Best Tire Brands for Winter Tires

There are many things you can do to keep yourself safe while driving in bad weather conditions. For example, you can drive at a slower speed, drive with your warning lights on, or keep a supply of emergency materials inside your vehicle. One of the best things you can do, though, is install winter tires before those bad conditions arrive. Below, we outline the importance of winter tires, along with some of the best brands to consider when shopping for them.

What Are Winter Tires?

Most vehicles come with all-weather tires. They are great at handling average driving conditions. For example, they can handle roads when it’s raining or when temperatures change significantly. However, in some locations, you might get more inclement weather, like massive snowstorms or heavy rainfalls. When this happens, you may want tires that are specifically designed to handle these rougher conditions.

Winter tires, sometimes called snow tires, are tires you can put on your vehicle to help it better handle rougher road conditions. They are made of a different material than all-weather tires and have different characteristics about them. They are called winter tires because most vehicle owners install them before the winter season arrives, which typically brings with it tough driving weather, such as snow and ice.

When Should You Use Winter Tires?

The best time to install winter tires is before the winter season arrives. While the weather is always unpredictable from year to year, here in Guthrie, the winter season typically starts around mid-November. Therefore, you’d ideally want to install your winter tires before this time. Many drivers choose to install winter tires during the fall and remove them once spring arrives. However, it’s never too late to install winter tires if you believe bad weather lies ahead.

You may also want to install winter tires if you know you’ll be driving on tougher roads in the near future. For example, if you plan on taking a road trip further north, you might expect bad snowstorms or some off-road driving. Installing winter tires then would help your vehicle handle these conditions and keep you safe on your trip.

What Are the Best Tire Brands for Winter Tires?

When it comes time to shop for winter tires, there are many brands to choose from. Since you’re purchasing tires that you intend to rely on during difficult driving conditions, it’s important that you get quality winter tires. To do this, you should rely on a trusted brand name that has a history of developing dependable winter tires. Here are some great options to consider:

Michelin

Michelin is one of the biggest names in tires. As such, they have a wide range of tires to choose from for all sorts of vehicles. Among their best winter tires are the Michelin X-Ice tires. These quiet tires have exceptional braking ability both in the snow and on the ice, making them a great choice for when the next major snowstorm comes through.

Goodyear

Goodyear is another popular tire brand. They have many winter tire options to choose from, but if you’re driving a smaller vehicle, explore the Goodyear Ultra Grip tires. They are an affordable option for drivers of sedans, while still providing excellent braking in wet conditions.

Nokian

Nokian is a less common brand, but they produce some of the best winter tires available. Their Hakkapeliitta 10 tires are excellent for SUVs, perhaps the best winter tires on the market. They use a V-shaped tread to help grip the road and come with studs for increased durability. Perhaps best of all, they not only excel at handling wet conditions but are great on dry roads as well, allowing you to benefit from them between storms.

Bridgestone

Finally, there are Bridgestone tires. Like Goodyear and Michelin, Bridgestone has winter tires for vehicles of all shapes and sizes. One of the best winter tires from Bridgestone is the Blizzak WS90. The WS90 is more durable now compared to previous versions, and it gets better performance from its more widely spaced tread. There are 53 sizes available for the WS90, ranging from 15 to 20 inches, making it easy to find a set that fits your vehicle.

How To Install Winter Tires

If you decide to get winter tires on your vehicle, the best thing you can do is bring it to a professional tire installation center. This is because installing new tires is a difficult process if you don’t have the right setup at home. To install new tires, you need to remove the old ones by raising the vehicle and removing all the lug nuts. You would then need to install each new snow tire, after which you need to balance them all to ensure a smooth ride.

This is a time-consuming process and requires specialized equipment. Luckily, a professional tire installation provider can do this job in a short amount of time and for an affordable price. To get winter tires installed on your vehicle, you should schedule an appointment at your local tire center in advance to ensure you get them done before winter arrives.

Get Your Next Set of Winter Tires at Eskridge Chevrolet

If you’re in the Eskridge area and want to install winter tires on your vehicle, the team at Eskridge Chevrolet is here to help. To start, we have a wide range of tires available in our parts department . You can easily browse through all the available options or ask our expert staff to recommend the best tires for your vehicle. After that, we can set up a time to install the tires at our service center .

We’ve installed countless winter tires for the residents of Eskridge, meaning we know how to install them safely and quickly. Don’t wait until you hear on the news about the major storm coming through to schedule your winter tire installation appointment . Contact us today so that when those rougher driving conditions come around, you’ll be prepared to handle them.

Image by Daniel Foster is licensed with Unsplash License