Frequently Asked
Questions about Snow Tires
Do I need winter
tires?
Changing out your summer
tires for winter tires is imperative to the safety and reliability of
your
vehicle. Like sneakers on icy sidewalks, summer tires simply are not
intended
for travel in wintery conditions. Their tread depth and compounds will
not give
you traction in extreme cold temperatures or on slushy or icy roads.
Winter can
also take a serious toll on the lifespan of you summer tires, meaning
you'll
have to replace them a lot sooner than anticipated.
Not only will switching to
snow tires in the winter extend the life of your summer set, but they
will also
provide superior grip at temperatures below 45 degrees in both wet and
dry
conditions.
My Subaru has all-season tires, why do I
need snow tires?
All season tires are a compromise
between summer heat and winter cold and are not optimum for either
season. True winter tires are made with special soft rubber
compounds and have an aggressive tread design. In a moderate
climate all seasons are acceptable, but they're not recommended for
Vermont.
How are winter
tires different than summer or all-season tires?
Snow tires have unique
tread rubber compounds and deeper tread patterns for optimum
flexibility and
grip in low temperatures. They are also designed to channel snow and
slush away
from the tire's surface, improving traction on slippery
surfaces.
Are
studded tires better
on ice?
Yes. But not much better than a premium
winter tire and they far worse on
dry payment. And they are very noisy, offer a rough ride and
wear down
our roads. We don't recommend them and will not sell
them.
Why do I need winter tires
with an all wheel drive vehicle?
The only connection between your vehicle and the Earth, is a
small contact
patch. With improper tires, even an AWD
vehicle can lose traction and have difficulty stopping in winter
conditions. While the Subaru all wheel drive system may get
you going with all
season tires, it will do very little when you need to stop.
The ABS
system will sense the wheel skidding and will pulse the brakes,
substantially
increasing stopping distances. Further, steering on curvy
slippery roads
requires tires with grip, or the momentum of your 3,000+ Subaru will
want to
continue in a straight line.
Can I just buy
two winter tires?
Regardless of whether your
vehicle is two- or all-wheel drive, we recommend always changing into a
full
set of winter tires. Mounting only two means you out on the traction
that comes
with four, especially when they're only mounted on the front axle. Even
with a
RWD vehicle, the front wheels are still used to steer, so it's
imperative that
all four tires benefit from the same superior grip provided by snow
tires.
Can I use winter
tires year-round?
Driving on winter tires in
the summer will cause them to wear out faster. They are only designed
for
optimum performance in extreme cold, wet and cold, dry conditions. Once
spring
settles in, have the professionals here at Kinney Subaru change out
winter
tires for your summer set.
Get Your Tires
From the Professionals in Rutland, VT
For professional
snow tire sales and service, simply stop by our tire center
or schedule
service for installation via our website. Be sure to explore
our
service specials for
tire discounts as well. Our conveniently located Subaru dealer
in Rutland, VT, is proud to serve the tire needs
of Middlebury, Bennington, Manchester VT, Glens Falls NY,
Lebanon NH, and beyond!
