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Have you ever shoveled your driveway in dress shoes? It’s not a good idea to try this if you haven’t already! In fact, the same goes for the ‘shoes’ on your vehicle. Driving with bald tires in snow and ice is very unsafe. Don’t delay- making sure you have good “boots” (or tread on your tires) is the first step in getting your vehicle dressed for winter.

Are Winter Tires Better Than All-Season Tires?

Winter tires are made of special rubber compounds specially designed to improve traction and handling in cold temperatures, not just snow and ice. The special rubber compounds allow winter tires to remain flexible even in the coldest weather. Winter tires also have better tread patterns designed to get better traction in snow and ice. Much like winter boots, they not only give you better traction when out in the snow but also keep your feet warm.

All-Season tires are made to deliver good wear and traction in all weather conditions. Meaning they are “averaged” and designed for all seasons. In order to make them wear OK in the summer, the rubber compounds will not be so flexible and start to harden in temperatures below 45 degrees causing you to lose traction. Also, the sipes in the traction needed for snow and ice are compromised in all-season tires to give better highway comfort. If you choose all-season vs winter tires, make sure you have them inspected for tread depth and wear before the snow flies.

How are the glasses?

Whether you’re looking for a fashionable pair of sunglasses or a new set of prescription lenses, it’s important to find a pair that will be functional and look good, right? The same goes for the “glasses” on your vehicle. The windshield wipers, washer fluid, and headlights all come under this category.

A good set of windshield wipers usually last about a year. When was the last time you replaced yours? Consider a new pair of windshield wipers to get the winter started off right. Hilltop Tire has a large selection of wiper blades in stock and they all come with free installation!

Now, what about the windshield washer fluid? Did you know there are different kinds you can use? Do you use the fluid that will not freeze when the temperature drops? This is important to check into because even if the tank is full, you will be out of luck if it’s frozen solid when you need it.

What about foggy glasses? Think how embarrassing it would be if you started stumbling over yourself because you couldn’t see out of your glasses? The same goes for your windshield, you could get yourself into a dangerous situation with a foggy windshield. Is your defrost working properly? If not, why? Maybe it is a dirty cabin air filter hindering it from working properly. Whatever the cause the pros at Hilltop will surely be able to figure it out.

Now is a good time to check your headlights and rear lights. With the days getting shorter, it is important they are all in good working order for nighttime driving. Again, Hilltop has the light bulbs you need if one is burnt out.

Did we mention belts?

Yep, that’s right, belts and hoses are an important part of your vehicle although you don’t generally see them. Cold weather can wreak havoc on them so make sure to have them inspected regularly. If one breaks, you’ll end up spending more on it than you would on a new one for yourself!

These are just a few things to check to make sure your vehicle is “dressed” right for the weather. If you need help, our experts will gladly inspect your vehicle to make sure you have a safe ride this winter season. They will give you a print out of anything that needs attention now or in the future. If everything looks good, they’ll tell you that too! You can always trust Hilltop Tire to give you a honest option.