By Katie Davis I n some provinces motor vehicle laws make winter tires mandatory, while safety and tire experts across Canada and the US recommend the use of winter tires. So did you ever think of the effect that using your Winter tires might have on your Summer tires. Well unless your summer tires are new, they have most likely spent from late October until April stored in your garage or basement, where they may have deteriorated. Some electrical parts produce ozone which damages rubber, while warm spaces (like furnace rooms) can also affect tire traction and the rubber compound itself, then you have to think about other factors that can effect tires such as grease, humidity and various chemical products. When you have your Summer tires installed, it is not just as simple as having your tires installed regarding if they are on their own rims or not. Make sure that you ask your mechanic to do a detailed inspection to see if there are any dry patches or cracks.
Tread wear should also be checked. When tires are stored for so long, it’s easy to forget that the tread is too worn to make it through another season. If you have worn tires installed on your car, you may soon have to make a trip back to the mechanics to have them replaced if you are lucky to make it that far. Leaving warn tires on your car can result in poor traction on corners or wet surfaces and longer braking distances. In addition to verifying the tire’s casing and tread, it’s also important to make sure your tire pressure is right. Remember the harder you push your performance tires and the more often you load down your vehicle for travel, the more often you need to check and add air to the tires. Always stay within manufacturer’s recommendations and this is very important to your car and tire performance especially important if you plan on covering long distances at high speeds. A poorly inflated tire can overheat and burst.
Never forget that your tires are your only point of contact with the road and a very important part of keeping you on it.
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS • JUNE 2016
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