More air in your winter tires

Temperature has a significant impact on tire pressurization. For summer tires, we recommend using the vehicle manufacturer’s suggested tire pressure. For winter tires, you should inflate the tires to 3 PSI above the summer tire recommendation, since tire pressure decreases as much as 1 PSI with each 10-degree drop in temperature. The temperature in a warm garage can be up to 60˚F (15 ºC) higher than outside. If the tire pressure is measured inside, it will be too low for outside temperatures.

Example: The temperature in the garage is 68 ˚F (20 ºC), while the outside temperature is 15˚ F (-9 ºC).  If the pressure is adjusted in the garage, the pressure added to the tires must be 3 PSI higher than the recommended value to ensure a correct pressure level outside.

MORE SAFETY AND LONGER SERVICE LIFE

In addition to correct tire pressure, drivers should also ensure that uni-directional tires are correctly installed on the car. The arrow on the sidewall indicates the rolling direction.

To prolong the lifetime of the tires, front and rear tires can be changed from one axle to another every 3,000-5,000 miles (about 4,800 - 8,000 km). As a result, the tires will wear evenly and show smaller differences in wear.

Tires marked M+S (intended for winter use) should be carefully broken in. For the first 300 miles (about 480 km), avoid sudden acceleration and braking. A gentle break-in improves the durability of studding: the studs will fit securely into place and stay on the tires.