Winter tires improve road safety, performance

We all have a pair of favorite sneakers we wear year-round, that is, until weather conditions force us to slip on galoshes or dust off our snow boots.

The same policy should apply to tires, says Matt Edmonds, vice president of TireRack.com, a retail tire website based in South Bend, Ind.

Although all-season tires suffice in most climates, when the weather turns severe, drivers should consider switching to season-specific tires.

Las Vegas isn't known for having harsh winters, however, even desert drivers, especially roadtrippers who frequently travel to different climates, should consider winter tires for their enhanced performance. A dedicated winter tire is meant for temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, as well as for use in snow and ice.

"Some of the first rains you get here (in Las Vegas) in the winter can be as treacherous as a snowy, icy day because of all the oil residue," Edmonds said.

All-season tires work in all types of weather, but aren't great in any one type of weather, Edmonds said. They are designed to be drivable in scorching-hot desert conditions, as well as in blizzards, so their performance is acceptable but not ideal for winter conditions.

Materials used to make winter tires, as well as their tread patterns and the sipes, or "biting edges," make them safer to drive in cold weather.

A car's safety features -- anti-lock brakes, traction control, four-wheel drive -- Edmonds said, do not work properly without well-maintained tires.

"Those systems are only as good as the four patches that touch the road, and those are the tires," Edmonds said.

The vice president recommends keeping winter tires on from "T-to-T day," aka Thanksgiving to tax day. It's also important to remove winter tires in the spring, as they soften significantly in warmer temperatures and will wear fast.

Depending on the car they're used on and the number of miles driven, a set of winter tires will typically last three seasons, Edmonds said. Winter tires reduce the probability of a weather-related accident in winter and Edmonds compares the cost of the set to an insurance deductible in the event of a car accident. Winter tires are basically insurance, he said.

When it comes to picking a tire, Edmonds recommends buying name-brand tires because they employ high-tech engineering and have undergone rigorous high-standard safety testing. He also recommends working with a reputable tire dealer to find the tire that fits a driver's needs.

"(When you) walk in the door, they shouldn't say, 'I've got the tire for you.' They should listen to you and wanna know how you drive, what you drive, what's important to you."