SPOKANE, Wash. – As winter approaches, drivers in Spokane are gearing up for the snow season by focusing on tire safety. NonStop Local’s Noah Boelter was live at Les Schwab to discuss essential tips for winter driving.
Carol Anderson from Les Schwab shared her expertise on choosing between studded and nonstudded tires.
Anderson recommended, “A studded tire if you’re dealing with a lot of ice. So if you live on a hill or you’re in a heavily shaded area that doesn’t get a lot of sunlight that ice is gonna build up and you’re definitely gonna want a stud in that situation.”
For those opting for nonstudded tires, Anderson provided guidance based on vehicle type.
“If we’re doing more of an SUV we’re going to want something with a strong shoulder. So we’re going to want to look for something that’s going to get a little bit better stability,” Anderson said. “Whereas if we have a smaller car we want something that’s going to flex.”
When it comes to purchasing tires, Anderson advised on the number needed for optimal traction.
“Most of the time we do recommend doing four tires just to get you the better traction but it does vary per vehicle,” Anderson said.
For those looking to get new tires, Anderson mentioned the current availability at Les Schwab.
“Yeah we’re definitely taking walk-ins at this moment. But as soon as the weatherman says snow it’s going to get pretty crazy,” Anderson said. “So we definitely recommend giving us a call and we’ll set you up an appointment.”
Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and beat the rush before the weather changes.
