How The Cold Weather Can Affect Your Tires

November 4, 2020

Winter is without a season of joy, festivities, social gatherings, sledding, skiing, and other good stuff. But this season could also bring in a fair share of issues for us such as frostbites, icy roads, snowy front porch and sidewalks accompanied by car problems if you’re traveling to colder areas.


Local climate conditions determine tire choices. Many people ignore their tires and how it reacts to the weather. Sometimes, you can’t expect to use summer tires during winter. You might quickly end up with an inflated tire in the middle of the road.

Pressure Loss


There is a correlation between the light of tire pressure coming on and the drop in temperature. The weather plays a significant role in determining the condition of your pressure tire. The fluctuation of temperature causes a change in the tire pressure. Gasses tend to expand under heat and contracts under the decline of temperature.


Your tire’s pressure increases during summer and downgrades during winter. There will be 1 pound pressure loss for every temperature drop of 10 degrees. So when you have to go out for work on a cold winter morning, you need to be mindful of this.

Loss Of Traction & Poor Grip


Summer tires possess lesser rolling resistance compared to the winter tires. It enhances both handling and also efficiency while also decreasing the noise levels. However, the tread of these performance tires operates poorly on both snow and ice.


Summer tires tend to possess weak acceleration during winter. The winter tires will easily outperform the summer tires on the snowy road. Its low rolling resistance causes it to have longer brake distances on snow and ice.


A winter tire tends to possess a deep tread accompanied by sipes that dig in the snow and grips on to the ice. It offers lower braking times, and by difference, the compound of these winter tires is softer and less prone to colder temperatures.


Summer tires come with a rubber compound that is perfectly fitting for warmer weather conditions. As the temperature is dropping, the rubber of the tire stiffens even without ice and snow. In this way, the tire ends up losing traction with time.


If you want a tire that comes equipped with the sipes and treads for withstanding mild winter conditions, then the all-season tire is a great choice. But you should know that majority of the winter tires are customized explicitly for relevant conditions.

Damage Risks


Basic tires don’t fare well even on the roads without snow and ice because the temperature is still cold during winter. The tread of your tire will stiffen and become more vulnerable to breakage with time. With a reduction in traction, the risk level becomes greater for the drivers.


The tire tends to lose elasticity and becomes prone to cracking while driving. There is a chipping risk associated with the excessively rigid thread block. These cracked and chipped tires aren’t safe at all for the drivers to drive on. You need to replace them at the earliest as winter comes.

How The Cold Is Affecting Your Rubber


Lower temperatures pose a threat to your rubber tires. The cold makes your rubber items brittle and harder. Some ultra-top performing summer tires open themselves to the risk of cracking and also losing grip during winter.


These tires start losing their elasticity at about 45 degrees, opening doors for easy breakage and a shorter lifespan.


It is crucial to make sure that you have the right wheels during winter. You need to avoid using high-performing summer-only wheels that are below 25F.


You can always use Crown City Tire Auto Care’s tires as they’re reliable, secure, and most importantly, equipped for the season.


What You Need To Know…


To maintain your car tires and to make it through the winter, here are some of the key pointers that you can take:


  • You always need to keep your car inside the garage while you are not using it. It is especially crucial in winter where the cold temperature affects your tires.


  • There is also a negative impact on your gas mileage, which causes you to have trouble handling the vehicle. It leads to an increased fuel bill, which escalates into more unnecessary expenses. So, make it a priority to keep your car inside.


  • Your car’s pressure system will be an accurate examination of your wheels and whether your wheels are underinflated. It is essential to assess the pressure on all the tires even when you check the system. And yes, you should also check the spare tire.


  • Make sure to avoid hitting the potholes on the road during winter. It damages your tire’s sidewalls causing them to be weaker. In case you are using an all-season tire, your rubber will lose its grip, and there will be difficulty in coming to a full stop on the icy terrain. Getting a winter tire will solve the issue because they can sustain enough friction in temperatures below 0.


  • Always make it a habit to check the PSI (Pressure) in all of the tires per month. You need to execute this task in the morning. Checking the PSI after a driving duration will only provide an inaccurate assessment. The tires will start heating up as a result of friction. Plus, the pressure is going to be higher in the reading.


  • The pressure is going to change 2% in whichever way with each 10?F move in air temperature. The pressure readings need to match your vehicle’s recommended wheel pressure as present in the holder’s manual.

Seek For Help!


If you are confused about the effects of the cold weather and the proper measures you need to take for maintenance, consider getting a repair shop’s help. Go for a repair service that possesses years of experience and is reputable in the city. A tire shop near me, like the tire shop Pasadena is the right choice for the customers living in the vicinity. Customers living in the area or nearby the city can swing to get their tires treated.


Crown City Tire Auto Care is a well-known Pasadena tire shop in the car repairing service for a long time. They break away from the industry’s stigma and create a whole new experience for their clients. Their team consists of honest and transparent workers that work tirelessly to satisfy all of their clients. Plus, they will greet you with complimentary coffee and cookies while you wait!


Don’t wait and give a call to (626) 461-9165 to check on your tires today.


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