Winter tires - when to replace?

[CyberPMG]

I would like to know when should you replace winter tires? I have a set that I've used for 3 seasons and want to know if they are still good for one more, or if I should get a new set.

[Doc@tirerack]

Tire Rack also recommends replacing their snow tires when they reach approximately 6/32" of remaining tread depth to maintain good mobility. Tires need more tread depth in wintry conditions to compress snow in their grooves and release it as they roll. If there isn't sufficient tread depth, the "bites" of snow that can be processed on each tire revolution will be reduced to "nibbles," and the vehicle's traction and mobility in snow will be reduced.


Fortunately winter tires are typically molded with deeper tread depths than summer or all-season tires, and many of them also feature Winter Wear Indicators (also called Snow Platforms) to identify that a tire's tread depth remains suitable for beneficial snow performance. While Winter Wear Indicators are not intended to be a sign the tire is legally worn out, experience shows that the available snow traction has passed the point of diminishing returns when the tread has worn down to approximately 6/32" of remaining tread depth and the Winter Wear Indicators are seen connecting adjacent tread blocks.

While few all-season tires have Winter Wear Indicators molded into their tread designs, their winter snow traction will also pass the point of diminishing returns when their treads wear down to approximately 6/32" of remaining tread depth and Tire Rack recommends that they be replaced as well.



click for pix;

http://www.tirerack.com/winter/tech/...jsp?techid=163

[Doc@tirerack]

Tire Rack also recommends replacing their snow tires when they reach approximately 6/32" of remaining tread depth to maintain good mobility. Tires need more tread depth in wintry conditions to compress snow in their grooves and release it as they roll. If there isn't sufficient tread depth, the "bites" of snow that can be processed on each tire revolution will be reduced to "nibbles," and the vehicle's traction and mobility in snow will be reduced.


Fortunately winter tires are typically molded with deeper tread depths than summer or all-season tires, and many of them also feature Winter Wear Indicators (also called Snow Platforms) to identify that a tire's tread depth remains suitable for beneficial snow performance. While Winter Wear Indicators are not intended to be a sign the tire is legally worn out, experience shows that the available snow traction has passed the point of diminishing returns when the tread has worn down to approximately 6/32" of remaining tread depth and the Winter Wear Indicators are seen connecting adjacent tread blocks.

While few all-season tires have Winter Wear Indicators molded into their tread designs, their winter snow traction will also pass the point of diminishing returns when their treads wear down to approximately 6/32" of remaining tread depth and Tire Rack recommends that they be replaced as well.



click for pix;

http://www.tirerack.com/winter/tech/...jsp?techid=163