Do you need snow tires?

By Bill Snow, Owner/Operator of Rad Air Wickliffe

Don’t fault the messenger here, but the weather report for the rest of winter is cold and snowy. Is your automobile up for it?

Anyone driving in Northeast Ohio can benefit by keeping their cars in top working order through preventive care and seasonal inspections.

We also recommend snow tires for the best possible traction on icy, snowy roads. Manufactured from different rubber compounds that do not harden in colder temperatures, snow tires are designed to push snow and slush away from under the tire. They are beneficial for helping you maintain control of your car, whether when accelerating, steering, or stopping.

As a courtesy to our customers, we store their snow tires in the warmer months and regular tires in the winter months here at our facility.

If you don’t have snow tires, now is the time to make sure you have a good tread on your regular tires, with at least 1/8” depth. Take the penny test. Place a penny head-first into the tread, if you can see all of Lincoln’s head, it’s time for new tires.

People also often ask me about all-wheel drive versus four-wheel drive. With all-wheel drive, the driver does not have control in changing from two-wheel to four-wheel drive. A sensor system monitors how fast the wheels are turning to find which ones might be slipping. With four-wheel drive, the operator manually switches from two- to four-wheel. Both types of cars’ components require preventive maintenance to avoid costly repairs.

Rad Air Complete Car Care and Tire Center is located at 29257 Anderson Road, in Wickliffe. Call 440-943-9666 or visit RadAir.com for more information.