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Spring has come to the Okanagan, but don’t take those winter tires off just yet. Summer tires are not yet permitted on signed B.C. highways until April 30.  As the weather warms up and the temperature stays above 7C, it will be time to start thinking of contacting your local mechanic to swap your winter tires out. Don’t wait too long — winter tires wear out quickly when used on warm or hot driving surfaces because they are manufactured with ice-gripping softer material.

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If you do this swap yourself, double check the tire pressure level once they are on the vehicle. The manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure is on the door placard. Low tire pressure can lead to increased stopping time and easier skidding on wet roads. They lower gas mileage leading to poor fuel economy and decrease tire lifespan. 

Why are winter tires a great idea? They work effectively in cold temperatures when summer tires harden too much. Legal winter tires have a label of letters M and S and/or the mountain-snowflake symbol. For northern B.C., you might be curious about studded tires. They are a superior choice for extreme winter driving conditions as they have metal embedded in the tread and are strong enough to dig into ice for added traction. They damage our road surfaces off season, so are illegal to use in spring and summer. 

This summer, install four matching seasonal tires. It might be tempting to save money by installing only two new tires, but variations in tire tread will cause handling problems and uneven tread wear. Your mechanic can also do a tire rotation as needed - which involves moving tires to a different wheel, so they wear evenly over time for better handling and safety.

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When your vehicle is with us for a tire change, it’s a great time for an overall maintenance check to assess any damage that may have been caused by the past winter road conditions. We recommend a wheel alignment to prevent uneven tire wear. This will involve restoring factory settings of three angles in your vehicle’s suspension – the camber angle, caster angle and toe angle. 

Once you are out on the road, remember to check your tire pressure regularly for optimal performance and fuel economy.  

While it’s important for drivers to keep an eye — and an ear — on how their car or truck is running, when it comes to service, qualified mechanics like those at Boult Automotive in Penticton have the expertise to help keep you and your vehicle on the road. At Boult Automotive, we do a free checkup on every vehicle that has work done at our shop.

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