Tips For Buying Winter Tires

The best winter tires have a strong grip, comfortable ride, dependable durability and at least a five-year warranty. If you know these four buying basics, you’re ahead of the game. But what else should you know before you navigate the snow?

Here are some tips and tactics to help you find the best winter tires for your ride when the flakes start to fly.

5 Tips for Choosing the Best Winter Tires

Buying the right tires for winter driving is key to your safety — and the safety of others. Follow our five tips for selecting the best winter tires for your ride:

Look for the logo

Did you know that winter tires are marked by a special logo to indicate they’ve been designed to meet specific snow-traction performance requirements? It’s true. Just look for the three-peaked mountain with the snowflake inside. See the logo? You’re good to go-go!

Buy tires early

The best time to buy winter tires isn't after the first big snowfall, or your first big spinout. Retailers start stocking the shelves with these tough-treaded slip-resistors when fall rolls around. But they sell fast, so go get a set before all the good ones are gone!

Always buy four tires

You might think that two winter tires will do, but when you’re at the tire store, always buy four. Because when two wheels grip and two don’t, your vehicle is more likely to slide around and spin out. Before you buy, take a look at these tips on how to find the right tire size for your car.

Include the tire install

Ask your favorite tire shop if they’ll include the installation in the price of the tire. If not, plan on spending about $10 to $20 per tire for mounting and balancing.

Change your tires with the seasons

Remember to change your tires when the snow melts. Much like all-season tires aren’t built for the winter, winter tires aren’t made for summer roads. The softer (but extra-grippy) rubber wears out faster — and hot, dry roads can take a toll.

When the rubber hits the road, it’s all about safety and control. The right tires can keep you and your dreams moving on down the road, even when that road is covered in snow. Speaking of moving down the road, check out how you can get better winter gas mileage by following these simple tricks.

Not only is it important to plan ahead to stay safe on the road, but your American Family Insurance agent (Opens in a new tab) can help make sure your auto insurance is doing all it can to protect you from the unexpected as well. Want to make your car even more winter-ready? Check out these helpful tips on how to properly winterize your car.