Winter weather makes staying safe even more difficult. Drivers understandably become wary with 91% of American drivers not trusting other drivers to stay safe in winter conditions.
Discount Tire holds safety above all else, so here are some helpful tips on how to stay safe this cold season.
Our first tip? Using winter tires! You can also check out our blog on how to drive in snow.
SHOP WINTER TIRESHOW TO DRIVE IN WINTER WEATHER
Despite funny memes about driving your grandma while she’s holding a hot dish, the number one winter driving tip is: don’t unless you have to.
If you do need to drive, we’ve summarized some good habits below. You can check out our more in-depth winter driving tips here.
Use winter tires for the best traction possible
Drive steadily; sudden jerky movements, acceleration, or braking can cause your tires to lose control
Maintain good distance between other drivers and/or objects
Drive slowly and always assume there is ice on the road
Avoid stopping whenever possible; if you can roll to a stop, do so
Don’t power up or stop on hills; reduce speed by lowering gears as you go downhill
Winter tires offer the best stopping power, traction, and performance out of any tire type. Regular tires stop working well when the temperature drops to 45F and below due to the type of rubber compounds used in manufacturing. This is one reason why winter tires are better than all-season tires in winter conditions–winter tires can stay flexible.
Bad news for truck and SUV owners: all-terrain and mud-terrain tires don’t perform as well as winter tires, either!
HOW MUCH WEIGHT DO I NEED FOR WINTER DRIVING IN A SMALL PICKUP TRUCK?
Pickup trucks have a unique wintertime challenge due to their unbalanced weight distribution. Many pickup trucks run with empty beds, leaving their rear tires with less traction. For the best traction possible, center a greater portion of your vehicle’s weight over the drive wheels (which tend to be the rear).
| Drivetrain Type | Need to add weight for winter driving? |
| Front-wheel drive (FWD) | No |
| Rear-wheel drive (RWD) | Yes |
| All-wheel drive (AWD) | No |
| Four-wheel drive (4WD) | Maybe* |
*Automatic 4WD trucks are usually fine as long as they have good tire tread but manual 4WD trucks may need weight if they have difficulty going up hills or handling ice.
Front-wheel and all-wheel drive vehicles are usually sufficiently weighted over the appropriate tires.
The amount of weight you need depends on your vehicle. Trial and error may be the best method for seeing what works but you should never add more payload than the safe limit load listed in your owner’s manual. You can find this under “standard” and “maximum” vehicle payload.
Here is a quick guide for added weight to your pickup truck:
| Truck Size | Suggested Weight |
| 1/2-ton pickup | 240-300 lbs |
| 3/4-1-ton pickup | 300-400 lbs |
The choice of weighted materials depends upon your preference. Long tube-like sacks of sand are very popular as they are cheap and easily available. Rock salt, cat litter, and gravel are also popular because they can be used as traction aids.
CAN I DRIVE SUMMER TIRES IN WINTER?
You should not drive summer tires in winter conditions.
Summer tires are designed for thrilling performance in both wet and dry conditions–but not cold ones. In warm conditions, summer tires actually outperform all-season and winter tires on dry and wet roads. However, they are not intended for winter temperatures.
Exposing your summer tires to winter temperatures can result in a loss of traction and other performance functions. It can also cause damage such as cracking, block chipping, and more. This type of damage is not usually covered by a manufacturer’s warranty!
It’s tempting to try to save money and time by keeping your regular tires on during cooler months, but you will be sacrificing safety and performance. However, utilizing a second winter set will help you save money in the long run by allowing your warm set to last longer and prolong replacement. Summer tires wear faster than other tire types, so this is a great perk. It is also the safest option.
If you do live in a warmer region without true winter conditions of temps around or below 45F (regardless of the presence of snow or ice), then you may be able to keep your summer tires on. Beware of winter snaps, however!
WINTER CAR EMERGENCY SUPPLIES
It is even more important than ever to prep your vehicle for emergency situations in the winter. Snow, ice, and extreme cold make for a very bad day in the event of an accident.
In addition to making sure your vehicle is properly maintained (did you remember to remove the snow and ice first?), you should carry an emergency kit with you for those hopefully-never-today situations.
Your winter driving kit should include:
Tools for roadside repairs (if possible)
Hand warmers
Matches and a flashlight
Shovel and ice scraper
Tow strap
Blankets or additional winter clothing
Sand or cat litter for on-the-spot traction if you get stuck
Reflective triangles or signage
Drinking water
First aid kit
Non-perishable foods and snack
Phone charger
Ready to roll?
If you already have a set of winter tires, Discount Tire offers winter/snow tire changeover and installation services!
Are studded tires or snow chains for you? Find out on our studded tires vs chains blog!
Not sure what your winter game plan is? No problem, drop by or give us a ring and we’ll get you taken care of. Walk-ins are always welcome but if you buy and book online you’ll save time in-store!
For more information on this and other tire and wheel services, check out our YouTube Channel or reach out to us on X, Facebook and Instagram.