As you pull out your jerseys and stock up on your favorite brews, don’t forget to prepare your tailgating vehicle’s tires for snowy weather.
If you live in an area that receives a lot of snow or ice in the late autumn and winter, you need to consider your car’s needs before the slippery stuff surprises you. Your tires greatly impact how well your vehicle handles road conditions. If you don’t prepare now, you may end up in a ditch instead of tailgating in the parking lot! Thankfully, you can take a few steps to prevent slipping and sliding with tires that aren’t winter-ready. Let’s look at how to prepare tires for a snowy winter.
Make Sure They’re Inflated
As you prepare your vehicle for the tailgate, remember the importance of inflated tires. Once the cold strikes, you’ll notice a decrease in air pressure because cold conditions reduce air density. When you start loading your tailgating supplies on a chilly, frosty morning, the tires may look like they’ve lost air. What’s worse is when you must park in the grass for a football game, but your vehicle gets stuck because the tires deflated. Low air in the tires can make driving unpleasant and even dangerous by creating the following issues:
- Speeds up loss of tire treads.
- Slows down acceleration.
- Hard on the wheels and rims
- Decreases fuel efficiency.
Luckily, it’s easy to fix tires with low air pressure! Head to the nearest gas station and fill up the tires at the air compressor. Check the air pressure of your tires often in winter to stay safe on the road.
Check Your Tire Treads
Tire treads help your vehicle grip the road when driving. This grip is of extreme importance in slippery road conditions. Before winter arrives, look at your treads and take note of cracks, tears, or wear. It’s best to replace them now rather than wait for the roads to ice over. Consider swapping out your current tires for winter tires if you live in an area that receives a lot of snow.
Clean the Tires and Wheels
Everything works better when it’s clean, and it’s easier to spot issues with your tires when dirt and grime are gone. Driving through muddy fields when paved lots aren’t available on game day makes things even worse. Give your tires and wheels a thorough cleaning before winter arrives and do so again throughout the season when a sunny day pays a surprise visit.
Carry Chains
Chains on tires offer a better grip in snow and ice. There’s no need to put them on permanently, but it doesn’t hurt to keep them in the trunk for an emergency, like when a squall comes through during a game and you have to drive home in fresh snow.
If you prepare tires for a snowy winter now, you’ll be thankful you didn’t wait until the car slips and slides over the road.