By Gilat Melamed SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — A familiar sight is back in Syracuse, snow on the roads. In order for your car to be winter ready those like Claude Shaw, service manager at Walt’s Automotive Service in downtown Syracuse, say you should get your snow tires as soon as possible.
“It grips the road better, and in some cases there’s steel studs you can put on snow tires for icy conditions that a lot of people will do here in Central New York,” Shaw said.
Waking up Wednesday morning to the first sticking snow of the season was what made drivers like Nicole Brooks get their snow tires.
“I was a little late getting them on,” she said. “I needed to come today with all the roads being as bad as they are.”
The key thing about snow tires is the better traction. They get this traction from softer rubber. While it may be easier to leave your snow tires on all year round, Shaw says you should not do this because it will wear down the rubber and take away the snow tires’ effectiveness. It’s best to leave them on from November 1st to April 1st because without them Shaw says you face dangers.
“You take the chances of slipping, sliding, you know like I mentioned the snow tires give you more traction going up hills, going down hills, stopping,” he said. “Stopping is a major thing, a lot of people don’t realize that, that the ice can throw you.”
As important as snow tires are, they’re just one part of winter weather driving. Some other winter driving tips from AAA are: avoid putting on the hand brake after you park in rain, snow, and the cold; don’t use cruise control on a slippery surface; and never warm up the car in an enclosed area like a garage because of carbon monoxide concerns.
The simplest tip, however, is just taking it easy.
“Take your time in the winter, give yourself an extra 10-15 minutes a day and just take it slow,” Shaw said. “I don’t care what kind of tires you have, snow tires do make a difference, but they’re not invincible. They’re not the cure all to the winter driving.”
