Have you ever heard, “You get what you pay for?” The adage is often used to teach a valuable lesson that spending more for a higher-quality product is usually more cost-effective than buying lesser-quality items that you’ll have to replace more frequently. One of the best real-life examples of this is the value of investing in high-quality winter tires in Cincinnati with the help of McCluskey Chevrolet.
Cincinnati’s cold and snowy winters make a set of winter tires vital to your safety on the road. As natives of America’s beloved “Queen City,” we know what it’s like to make the commute into the city in the dead of winter. Snow can accumulate quickly, leaving drivers stranded because they didn’t properly prepare their vehicles for winter. We’re here to ensure you’re not one of those drivers by helping you find an excellent set of winter tires to help you confidently navigate Cincinnati’s beautiful yet frigid winters.
So, how do we do it? Our work starts now as we guide you through the importance of winter tires and their impact on your vehicle's performance. From there, we'll give you a few tips on preparing your car, truck, or SUV for the winter and show you more ways the McCluskey Chevrolet team is here to help. So, let's dive in before the snow moves in!
There’s a common misconception that all-season tires can handle every season and driving condition; after all, it says so in the name. However, this isn’t entirely true. All-season tires are good all-around performers in moderate climates but don't perform well as conditions move to extremes, like below-freezing temperatures. As temperatures plummet, an all-season tire, even one that boasts the snowflake rating on its sidewall, will lose traction and dramatically limit your stopping power.
The rubber in an all-season tire isn’t engineered to withstand extreme temperatures. As a result, an all-season tire will harden or stiffen in freezing temperatures and cause a significant loss in traction or your vehicle’s grip on the road. Winter tires mitigate this risk and rely on a unique rubber compound that remains flexible in frigid conditions, enhancing traction and giving you more accelerating and stopping power.
Additionally, winter tires feature a deeper tread and a unique tread pattern that channels snow, slush, and water away from the tire. By reducing buildup, the tread gives the tire better contact with the road. The inclusion of biting edges or sipes also improves traction in icy conditions, giving you more control in hazardous situations.
Cincinnati drivers need winter tires because they are exclusively designed to handle cold temperatures and snowy or icy conditions. While many all-terrain or all-season tires feature the three-peak mountain snowflake brand, this doesn’t mean much in Cincinnati. For a tire to earn the snowflake rating, it only has to pass a series of acceleration-related traction tests in medium-packed snow. There’s no test for stopping power or any consideration for heavy snow or icy conditions.
A set of reliable winter tires won’t compromise your vehicle’s performance in these extreme conditions. Instead, they will enhance it and give you the stopping power needed to maintain control. You’ll only experience winter tires impacting your vehicle's performance if you keep them on long after winter passes and spring arrives.
Shopping for winter tires in Cincinnati doesn’t have to be stressful if you have the McCluskey Chevrolet team on your side. Our factory-trained and certified technicians are some of the most talented in the industry and are happy to share their expertise with customers like you. Fortunately, sharing that expertise starts now as the McCluskey Chevrolet team answers some of the most frequently asked questions regarding winter tires.
We recommend investing in four winter tires so that you have the most control throughout Cincinnati’s frozen streets. Purchasing two winter tires and using them with two regular or all-terrain tires might be less expensive, but it will likely be detrimental in the long run. For example, blending winter tires with all-season tires can cause uncontrolled spinout or understeer, situations that are incredibly hazardous to your safety behind the wheel.
Investing in winter tires may seem expensive at first, but look at the bigger picture. First, having a second set of tires can extend the lifespan of your regular tires because you’re limiting mileage, wear, and tear throughout the winter months. Second, consider your insurance deductible and how much you’ll have to pay if you get into an accident that could’ve been avoided if you had a proper set of winter tires. Even a $500 deductible makes investing in winter tires entirely worthwhile.
All-wheel drive is advantageous year-round in Cincinnati but even more so when paired with a set of winter tires. As the all-wheel drive system provides power to all four wheels, the winter tires enhance their grip on the road with their unique rubber compound and tread design. Without winter tires, an all-wheel drive system would spin all four tires and limit your ability to stop or corner in snowy or slippery conditions.
Caring for your winter tires requires the same maintenance as regular, all-season tires. For example, you’ll want to routinely rotate and balance the tires, so the tread wears evenly. You’ll also need to monitor the air pressure to ensure they aren’t under or overinflated.
In the off-season, caring for your winter tires is straightforward and begins with finding the perfect storage place. Ideally, you’ll want to store your tires in a dark and dry environment that’s clean and protected from sunlight, heaters, air ducts, or other hot areas. We recommend storing your tires in your garage. If you don’t have room inside, you can wrap them in waterproof covers and keep them outside on a raised platform.
Did you know that installing a reliable set of winter tires is only one way to prepare your vehicle for winter in Cincinnati? So what else should you do? McCluskey Chevrolet has you covered!
As winter approaches, we encourage you to bring your car into McCluskey Chevrolet’s service center for a pre-winter check-up to inspect the battery, cooling system, spark plugs, hoses, wires, cables, and brakes. These are vital components to your vehicle’s performance in any condition, but even more so in the winter when being stranded means spending critical time in freezing temperatures.
Did you know that the pressure in your tires fluctuates with the temperature? For example, a ten-degree change in the temperature outside can impact the pressure in your tires by one PSI. As a result, we encourage our customers to monitor the pressure in their tires throughout the winter months, adding air as needed to improve traction and performance.
Winter wipers are another necessity for Cincinnati drivers because they prevent snow and ice from collecting along the blades. It’s also important to refill the washer fluid with a low-temperature formula that will perform well in the winter. As always, this is something we’re happy to help with from the convenience of our service center.
Are you ready for another Cincinnati winter? Whether you love the snow or anxiously await spring, it’s essential to prepare your vehicle for Ohio’s harsh winter months, when snowfall is prominent and temperatures often fall below freezing. Fortunately, McCluskey Chevrolet is here to make that preparation easier as your winter tire headquarters.
We can help you find an excellent set of winter tires to help you maintain control as you navigate your weekday commute into Cincinnati, run errands around town, or manage school drop-offs and pick-ups. Our technicians are Cincinnati locals and are well-versed in all things tire-related, so why not put our expertise to use?
Don’t face another Cincinnati winter without McCluskey Chevrolet on your side. Stop by the dealership to learn more about winter tires and how we can help prepare your car, truck, or SUV for another Cincinnati winter. While you’re here, you’ll see what it means to work with the leading dealership and service center in the region.
