Some people prefer having winter tires on all year round
ESCANABA -- Safety on the roads is important all year-round, but the approaching winter weather calls for extra caution behind the wheel. One easy way to stay safe is to make sure you have the proper tires. Now's the time to swap out those summer wheels for a set of winter tires. Mr. Tire is known for its tires.
The store will put winter tires on about 2,000 vehicles this season. What makes winter tires so efficient is the technology behind them. Some offer directional tread design, while others offer pliable rubber compounding that helps with traction. This is important when it comes to avoiding crashes. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, over 450,000 injury crashes occur annually in winter weather conditions. But the snowy weather can be a challenge for some locals to drive on as well.
“Winter driving was difficult when I moved back to Michigan,” says Escanaba resident, Bo Reynolds. “I used to be a fast driver when I lived in California, but I had to learn the hard way here to slow it down a bit and keep a safe distance between myself and the car in front of me."
Experts say now's the time to put snow tires on.
“The day it snows is not the day to buy tires,” says Mr. Tire owner, Toby Kuivinen. “It's very overwhelming for any tire business. The reality is, be prepared and look early. Do your shopping now. If you want to get them on now, it's not going to hurt a thing to put them on now."
Many are playing it safe by preparing now.
“I have a second set of tires in the garage. They’re snow tires and they're great tires. I always change those tires at the end of fall,” Reynolds says.
Fifty percent of Mr. Tire's customers keep snow tires on all year round because of the traction they offer. When it comes to maintenance, the tires will have to be rotated every 4,000 to 5,000 miles.
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