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Winter Commercial Tires: Are You Ready?

winter-ready commercial tires

Here in the Northeast, snow and ice-covered roads are coming whether we like it or not. It’s time for winter commercial tires. Fleet Managers need to ensure their truck tires are ready for the cold road ahead, ensuring safety for their drivers and those they share the road with.

Tips to Consider for Winterizing Commercial Tires

Winter Tire Symbol
Make the switch to winter tires:
  • Watch the temps – when it falls below 46-degrees, it’s time to switch to winter treads. This gives time to break them in before the really cold air comes
  • Aggressive tread patterns with lots of deep grooves can better grip into snow, offering improved traction
  • Tires using flexible rubber compounds that will stay pliable in colder temps will provide better road contact than traditional stiffer all-season tires
  • Look for the 3PMSF symbol (a 3-peak mountain with snowflake) indicating the tires are certified and have met specific snow traction performance standards
  • Confirm the winter tires you are considering will meet or exceed the load rating required for your haul
tire maintenance
Ensure proper tire maintenance:
  • Colder air lowers tire pressure (as much as 1 psi for every 10-degree drop) so be sure to check for correct tire pressure to maximize traction on slippery surfaces
  • Regularly inspect tread depth, looking for an average of 6/32” to a minimum 4/32” for winter
  • Inspect for wear and damage
tire chains
Keep traction aids handy in all commercial trucks:
  • Have tire chains that fit the tires on the vehicle and train drivers on how to upfit properly for severe winter weather conditions, and inspect them for wear and damage before you need them
  • When traveling empty (box trucks and trailers), add extra weight to the rear axle area of the vehicle to improve traction
  • Keep a couple bags of sand or cat litter and a shovel in the unfortunate instance of getting stuck

If you’re planning on purchasing winter tires for your fleet, talk to our Commercial Tire Experts NOW so you are prepared when the colder temps hit. We have two options for new winter tires or winter retreads from our partners at Continental, and we welcome the opportunity to discuss how we can help you and your fleet be winter-ready.

Continental HDW2 All-Season Tires
ContiTread HDW2 All-Season Retread

It’s best to get new winter tires and treads installed with time to break them in (typically about 300 to 500 miles).  While the tread depth of new tires seems optimal, they may be less responsive until they’ve been properly broken in.