make this the last winter you drive without snow tires

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Posted in Safety

Do I need to get snow tires for my vehicle?

There is never a bad time to prepare for the adverse weather we experience during a cold Montana winter. Driving on icy, snow-covered or otherwise less-than-perfect roads is a necessary evil if we’re going to get to work or get groceries. The Billion Auto Group Service Department gets asked, ‘Do I need to get snow tires for my vehicle,’ at least once a month on average throughout the year. Each customer who asks that question gets the same answer, yes. Several traffic-safety studies have been completed on the subject and almost all of them come back with the conclusion that snow tires are very important to safe winter driving. Let’s take a look at a few common questions.

READ MORE: Would a new pickup truck help you beat the snow? Check out this one!

How are snow tires different?

Tires are made from rubber. However, not all rubber is the same. Snow tires use a rubber formula that allows it to stay pliant in cold temperatures. This means the proper amount of tread is always going to be in contact with the road. Additionally, snow tires have deeper treads that help get a better grip on slippery road surfaces. Tires that aren’t designed for snow have been found by the aforementioned studies to cause more slipping, which is obviously dangerous.

Are all-season tires ok?

Most vehicles are sold with all-season tires. To be sure, these are going to do the job for people living and driving in temperate climates. But the performance of all-season tires will start to degrade in temperatures that routinely dip to 40-below-zero. The rubber gets too stiff and the treads can’t grab hold of the road.

A decent set of snow tires is probably going to require a bit of an investment for vehicle owners. However, considering you’ll only use them for a few months of the year, they will probably last for a while.

The Billion Auto Group Service Department carries the top brands that will be the proper size for the vehicles we sell and service. Make an appointment today if you’d like to learn more.