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Winter tires versus all-season tires…which is the right choice for you?  The two designs are quite different and deliver different levels of performance and winter-weather traction, so let’s discuss. • All-season tires are designed as an all-around compromise. They feature a tread pattern that evacuates water from the tire’s contact patch to prevent hydroplaning, with plenty of small, textured slits (sipes) to add extra biting edges for traction in wet or s...

Oh, the lowly spare tire. It doesn’t get much respect.   Today, a lot of vehicles don’t even come with a spare tire anymore, not even the little “donut” space-saver spare. Instead, to cut weight and free up space, they come with a compressor and a can of a Fix-a-Flat-style product in hopes that you can get back on your way again. Great idea, unless your tire has a sidewall puncture or is shredded…Anyway, if your car is equipped with a spare, you shou...

We frequently get questions about all-season tires when consumers are trying to make the right purchasing decision for  a set of new tires. As the title of the blog asks…”are all-season tires really all-season?” The answer is: it that depends on what part of the country you’re living in.  All-season tires are a compromise from the very start. They’re designed for a forgiving ride, low noise, decent handling and good road manners. Maybe not as mu...

We see it all the time…people tend to not think about their tires until something goes wrong. Sometimes, this can mean sitting on the side of the road waiting for help, and other times it can mean more serious consequences. Here are a few things to remember for tire safety as the summer winds down and back-to-school season starts. • Check your tire pressure regularly. This one is really important. Your car’s tires will lose air through the valve over time, and an underinfl...

We often see customers who are a little overwhelmed by the tire buying process. There are so many types of tires for different vehicles and different driving styles, all at different price points. Here are a few things every driver needs to know about tires: ·   A tire is constructed from the inside out, starting at the inner liner. There are 20 to 25 different components in every tire; fabric belts are wrapped around the inner liner, with steel belts, more fabric belts and othe...

So your closet has a pair of flip-flops for the summer, a pair of heavy boots for the winter, and a comfortable pair of sneakers for most of the rest of the year. If you live in a climate that doesn’t have harsh winters, you might just be able to wear those sneakers year-round...and all-season tires are the equivalent of your comfortable sneakers. So what makes all-season tires so special?Winter tires are excellent for severe conditions like heavy snow and even ice. They feature speci...

 Summer’s going to be here before you know it, and that means time for family road trips!  We know there’s a lot to think about when you’re planning a vacation...money, accommodations, scheduling, keeping the kids occupied in the car...but one thing you definitely should not neglect in those plans is your tires.  Summer road trips are hard on tires. You have to figure you’re in a car that’s likely loaded to the gills, driving for hours and h...

Nobody needs to remind you this has been an especially harsh winter.Winter is not just hard on vehicles and the people who drive them -- it’s hard on roads, too. With fluctuations in temperature and freeze/thaw cycles, pavement materials expand and contract, leaving streets with cracks and potholes. Add in the effect of washouts from heavy rain, caustic de-icing chemicals and damage from vehicles with studs or tire chains, and you can end up with springtime road surfaces which are a real m...

Don’t let tire problems get in the way this Valentine’s day. How is your tire pressure? Do my tires need to be rotated? Is it time for an alignment? Do I need new tires? While these questions can seem daunting, with the help of tire professionals and various routine self-checks, any driver can maintain proper tire care and not miss that big date this Valentine’s Day. From tire rotations to air pressure, learning what signals might indicate tire replacement or repair is importan...

Through proper care and treatment of tires, serious or fatal accidents caused by blowouts are highly preventable if proper precautions are taken.  Because tire blowouts can develop from many situations, drivers should strive to be aware of tire conditions and schedule professional check-ups accordingly. This is especially true during transitional weather periods.  Take particular care to examine tire conditions as quickly changing temperatures can cause weak tires to fail. Use the...