New Bedford Car Insurance: Best Automobile Tires for Spring
As soon as the snow and ice melt away, Massachusetts car owners should change out their winter snow tires and replace them with summer or all-season tires. While trucks, vans, and SUV (sport utility vehicle) owners might have other options available, car owners should consult their owner’s manual, speak with the dealership, or simply replace the original tires with the same brand, size, and type for best results. A lot is riding on your tires. Massachusetts auto insurance can protect you in the event of an accident, but proper maintenance and care of your vehicle is your responsibility. When you visit your local insurance agency in New Bedford to speak with an MA auto insurance agent, it is essential to make sure that you have proper coverage for your type of vehicle and the kind of driving that you do on a regular basis.
What Are All-Season Tires?
You might have heard that your local tire company has something called all-season tires, which kind of implies that they will be a good choice for year-round use. Unfortunately, they are built for the average driver in average weather, boasting moderate tread depths that are designed to offer long tread life. You can get all-season tires for just about any type of vehicle, including economy cars, luxury autos, mini vans, pickup trucks, and SUVs. The all-season tire performs best in warm weather, but they might not have as much grip as the typical “summer” tire, which is designed for hot weather conditions. All-season tires offer middle ground performance, which makes them “just okay” for summer and “just okay” for mild winter weather, but not good for driving through a hot, sandy desert or an icy, cold winter storm.
Some of the hallmarks of an all-season tire include:
- longer tread life
- moderate tread depths
- decent performance in wet and dry conditions
- satisfactory performance in light winter conditions
- better traction in winter than summer tires
What Are Summer Tires?
The summer tire is designed for use in warm to hot weather, offering improved agility, speed, and traction in what is considered to be summertime weather conditions. Improvements in other areas, such as boosted responsiveness, cornering, and braking, allow for better precision on the road than all-season tires. Excellent holding grip comes with these summer tires, which makes them an excellent choice for hot, arid conditions, such as southwestern deserts or hot New England summers. While they do have a more shallow tread than all-season tires, they are more stable in typical summer conditions.
Some characteristics of summer tires include:
- better speed and agility in summer weather conditions
- increased braking capabilities
- less grooving and smaller tread depths
- better performance in wet driving conditions
- should not be used in winter weather – must change each year for performance
It’s Really Up to You
When it comes down to it, choosing between all-season and summer tires is really up to you, the type of vehicle that you own, where you live, and the kind of driving that you do on a regular basis. The best scenario for tires is to choose a complete set of tires that are the same type and size. Don’t mix and match your tires and make sure that any tires you use meet the manufacturer’s recommendations for speed rating, load capacity, size, and other essential specifications. The size of your tires really is important, as it can impact the fuel economy of your vehicle if you don’t get it right. When in doubt refer to your owner’s manual or contact your local dealership.
While your MA auto insurance agent can provide you with lots of facts and the information about proper vehicle maintenance and safe driving, it’s best to use your auto manufacturer, owner’s manual, and the local dealership as a resource when it comes to tires. If you are looking for a great quote on Massachusetts auto insurance, make sure to stop by Borden Insurance Agency in New Bedford. We can offer quality insurance at affordable prices for automobiles, mini vans, pickup trucks, SUVs, and economy cars. Give us a call at 508-999-3636 to get a FREE quote or to learn more about New Bedford car insurance.