winter tires

How to properly read tires of all shapes, sizes

Learning how to read tires is a valuable skill to have many reasons. Whether you are in the market for new tires, checking their recommended tire pressure, or making sure they aren’t expired, there are many numbers and codes to know. Reading the Date Code on Tires Even if your tires don’t have high mileage on them or still have tread it is still a good idea to monitor their age. After seven years, many companies will no longer rotate and balance tires because of the degradation of rubber becoming a safety issue. Most tire manufacturer warranties cover the brand’s tires for four years from the date of purchase or five years from the week the tires were manufactured. If

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Get a grip this winter on slippery roads

Don’t be the driver who spins out, gets stuck in a snow bank, or just stays home because of bad weather. Get a grip. All-wheel or four-wheel drive is a solid foundation to safe winter driving and winter tires complete the package. Is there a difference between a general purpose tire and a winter specific tire? I drove BMWs equipped with “all-season” tires and Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 winter tires on the ice recently at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo. There is a huge improvement in grip with the winter Blizzak tires. The video below shows the red BMW 328i with Blizzak tires outperforming the silver BMW with all-season tires. Try Tire Rack when you’re ready to buy winter tires.

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Winter driving conditions demand specific tires

The added traction of a specialized winter tire is amazing. If you drive in snow and ice, you need winter tires. Winter tires will reduce your stopping distance, allow faster acceleration and provide better steering. The typical tire on your car or truck is a general purpose tire labeled “all-season” or “mud and snow.” These tires perform well in many conditions, but they under perform in cold temperatures and on slippery surfaces. A winter tire is optimized for these conditions through special tread designs and advanced rubber compounds. Bridgestone gave me the opportunity to drive and compare tires at its “Tire Rack Winter Driving Experience” in Denver. The “test track” was the ice hockey rink in the Pepsi Center, home

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