| This is the third in a series of articles
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| | preserve tread life.b) Snow and Ice
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| containing useful pointers for coping
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| | Studless Tires
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| with frost, ice, and snow while you
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| | These tires will give better traction
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| travel by vehicle. The correct tires can
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| | than performance winters, but the
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| make the difference between an enjoyable
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| | handling will not be quite as
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| trip and a hefty towing or hospital bill.
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| | responsive.c) Winter Studded Tires
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| 1. Summer tread tires are not meant for
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| | These are good-quality winter-tread tires
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| icy or snowy conditions.
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| | embedded with 60-120 small metal studs
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| When the temperature dips, so does the
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| | per tire. The studs, composed of a very
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| traction capability of summer tires. The
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| | hard metal like tungsten carbide,
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| material used in the manufacturing
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| | protrude slightly above the tread
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| process loses elasticity and grip as it
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| | surface. This provides superior traction
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| gets colder. This means that summer tires
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| | on ice and snow. However, studs also dig
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| do not perform as well in freezing
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| | into pavement - and they are banned in
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| temperatures, even on dry roads.
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| | some areas. If you plan a long trip, be
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| 2. All-season tires work well in some
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| | sure to check the regulations regarding
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| areas.
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| | studded tires along your route.
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| If you only experience an occasional mild
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| | 5. A tire professional can help you to
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| snowstorm, you might be happy with
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| | sift through the choices.
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| all-season tires. However, they don't
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| | Nothing can replace competent advice from
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| perform as well as good winter tires.
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| | a good tire technician. However before
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| Their composition and tread is a
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| | you pick a tire shop, consider the
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| compromise that provides decent handling
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| | following:a) Does the tire business have
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| and traction in a variety of conditions.
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| | a good reputation - or does a check with
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| Busy drivers who don't have the time to
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| | the local merchants' association or
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| change their tires twice a year will
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| | Better Business Bureau reveal a number of
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| often swear by all-seasons.
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| | consumer complaints?b) Do you know of
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| 3. Real winters demand real winter tires.
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| | anyone who has used the shop and can
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| If you have ever been stuck in a snow
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| | provide first-hand recommendations?c) Are
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| bank, you appreciate how much time and
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| | the tire shop's certifications, licenses,
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| inconvenience it requires to get a tow. A
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| | and permits prominently displayed where
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| car that slides into a snow bank can just
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| | customers can see them?d) Are the service
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| as easily careen into oncoming traffic,
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| | people properly certified? And are they
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| over an embankment, or into a pedestrian.
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| | experienced?e) Will the shop honor your
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| For safety's sake, a change to winter
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| | vehicle warranty?f) Do the shop
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| tires is a good investment.
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| | technicians have experience with vehicles
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| 4. Choosing the correct tire requires
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| | of your model and year?
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| some forethought.
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| | Inventors and manufacturers are
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| There are various types of winter tires.
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| | continually trying to design the 'perfect
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| Analyze your driving patterns (fast?
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| | tire'. An online search for 'tire patent'
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| slow? heavy on the brakes?), travel
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| | will bring up over 1 million pages in
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| routes (uphill and downhill grades? tight
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| | Google. Who knows - maybe the perfect
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| curves? gravel vs. pavement?), and other
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| | tire will be on the shelves next year! In
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| factors that might affect tire
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| | the meantime, do your research, and get
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| performance and needs.a) Performance
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| | the most suitable tire for your driving
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| Winter Tires
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| | style and weather conditions.
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| Performance winter tires are responsive
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| | ©Copyright Kathy Steinemann: This
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| on dry winter roads - but their traction
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| | article is free to publish only if this
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| is not as good on ice and snow as some
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| | copyright notice, the byline, and the
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| other types of tires. The treads tend to
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| | author's note below (with active links)
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| be a bit soft; these tires should always
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| | are included.
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| be changed in the spring in order to
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