What There is to Know About Winter Tires for Your Nissan Vehicle

Winter is fast approaching, and as you know, this means it is time for you to consider installing winter tires on your Nissan vehicle. Here is a quick refresher on what you need to know on this subject.

Do you need winter tires?

Despite winter tires not being required by law in Saskatchewan, their use is heavily recommended by both the provincial and federal governments since they have proven their effectiveness in snow and ice. Since many provinces make winter tires mandatory all winter long, you will need them if you plan to take your Nissan out of the province during the colder months of the year, perhaps for a holiday road trip to see family members who live further away.

If you already own winter tires, it might also be worth checking their age and condition before having them installed in order to make sure they will be safe and effective all winter long. Things to look for include any signs of dry-rotting, often seen as cracks in the sidewall or a worn-down tread pattern. A handy trick to know when to replace tires is to place a 25-cent coin into one of the grooves with the caribou’s head pointing to the ground. If you can still see the tip of the animal’s nose, it's time to visit our tire center!

When should you install your winter tires?

Apart from the traction advantages afforded by their specialized tread pattern, winter tires have another advantage over summer tires when the weather turns chilly: a softer rubber compound. Indeed, winter tires are not made of the same type of rubber as winter tires in order to make sure they will remain soft and pliable even in extreme cold, thus allowing them to better grip the road and give better control over the vehicle’s movements. Experts agree that winter tires should replace your summer set once average exterior temperatures drop below 7 degrees Celsius as summer tires become significantly less effective at this temperature. Similarly, it is important to switch back to summer tires once temperatures start to creep over 7 degrees in spring in order to avoid unnecessary wear brought on by higher temperatures.

How to choose the right winter tires for your vehicle?

Obviously, winter tires come in many forms and it might be difficult to know exactly what type your specific Nissan vehicle needs. After having determined the dimensions of the tires you need, you should consider the use you make of your vehicle, as someone who often drives on unpaved and un-cleared country roads will need a much beefier tire than someone who drives the same vehicle exclusively on well-maintained city streets. In order to save some money in the long run, you might want to get a second set of wheels for your Nissan. While the initial investment will be higher, lower costs related to the installation process as well as reduced wear on both your winter and summer tires will bring the total back closer than you might think over time. In addition, this has the benefit of protecting your factory alloy wheels from damage caused by abrasive de-icing chemicals as well as curbs that hide under the snow.

Contact Us to have our experts point you to the best winter tires for your Nissan!