Cold weather, your tires and you

I know, it sounds like a cheesy title to an old school education film. I promise to do my best to make it a bit more interesting and no black lines from a jacked up film reel.
As the cold weather sets in, the most common thought from people is, "Are my tires okay for snow?". While that is a good question, you should also ask yourself if they are ready for the cold air. Cold temperatures affect tire traction because tires harden up in cold weather. Think, rocks for tires or sticky bubble gum. Both are extremes, but essentially, a happy place in between both is what tire manufacturers go for. A soft tire creates greater traction because it allow for greater friction between surfaces. The downside is, too soft a tire and too much friction means tires wear out fast. So, tire manufacturers have developed ways to help a tire last longer with more traction, but it is still limited.

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