When temperatures drop and the snow starts falling, it’s time to prepare your vehicle for winter. One step that motorists in Spokane, Washington, can take is installing snow tires. But do you actually need snow tires in Spokane? If so, what type of snow tires should you get, and when should you install them? Discover all the answers to your questions about snow tires in Spokane for a safer driving experience this winter.
Do You Need Snow Tires in Spokane?
The snowy and icy conditions common in this area during winter mean you do need snow tires in Spokane. However, you’ll find a variety of options available, including studded tires, traction tires, snow tires, and chains. Since each option offers something different, it might be hard to decide which type of tire will best suit your needs. The following information offers a breakdown of your options to help you decide which kind to install on your vehicle.
Studded Tires
Studded tires have metal studs that dig into snow and ice to give you better traction. While these tires do offer an enhanced grip on ice, they’re also responsible for significant damage to the roads. In fact, the Washington Department of Transportation estimates that studded tires cause about $24.5 million worth of damages to state roads each year. Worse, the type of icy condition studded tires perform best on — often known as “glare ice” — only occurs about 1% of the time around Spokane. This means you’re using damaging tires for conditions that rarely happen.
That’s why Washington state has a law that only allows studded tire use from Nov. 1 to March 31. There’s no exception to this law, and if you use studded tires before or after these dates, you could receive a fine. It’s also important to note that a proposed bill could phase out studded tires so that they’ll no longer be carried in stores by 2025. Plus, keep in mind that having studded tires doesn’t satisfy the state’s chain requirements. If the state issues a chain requirement for driving, you must install them over your studded tires.
Traction Tires
If you decide to pass on the studded tires, but you’re still interested in tires that offer superior grip, look into traction tires. These tires have 1/8-inch tread and either an M+S tire marking or the mountain/snowflake symbol.
The M+S tire marking stands for mud and snow – these tires have some all-season capabilities and deliver better traction in wet conditions than summer tires. However, M+S tires don’t always offer adequate grip for winter driving. When roads are slick, they’re not the best for traction, control, and stopping.
For this type of driving, you’ll want to look for tires that have the mountain/snowflake symbol. This icon indicates that the tires meet more stringent performance requirements and can handle more severe winter weather conditions, like freezing temperatures and snowy, slippery roads.
It’s important to note that most all-season tires don’t have the mountain/snowflake symbol because they’re made with a different type of rubber. All-season tires are made with a stiff rubber compound that helps the tires keep their shape when they’re driving over hot pavement. This type of rubber becomes hard when temperatures drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. On the other hand, mountain/snowflake tires are made with hydrophilic rubber that stays soft and flexible in winter weather. This pliability is what gives the tires better traction on snow and ice.
Snow Tires
Snow tires are another option you can consider if you don’t want to put studded tires on your vehicle in the winter. Snow tires have certain features that help them perform better than all-season tires in wintry conditions. Like mountain/snowflake tires, snow tires are made with a special type of rubber that stays flexible in cold temperatures. They also have deep treads for better traction and a unique tread pattern that pushes snow, slush, and water away from the tire.
Most snow tires are also siped, which means they have small, patterned slits that provide better grip. If you often travel on slick roads, you can get additional safety siping added to your snow tires for even better traction when starting, stopping, and moving.
Chains
Chains are a final option you can consider putting on your vehicle for winter driving. Chains are installed over your tires to provide better traction on snowy and icy roads. If you have a front-wheel-drive vehicle, you must install the chains on the two front tires. If you have a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, you must install chains on the two rear tires. You should also keep in mind that if you often travel to higher elevations during the winter, you should carry chains in your vehicle in case the state issues a “chains required” notice.
When To Install Snow Tires
Once you decide which snow tires you want on your vehicle, you can visit the Wendle Ford Tire Service Center to purchase them and have them installed. However, you might be wondering when you should have your snow tires installed. Should you do it on Nov. 1, when the first snow falls, or even later in the year? Actually, the best time to install your snow tires is based on the outside temperature. Once the daily average temperature is consistently below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s time to make the switch from your all-season tires to your snow tires.
Also, keep in mind that you’ll have to frequently check and maintain the correct tire pressure in your snow tires during the winter months. This is because your tires lose about 1 pound per square inch (PSI) of pressure for every 10 degrees the temperature drops.
This helpful guide should have answered all of your questions about needing snow tires in Spokane, Washington. If you have any other questions or need assistance getting snow tires on your vehicle, please feel free to contact us at Wendle Ford and let us know how we can help.
Featured Image via Flickr by Petr Magera
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