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Anyone who owns a car, truck or SUV knows the costs involved. They are not only expensive to buy initially, but can be costly to maintain as well. Regular maintenance like oil changes and tune ups, winter tires, routine detailing and of course gas to drive it all add up to a big bill for vehicle owners.

When it comes to the tires on your vehicle, they can be a huge money pit without proper knowledge about them. Most people who own a vehicle just buy it and think nothing of the tires (until they get a flat). But the truth is, with proper maintenance and a bit of expert advice, you can extend the life of your tires and save yourself a lot of money in the end. Winter tires or summer tires, they should both be properly maintained and looked after. 

Winter tires tend to cost more than summer, so our main focus here is getting the most out of your winter ones. Read on for some great tips and advice for extending the life of your tires. 

Buy Better Brands

We all love a good sale and get excited when we find a great bargain, but should you be bargain hunting when looking for new winter tires? Not really.

While initially it might cost you more to buy a better brand tire, in the long run it will save you a ton of money because they are built better and will last much longer with proper care.

Doing some good research before buying the first set of tires you find on sale is a smart move. Look up top tire brands and find out what makes their winter tires top notch. If you find a set of winter tires that are significantly cheaper than most, we promise there is a reason they are so cheap. Buying cheap tires also puts you, your family and other drivers on the road at risk during the winter. 

Shop around, read reviews and find the best brands for our long Canadian winters.

Use The Right Tire for The Season

A tire for every season. Simply put, winter tires belong on your vehicle in the winter and summer ones in the summer.

Using summer tires all year will ensure you have no traction and grip in the winter. Summer tires are designed for smooth, dry, ice free surfaces. They are meant to grip the pavement, not the ice and snow.

On the other hand, winter tires are not designed for driving down a hot summer road and will quickly wear out. This can leave you with winter tires that are not suitable for winter driving conditions come the next winter season.

Put your winter tires on in the late fall when you know the snow is on it’s way and the temperature is getting cooler and remove them in the early spring when the ice begins to melt off the roads and the temperature is getting warmer.

By switching out your tires at the proper time, you are going to greatly extend the life of both sets, saving you a lot of money. 

Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated

Do you check your tire pressure monthly? This is your reminder to start doing so. Tire pressure is important not only for safety reasons but also for extending the life of your tire.

With low pressure, the sidewalls of your tires become too flexible. It wears down the outer edge of the tread which wears out your tires much faster than they would if they were properly inflated.

If you’re driving around with winter tires in the summer and they are not inflated properly, the flex in the sidewall can also generate heat which accelerates wear and tear on the tires.

Low tire pressure also creates a higher rolling resistance which inturn lowers your fuel economy. 

Rotation Rotation Rotation 

Keeping up with a tire rotation schedule will greatly increase the life of your tires. Much like proper inflation, rotating tires is also important for safety.

The tires on the front axle of most vehicles have a different job than those on the rear axle. Not rotating your tires means they will continue to wear down in one spot and shorten their lifespan. Getting them rotated with your regular maintenance schedule will allow them to wear evenly and you’ll get a lot more out of them. 

If your ride doesn’t seem smooth or your vehicle is pulling, have your steering, alignment and suspension checked as well. These are also factors that play a role in uneven wear on your tires. 

Never Mix and Match Your Winter Tires

Mixing your tire brands (and types) is a recipe for disaster. Trying to save money by only putting on two winter tires is like trying to save money by cutting your own kids hair…we strongly recommend that you don’t. Putting only two winter tires on your vehicle does not give you the traction and handling that you need for proper, safer winter driving. 

Having tires on your car that have different tread depths or patterns can create poor handling. Your braking, steering and acceleration will be thrown off with mix matched tires as well. Different tires will wear at different rates, even with rotation. This leads to uneven wear and tear and the need to replace them more often. Save yourself money  in the long run by buying four of the same tires (for summer or winter). 

In Conclusion…

You might think that by buying low budget tires, or only buying two of them that you are going to save yourself boat loads of money. But the truth is it will only cost you more in the long run and can be potentially dangerous for you and other drivers on the road. Use these pro tips to get the most out of your winter tires.

If you’ve already made the common mistake of using the wrong tires during the winter and need some collision repair, CSN JD Collision can straighten it out. Contact our Cold Lake of Bonnyille shop for a repair estimate.