Car Maintenance: Snow Tires

It is coming up on that time of year again. The leaves are starting to change, the smell of fall is in the air and Halloween is just around the corner. Following close on the heels of ghosts and goblins comes Thanksgiving – and with Thanksgiving, come snow and the thought of snow tires.

Your tires are one of the most important parts of your car – for without them, you won’t be going anywhere! Tires help keep you safe on the slippery streets in the winter, so you don’t want to skimp on them.

Snow Tires

Snow tires are normally thinner, so they can “rut” through the snow, and make the car easier to handle. There are also studded tires – which work better, but are inherently noisy.

All Season Tires

All season tires work well in snow and rain, but not as well as snow tires. While they are more expensive than snow tires, you won’t have to change your tires when the snow and ice disappears.

What is Best For You

Depending on the area you live in and your needs, you would choose snow tires or all season tires. If you live in an area that tends to get lots of snow, and you do not drive far to work, you may elect snow tires.

Should you drive some distance to work, and take the highway daily, all season tires may be the better tire for you. They are less noisy, and the highways are usually cleared better, unlike some of the secondary roads.

Also, your pocket will dictate whether or not you choose snow tires. With snow tires, you will need to change them out to regular tires in the spring, and back to snow tires in the fall. Although more expensive at first glance, all season tires can be used year round, alleviating the need to go to the tire shop twice a year.

You also stand the chance of changing from snow tires to regular tires, and getting trapped in that late season snowstorm!

What To Look For In An All Season Tire

The higher the tire's load index number, the greater its load carrying capacity.
89 = 1,279 pounds
88 = 1,235 pounds
87 = 1,201 pounds
86 = 1,168 pounds
85 = 1,135 pounds

This number is found, as is with all numbers, on the sidewall of the tire. It is the last series of digits in this example: P195/60R15 87S

The S is the speed rating. Tires are safe for certain rates of speed. The higher the speed rating, usually, the more expensive the tire.

In the older tires, you would find the speed rating within the size of the tire, as in the chart below.

225/50SR16         112 mph, 180 km/h
225/50HR16         130, 210 km/h
225/50VR16         in excess of 130 mph, 210 km/h

Starting in the early 90’s, the speed rating can be found in the speed rating portion of the tire’s service description, as in the chart below:

M         81 mph         130 km/h
N         87 mph         140km/h         Temporary Spare Tires
P         93 mph         150 km/h
Q         99 mph         160 km/h         Studless & Studdable Winter Tires
R         106 mph         170 km/h         H.D. Light Truck Tires
S         112 mph         180 km/h         Family Sedans & Vans
T         118 mph         190 km/h         Family Sedans & Vans
U         124 mph         200 km/h
H         130 mph         210 km/h         Sport Sedans & Coupes
V         149 mph         240 km/h         Sport Sedans, Coupes & Sports Cars

There are also W,Y and Z rated tires, for excess of 149 miles per hour – which is rarely used in the U.S. If you think you will be driving on the autobahn soon, it might be advisable to look into a higher speed rated tire!

~Cheryl Bowman

Cheryl and her husband owned an auto repair shop / engine building shop in Tampa, Florida for over 20 years. Cheryl learned by starting with the older cars, and then learned to use the computer equipment to diagnose the newer cars.