Winter Tires a Necessity in Erie, Pennsylvania

Bianchi Honda Stocks up on Winter Tires for the Season

It’s that time of year for putting the lawn mower away and pulling out the shovels and snow blowers for a good old fashion Erie, Pennsylvania winter. While winter isn’t quite here yet, it still begs the question, “When should I put on my winter tires?” This largely depends on the climate you are in, and the type of weather you can expect this winter. In the past, Erie has seen snow as early as mid-October, but has arrived as late as the end of November, and waits til the end of December or early January to be in full throttle.

So, what factors do we go off of when the start of the snow season is somewhat unpredictable? The biggest factor in deciding that isn’t so much the snow as it is the temperature outside. Winter tires are made of a softer rubber than all-season tires so that they can retain flexibility. The rubber material and tire tread are designed so that even when the temperatures are below freezing, your tires will provide you with more traction and stability than all-season tires. Your winter tires won’t prevent you from sliding, but they will drastically improve the handling of your vehicle when you have to trek through the snow to get to work, the grocery store, and beyond.

Now with that in mind, we know that we should wait until the weather is consistently cold, since that’s when winter tires perform at their best. It is time to start putting your winter tires on when the temperature average highs are consistently below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. If you place your winter tires on before this point, the tread on your tires will wear down faster due to the softer materials that winter tires are made of, and warmer temperatures, causing you to have to replace your tires sooner rather than later. Winter tires, depending on your mileage during the winter and how they’re stored in the summer (don’t let them bake out in the sun for the kids to play with when not in use), have an average life expectancy of three to five winters.

If you don’t already have winter tires, the next step is deciding which winter tires you should have on your vehicle. For the Erie, Pennsylvania area, one might consider studded tires depending on their work and commute needs, but for those with average daily commutes, a high-quality set of winter tires will suffice. Start by doing some research into what type of tire is best for your type of vehicle, as well as making a note of what size tires your vehicle needs.

Frequently asked is “Do I really need all 4 tires to be winter tires?” YES. JUST YES. Mixing all-season tires with winter tires will adversely affect the handling on your vehicle for several reasons. Your all-season tires will have a different type and level of tread than your winter tires. Unevenly wearing tread and different levels of tread is bad no matter how nice the weather is. Furthermore, if you were to (hypothetically) change out two all-season tires for winter tires, when you go to uninstall your winter tires and reinstall your all-seasons, the tread will be drastically different from the tires you left on all winter. You will end up buying more tires over the lifetime of that vehicle due to premature wear and tear than if you properly rotated out all four tires. Another reason for changing out all four tires is that the tread is designed with the assumption that a driver will install four winter tires. The tread is designed to handle ice and snow as if it is being complimented by three other winter tires, not another winter tire and two alternative tires.

Now with that said and done, you’re not alone in needing winter tires, and our parts specialists at Bianchi Honda are here to help! Currently, we’re offering several great options for your winter tire needs. Our top three tires are the Bridgestone Blizzak WS80, Michelin X-Ice Xi3, and Dunlop Winter Maxx, which are all great options for your vehicle this winter.

Below is a quick overview of the three best winter tires available in our selection.

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80:

Most people say that the Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 tires are the best for drivers who commute regularly on snow-packed or icy roads. In professional tests, the reviewers state that the tires are excellent under a variety of driving conditions. Where the winter tires shine is on snow and ice with its surefootedness also on dry and wet roads as well. Erie, Pennsylvania is a sure place to test out the new Bridgestones Blizzak WS80 tires on your new Honda.

Michelin X-Ice Xi3:

Any review that doesn’t mention the Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 as the best in class winter tire overall hands the honor to the Michelin Xi3. Comparable in features the Michelin Xi3 was developed for coupes, sedans, vans, and SUV’s, similar to the Bridgestone Blizzak WS80. The Xi3 are predictable tires in cold, dry, and wet wintry conditions and is praised for its low rolling resistance and tread wear capabilities.

Dunlop Winter Maxx:

Runner-up to the Bridgestone and Michelin tires are the Dunlop Winter Maxx tires. These winter tires will make a great addition to any sedan, van or SUV looking to take on the Erie, Pennsylvania weather. The Dunlop Winter Maxx tires are designed to increase confidence in cool and cold driving conditions and enhance traction in slush, snow, and ice. The Dunlop Winter Max is a bit more cost friendly compared to the above-mentioned winter tires but are very comparable as the meet the industry’s severe snow service requirements and are branded with the mountain/snowflake symbol.

To review or order the winter tires and others navigate to our helpful tire selection tool at the Bianchi Honda Tire Store or contact a Parts Specialists at (814) 864-5809.