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Three things that will tell you if you need new winter tires

Three things that will tell you if you need new winter tires

October 19 2022 Bramgate Volkswagen

One of the most important elements of winter driving is having winter tires that are still in good condition, especially here in Brampton. To get the most out of your VW’s features, particularly its 4Motion AWD system if your VW sedan or SUV has it, having quality winter tires is key. That said, your winter tires can significantly lose their effectiveness over time and before you have your current set of winter tires installed, you might want to check if they are still in good condition. There are many ways to determine if your winter tires are still good to go as you will see below. We can also help you at our Tire Centre if you're not sure if your winter tires are ready for another season.

Start with checking tread depth

To be effective in preserving stability and braking effectiveness in winter, your Volkswagen’s winter tires have to have a tread depth of at least 4.8 mm, and once the tread depth goes below 4 mm, your tires are not suitable to be used in winter. Moreover, you won’t get the most out of your VW and your confidence driving in difficult winter conditions will be impacted. Having a tread depth of at least 4.8 mm before the season begins will ensure that your winter tires will last all through winter on your VW.

To determine the tread depth of your winter tires, you can use a special tool or you can also check to see if the wear indicator on your winter tire is still visible. You can also put a quarter in one of the treads with the caribou’s nose down. If can still see the nose of the caribou, your tires probably need to be replaced.

That said, you can also think back to how your VW performed last year.

How your tires behaved at the end of last winter is a great indicator of their remaining quality. If you didn't feel confident last winter and you didn't like how your Volkswagen felt in certain turns or had trouble going up small hills or getting out of snowbanks, you can certainly replace your winter tires and enjoy the confidence of a brand-new set.

Finally, if this is your third or fourth winter with your current Volkswagen winter tires, it might be good to have them replaced. You will enjoy the increased effectiveness and performance of modern winter tire technology and most winter tires are note designed to go above 30,000 km. Regardless of the tread depth, installing quality winter tires that are new on your vehicle will make winter driving a lot more enjoyable for you. Give us a call today to learn more!

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