Millions of drivers riding on All-Season tires will be unprepared for
winter this year, say experts at The Tire Rack. Government statistics
show some 70 percent of winter injuries and deaths related to snow and
ice occur in automobiles.
Even
with All-Season tires and electronic driver's aids, most vehicles are
not fully equipped to keep a good grip on the road in winter driving
conditions. Tests conducted at The Tire Rack's winter tire testing
facility showed that All-Season tires -- fitted to more than 80 percent
of the nation's more than 200 million cars, SUVs, and minivans -- offer
little traction on packed snow and ice. Summer tires often found on
high-performance and luxury vehicles provide almost no traction at all.
High-Tech Helpers
The tests also showed
that, contrary to popular belief, expensive anti-lock brake (ABS),
traction control (TCS), and stability control systems do not actually
increase traction.
"The problem is most cars don't have the right footwear," says John
Rastetter, The Tire Rack's director of tire information. "People wear
boots to safely walk through snow and ice, so why should your car be
any different?" He points out electronic driver's aids only maximize
whatever traction the tires can provide, and that ABS can increase
stopping distances when traction is at a minimum. "Even
all-wheel-drive is only as good as the tires will allow," he
emphasizes.
The
solution, says Rastetter, is to install a set of Winter Tires
specifically designed to work in winter's cold, slushy, and slippery
conditions. "Today's Winter Tires are a far cry from what you might
remember as 'snow tires'," he says, referring to technological advances
that give today's Winter Tires the ability to stay flexible in freezing
temperatures and grip sheer ice without metal studs or chains.
Complete test results, an easy-to-use Tire Decision Guide, an assortment of educational videos, and answers to many winter driving questions are all available for free online at www.tirerack.com/winter
Better Grip, Safer Ride:
Tire
Rack tests show rear-wheel-drive passenger vehicles equipped with
Winter Tires offer drivers up to 21 percent more traction over
All-Season tires, while the capabilities of all-wheel-drive sport
utility vehicles improved 14 percent.
Similar tests conducted
in Europe show Winter Tires can cut braking distances 47 percent over
Summer Tires; in fact, when temperatures were above freezing, Winter
Tires also reduced braking distances. At 44*F, on a road as wet as
might be experienced during a snow melt, the braking distance from 56
mph was reduced 15 feet - a full car length.
Cheap Insurance:
In
2005, NHTSA reported 264,000 car accidents occurred in snow or sleet. A
set of Winter Tires costs as little as $300 and -- depending on driving
habits -- can last three or four winters. That means many drivers can
significantly reduce their risk of being in a winter-time accident for
$100 per year or less, significantly less than the deductible of most
insurance policies for just one incident.
The Tire Rack,
headquartered in South Bend, Indiana, claims to be America's largest
independent tire tester and consumer direct source for tires, wheels,
and performance accessories. The team of more than Test Drivers tests
tires from every major tire manufacturer on the company's
state-of-the-art, 10-acre test facility and posts findings on the
company's website at www.tirerack.com, to help consumers make an
educated decision on a tire, wheel, or performance accessory purchase.
Since 1979, the family-run company has grown from a
single-point retail store in Indianapolis to encompass over 1.5 million
square feet of warehouse space across the country. A diverse and broad
in-stock inventory from 16 major tire and 31 wheel brands can be
delivered anywhere in the country in two days or less, and more than
than 5,100 independent recommended Installers are available nationwide
to service customers' needs.
By Brandy Schaffels
Contributing Editor
all season tires
