Staying safe on the roads becomes even more difficult when winter weather hits. If you live in a region that experiences a true winter season, you're probably already aware of its challenges.
As you can see from our infographic above, driving in winter often leads to uncertainty— 91% of American drivers don't trust other drivers to stay safe in the coldest season!
Discount Tire holds safety to be the highest priority, so we've put together some tips on how to stay safe in winter weather.
We suggest starting with a set of winter tires!
SHOP WINTER TIRESIf you're worried specifically about driving when powder hits the road, check out our blog on how to drive in snow!
HOW TO: DRIVE IN WINTER WEATHER
A funny internet meme for driving in winter is to pretend like you are driving your grandma to a party while she's holding a hot pot of one of her famous recipes. And that's pretty well the truth of it!
We go in depth elsewhere with our best winter driving tips, but in general you should:
- Drive steadily; sudden jerking motions, rapid acceleration or braking can cause your tires to lose control
- Keep a good distance between you and other drivers and/or objects
- Drive slowly; always assume there is ice on the road
- Stay home if the weather is really bad
- Avoid stopping whenever possible; if you can roll until the light changes, do that.
- Don't power up hills and reduce speed at the crest to go downhill more slowly
- Also, don't stop on a hill
And of course, equip your vehicle with dedicated winter tires for the best traction, stopping power and winter performance possible. Regular tires stop working as well when the temperature drops below 45F due to the type of rubber compounds used. Winter tires are better in cold and wintry conditions than all-season tires because they remain pliable. And bad news for truck drivers: 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?
When it comes to staying ahead of winter weather, pickup trucks have a unique winter driving challenge: unbalanced weight distribution. Trucks routinely have empty beds, which affects weight distribution. Meaning? The rear tires may have less traction because there's not as much weight pushing them into contact with the driving surface. For the best traction possible, you want a greater portion of the vehicle's weight centered over the drive wheels.
You need to add weight to rear-wheel (RWD) and sometimes four-wheel (4WD) trucks. Automatic 4WD trucks are usually fine without added weight as long as their tire tread is good. Manual 4WD may benefit from added weight if you notice you're having a hard time up hills or on ice.
The amount of weight you need can depend on the pickup you're driving. Trial and error may be the best method for determining what works best. 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).
We've compiled a quick guide on suggested added weight for your pickup based on size.
| Truck Size | Suggested Weight |
| 1/2-ton pickup | 240-300 lbs |
| 3/4-1-ton pickup | 300-400 lbs |
Place the weight as close to the rear-axle as possible but do not wedge the weight against the tailgate; this could lighten the weight on the front end too much and cause instability while handling.
The choice of weighted material is entirely up to you. Long, tubular sacks of sandbags are very popular as they're cheap and easily available at home improvement stores. Rock salt, cat litter and gravel are also popular as they can be used as traction aids in winter time.
Front-wheel drive (FWD) trucks typically don't need added weight, as they are heaviest at the nose, where power is diverted. Similarly, all-wheel drive (AWD) trucks may not need additional weight because the engine automatically compensates power to the tires that need it most. Also, AWD can add significant weight, further aiding winter traction.
CAN I DRIVE SUMMER TIRES IN WINTER?
In short: no, you can't drive summer tires in winter weather.
As we mentioned above, all-season and summer tires simply don't work as well when things freeze up because their tread stiffens, reducing its capability to grip the road.
Summer tires are designed to provide thrilling grip in both wet and dry conditions. In fact, summer tires often outperform all-season and winter tires when it comes to wet and dry traction—but not in the cold.
Your summer tires work best in warm conditions. Exposing them to consistently cold temps can result in a loss of traction and other performance functions. It can also cause cracking, block chipping or other damage. Summer tires exposed to this damage will need to be replaced, and this type of damage is often not covered by a manufacturer's warranty!
It's tempting to try and save the hassle of switching out to a different set of tires when the seasons change, but you will be sacrificing safety and performance. And because summer tires feature softer, grippier rubber compounds, they tend to wear out sooner. Driving on these tires during winter will dilute their performance and cause them to wear out even faster than normal. Ultimately, you'll be spending more regardless to replace them sooner.
That said, if you live in a warm region that doesn't experience a true winter with low temps or snow, then it may be possible to keep your summer tires on during the winter months. Just be careful driving on those summer tires when the mercury dips below 45 degrees during any (rare) cold snaps.
Winter/snow tires are the safest option in areas that experience true winter conditions. Check out our blog on how snow tires work!
WHAT SHOULD I CARRY IN MY CAR FOR WINTER DRIVING
Wondering what to carry in your car for winter driving? We get it. Prepping your vehicle for emergency scenarios really ramps up in importance during the winter season. Snow, ice and extreme cold can make for a bad day in the event of an accident.
Besides making sure your vehicle is properly maintained (did you remember to remove ice and snow?), you should carry an emergency kit with you for those hopefully-never-today situations.
Your winter driving emergency kit should include:
- Tools to make 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
- Water
- First aid kit
- Non-perishable snacks and water
- Phone charger
Ready to roll?
When you're prepping to tour your winter wonderland, a set of winter tires is your best bet. Already have a set of winter tires that you need installed? We offer winter/snow tire changeover and installation services!
If you're wondering whether tire chains or studded tires may be a good option for you and your region, we've got a full rundown on studded tires vs tire chains!
Still not sure what your winter game plan is? Give us a ring or drop in and we'll help you get the best setup for you and your vehicle.
Walk-ins are always welcome but we encourage you to buy and make your appointment online first. Customers who buy and book online wait less 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.