Your Holiday Road Trip Guide to Winter Tires

December 17, 2020

As you prepare to deck the halls, trim the tree, and travel to celebrate with family, don't forget to deck out your Nissan with the right winter equipment ‐ especially the tires! In this guide, you'll learn everything you need to know about picking the right winter tires, caring for them, and driving on them.

When Should You Switch to Winter Tires?

You might wait until the first snowfall to switch to winter tires, but consider doing it before snow blankets the ground and streets.

So, when should you do it? When the temperature regularly drops below 45 degrees. Why? In cold weather, the tread compound of your regular, summer, or all-season tires becomes less flexible.

Snow tires or winter tires are designed to be more flexible when temperatures fall, leading to better braking, handling, and traction.

Its also time to switch to winter tires if the tread depth of your tires has worn down. Deeper tread depth can help you better navigate snowy, icy, and slushy streets. Tread should be at least 2/32 of an inch on all tires.

You also might want to change from other tires to winter tires if you hear a thumping noise coming from the tires. This noise could mean your tires are suffering from what's known as "flat-spotting." In cold weather, this can happen when your car has been parked for a while, creating a flat spot where the tire makes contact with the ground. Winter tire technology can reduce the likelihood of "flat-spotting."

What Types of Winter Tires Are There?

There are three types of winter tires: studded, studless, and performance (all-weather).

Studded tires

The tread of studded snow tires contains metal studs. These studs dig into ice to help deliver better traction. Keep in mind that studded tires can damage streets that aren't covered by ice and can make your ride noisy. They're not right for all vehicles or cold climates.

Studless tires

As the name suggests, studless tires don't have metal studs. Instead, these tires rely on improvements in rubber, tread design, and technology to provide better traction on the road in cold weather.

In low temperatures, The flexibility of these tires surpasses that of non-winter tires. These tires also have a deeper tread than their non-winter counterparts do. Tire features known as sipes, which are part of tread design, deliver superior acceleration, deceleration, and braking.

Performance (all-weather) tires

Performance (all-weather) tires can take you through every season. While they're not ideal for harsh winter weather, they do supply year-round traction that can help in wet and dry conditions, even when there's light snow.

How Do You Care for Tires in the Winter?

Your tires require special attention during the winter months. Proper tire care during cold weather can help give you and your passengers a smoother ride. Here are four tips to help you ensure your tires are winter-ready.

1. Make sure your tires are inflated and rotated.

During the winter, check your tire pressure at least once a month. Poorly inflated tires can reduce traction, which is critical when you're driving in snowy, icy, and slushy conditions. Tire pressure declines about 1 pound per square inch for every 10-degree drop in temperature.

To find the recommended tire pressure for your car, read the owners manual or look for a placard on the drivers side door frame.

Regular tire rotation can help prevent uneven tread wear, supporting traction regardless of the season!

2. Be sure your tires are balanced.

Balancing the tires (also known as wheel balancing) evenly distributes the weight put on your tires. Wheels that are balanced incorrectly can contribute to uneven tire wear, which negatively impacts stability and traction.

3. Get the tires aligned.

A tire alignment (which also is referred to as a wheel alignment) actually adjusts the suspension of your car, not the tires or wheels. This enhances the handling of your car, which is especially important when you're driving in the winter.

4. Keep up with tire maintenance.

Whether its January or June, regular tire maintenance is vital. Tire maintenance can help prepare your car for sleet, snow, and ice on the road. Ignoring tire maintenance can make it more difficult ‐ and more dangerous ‐ to drive in cold weather.

Tips for Driving in Winter Weather

Driving in winter weather can be tricky. These nine tips can help take the stress out of wintertime driving.

1. Take it easy.

When you're driving in wintry conditions, be cautious. don't accelerate or turn quickly. Ease up on the brakes when you're stopping. If you follow this advice, your tire tread can do a better job of gripping the road.

2. Know how to steer when skidding.

Skidding on icy roads is a scary experience! If it happens to you in an anti-lock braking system-equipped (ABS) car, take your foot off the accelerator and resist the impulse to slam the brakes. All new vehicles sold after September 1, 2013 come equipped with ABS, but if you drive an older car, pumping the brakes may help you regain control of your vehicle.

3. Avoid spinning the tires.

Its not uncommon for your car to get stuck in the snow. If this happens, don't hit the gas pedal too hard. That can cause your tires to spin too rapidly and potentially overheat. In some cases, this could result in your tires wearing unevenly or even exploding.

To help steer clear of problems, gradually rock your car back and forth, alternating between pressing the gas pedal and the brake pedal, when your car is stuck in the snow. Or, power your car off and shovel the tires free!

4. don't tailgate.

You should never drive too closely behind another vehicle. This is especially important in winter weather, as slippery roads may make it harder to stop your car! In wintry conditions, keep an eight-second distance between your car and the one you're following to give yourself more room to stop.

5. Fill up the gas tank.

Make sure your Nissans gas tank is always as full as possible. You could put yourself and your passengers in a tough situation if you run out of gas on a cold day or night.

6. Check the spare.

Be sure you've got a spare tire in the car! And remember to check and maintain it like you do your other tires, with regular visual inspections and tire pressure checks!

7. Pack your car with essentials.

Before you hit the road on your winter adventure, stash these items in your car:

• Boots
• Warm clothes
• Blankets
• Flashlight
• Traffic flare
• Tire jack and wrench
• Ice scraper
• Snow brush

If you're taking a long road trip, add food, water, and prescription medication to the list.

8. Be alert.

Here are some road rules you should follow any month of the year, but particularly when snow or ice has made the roads hazardous:

• don't text or talk on the phone when you're behind the wheel.
• Obey speed limits and traffic laws.
• Make sure everyone in your vehicle is wearing a seatbelt.

9. Plan your route.

Even if you're traveling a relatively short distance in the winter, allow plenty of time to reach your destination. Be sure to have a GPS-equipped device or a map, and inform others of the route you're taking and the time you expect to arrive.

Make Sure Your Nissan is Ready for Winter

Visit your nearest authorized service center to buy the right winter tires for your Nissan, and shop Nissan Parts online for all of your winter vehicle accessories like floor mats, roof racks, and roadside emergency kits.