December 5, 2023

Seasonal Tire Change – Why?

pile of tires

Every year – twice a year! Is it worth it to change your tires seasonally?

We think so, and here’s why:

  • Your best route to safety: Winter tires are built to perform better in winter conditions. They are engineered to perform better on snow and ice and in freezing temperatures. Summer tires are designed specifically for better grip in warmer temperatures and on dry and wet roads. It’s the right tool for the job.

    • If you want to do further research on All-season tires, find out about the discrepancy in braking distance, for example. And notice there is a difference between All-Season and All-Weather. Ask the questions. You’ll see that the handling is best with the appropriate tires. That means it’s your best plan.

  • Lifespan: Your tires will wear every time you drive. Of course… but did you realize that winter tires wear more quickly in summer conditions? The same goes for summer tires in winter. It goes back to the engineering for specific purposes. Tires are made for seasonal conditions – changing them to match what they are built for means they last longer.

  • Convenience vs. cost. There is some effort here. You will need to come in and get the work done. We certainly do our best to help your appointment be the most convenient possible. Compare a quick ‘wellness’ visit to us with potential hazards on the road in current weather conditions. We’d prefer to give you a coffee while we change your tires rather than needing to talk about vehicle damages. We’d like to keep you running safe and smooth.

  • Inspection: When we replace your tires we can keep an eye on their condition. We’ll look at the tread depth and inspect for damage. We’ll optimize the pressure. We’ll make sure they’re fine to run on. That’s what we do on our vehicles too.

  • Storage. Yes, they’re heavy and bulky. If you don’t want to store them at home we have a solution. We can store them for you. We keep them dry, cool and dark just as they should be. We’ll save you the lifting, and the storage room and you won’t have to smell the rubber especially when they’re stored next to your outdoor furniture. Ask us about storage. Indoor, dark and heat/ozone/hydrocarbon free.

or just to ask questions 

Consider this:

Care Free auto savings club logoWe know it’s a pain to take care of tires. That’s why we decided to offer savings with our Care Free – Auto Savings Club to help out. Leave the dirty work to us! Tire switchover and storage discounts, plus other services to keep your vehicle trouble-free and on the road.

What to watch for:
  • Tread depth. Ask us how to watch for the remaining tire life. We inspect that before we put them on.
  • Sipes, or kerfs slit a tires tread pattern which takes snow or water in and removes it from the tire contact area, aiding in better surface contact for the tire.
  • When to switch tires. Insurance savings and weather temperatures are both considerations.
  • DIY-ing? If you want to store your tires find a cool (climate-controlled, not outside), dry and dark location (rubber degrades in ultra-violet radiation), preferably on a rack or pallet. Standing them is the best way or stacking or hanging if they’re on rims. Keep them away from motors, generators, furnaces, solvents etc. This will prolong their life off the vehicle.

Questions? Contact us – we’d love to help.