Here in Spokane and the greater inland northwestern region, people often put on winter tires during the icy and snowy months to increase safety. When spring comes, there tends to be a rush of people coming into the tire shops to get their tires changed or swapped back over to their summer or all season models. While most people understand how important it is to have the right tire for the right season, many are not aware when is the right time to have their winter tires taken off or about all of the switch options that are available to them.
When Should You Switch Over To Your Spring Tires?
If you aren’t using winter tires then you are most likely using tires which profess to be “all season”. All season tires are ok for most regions, but “all season” is a little bit of a misnomer because they aren’t truly appropriate for areas of the country that tend to get heavy snowfall – like Spokane and Spokane Valley.
So obviously, you know you want to get your winter tires off your vehicle at the beginning of spring. However, when we say the beginning of spring we aren’t exactly going by the calendar definition, which by the way is March 20th. Here in Spokane County, temps can still be pretty chilly towards the end of March or early April. To make sure you aren’t jumping the gun, you’ll want to wait until temperatures are bottoming out around the mid 40’s. Only then can you be sure that it’s safe to get those winter tires off.
We want to stress this again because it’s super important when it comes to safety on the roads. The temperature outside should determine when you take change out of your winter tires. If you take them off too early, you risk slipping and sliding around on icy roads. That’s sort of a given. However, many people are unaware that leaving your winter tires on too late in the season can also be detrimental. This is because winter tires are specifically designed to perform in cold temperatures. The rubber used for winter tires is very soft – so that the rubber won’t harden in freezing conditions. That soft rubber helps the tire to grip the road when everything outside is a frozen block of ice. The downside is that in warmer temperatures that rubber can become too soft, and the hot road has the potential to literally melt the tire, causing a blow out.
Swap Vs. Changeover
Unbeknownst to most people who aren’t in the tire industry, a tire swap and a tire changeover are actually different procedures.
A tire swap happens when the set of tires youp plan to put on your vehicle are already mounted on rims. This makes the process of switching to the new set of tires in spring relatively easy because the tires are already installed on the rims and (hopefully) have been balanced. It’s so easy, in fact, that you can do it at home yourself (as long as you have the right equipment like a jack and jackstands).
The only downside to having your winter and all season tires mounted on rims is…well, you have to buy the rims upfront. So it will cost a little bit of extra money up front, but it will save you some scratch in the long run as it will prevent you from having to perform a tire changeover.
So what is a tire changeover? Well, you might have guessed, this is what needs to be done if you only have one set of rims and you want to take the winter tires on your vehicle off the rims and you want to put your all season tires on. A tire changeover is more difficult than a swap, will take longer, and will cost you more money over time as it must be done by a qualified professional each season you are switching tires.
Do Your Inspections
When you are getting ready to ditch your winter tires for summer tires, you should do an inspection to make sure they are fit for use. The biggest things you’ll want to check for are an appropriate tread depth and an even wear pattern.
When you are changing over your tires and doing your inspections, it’s also a good idea to inspect your brakes at the same time!
When Should Your Tires Be Replaced Altogether?
You’ll want to be sure that you aren’t wasting your time switching over to old tires that really need to be replaced completely. Knowing the signs of a tire that has reached the end of its life will save you some hassle and keep you safer on the roads.
A tire is considered to be unsuitable for use when there is less than 1 and ½ millimeters of tread left. Some brands of tires have a wear indicator that touches the road when the tread is too low. You can use a tread tire gauge to check the depth of the tread on your tires, but if you don’t have one, use a penny! A good rule of thumb is that if you hold a penny with Abe’s head down in the tread and you can see the top of his head, that means your tread is too low and considered unsafe.
Aside from the tread depth, be on the lookout for any irregularities in the tread or sidewall of the tire. If you see any punctures, bulges, gashes, or exposed cords, throw that tire out or take it to the tire shop to see if it can be repaired. Most of the time, damage to the tire’s sidewall cannot be repaired. Lacking any obvious signs that your tires are damaged, consistent reappearance of the tire pressure warning light might be an indicator that it’s time for new tires.
Keep Your Balance!
Whenever you’re putting new tires on your vehicle, whether you are buying brand new, doing a changeover, or a simple swap, you need to make sure that your tires are properly mounted, balanced, and are inflated to the appropriate air pressure.
When the weather is getting warmer and it’s time to get those summer tires on your vehicle, make sure to reference this post! And if you have any questions or concerns about the tires you are about to put on your vehicle, Inland Mobile Mechanic will be happy to do an inspection for you!