You may be wondering what types of tires will keep you and your family safe when the roads are covered in ice and snow. Read on to learn more about compounds, patterns, and prices so that you can purchase the best winter tires for your family from your Mazda dealer.
1. Tire Compounds
Cold-weather tires are engineered to stay flexible even when temperatures dip below freezing. The softness ensures that your tires can still grip the road in cold weather. However, this also means that tires designated for winter wear very quickly in warm weather, so they need to be switched out for summer or all-season tires when spring arrives.
2. Tread Patterns
Tires designated for winter tend to have wide and deep tread voids to help bring your tires closer to the road and maximize your traction. These tires also boast aggressive tread patterns and tiny grooves that optimize traction on icy and wet roads. The blocks of tread found on these tires also tend to have irregular edges so that they can grip the ice and snow better.
3. Tire Size
Choosing the width of your tire is important for snow performance. A common misconception is that a wider tire will provide better traction over ice and snow. In the snow, the opposite can be true. Wide tires can float on top of snow, while narrower tires cut through the snow to the asphalt beneath.
Tires that can cut through the snow to the road give you your best chance of maintaining control while powering through winter conditions. That being said, a tire that is too narrow won’t work well either. When choosing a winter tire size, checking your owner’s manual and using the OEM tire size is often the safest option.
4. M+S or 3PMSF
Loads of all-terrain and all-season tires will have an M+S symbol on their sidewall. This stands for mud and snow. These tires are not the same as tires designated for winter. Look for the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol or 3PMSF. Tires with this symbol are engineered to help optimize your traction even through severe snow.
5. Mazda Dealer
Your dealership will have experts who are trained to service your Mazda. The certified technicians will be able to help you choose the safest winter tire options, get them installed, and get you on the road as soon as possible.
Your car is an investment, and that’s why you need to choose a service center that is more than a facility but also has a commitment to excellence. Call us at Flood Mazda to schedule an appointment with the experts in our service center today.
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