Switching to summer tires at just the right time will save you $100 as rubber wears out faster in certain temperatures, mechanic warns

A SUBARU service manager has shared a crucial summer driving tip that could save you hundreds of dollars.

Dustin Piggott urged drivers to ensure they have the correct tires before taking long journeys in hot weather.

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Piggott, Central Oregon’s service manager Subaru da CurvaHe was a technician who ran his own workshop for years before taking on a management position at the dealership.

Bend, Oregon, has hot, sunny summers and cold, icy winters, making winter tires a necessity for locals from November through April.

Bend has a law that requires all studded winter tires to be removed by April 1 or drivers will face fines for damaging roads.

Non-studded winter tires, such as those that have a three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) rating, are not included in the law.

“Many of our customers use studless winter tires and they do not need to be removed on time; however, it is still important to remove them because they can wear out much faster in warmer climates as the pavement heats up,” Piggot said in an exclusive interview with The US Sun.

While Bend doesn’t see an alarming amount of snow, the region is known for its icy roads, as daytime temperatures can average in the 20s and 30s and nighttime temperatures can drop below freezing.

Winter tires are specially designed to withstand the extremes of winter that regular tires – such as summer or all-season tires – cannot.

This is due to softer rubber that remains flexible in extremely cold conditions, helping the vehicle maintain and regain traction on ice and snow.

Due to the softness of winter tires, warmer temperatures can cause the soft rubber to wear down much more quickly, causing the customer to replace them much sooner than would otherwise be necessary.

Aside from the rubber issue, winter tires do not perform as well as all-season, all-weather, or summer tires because they are designed for traction on ice and snow rather than traction on hot pavement. .

With the average cost of winter tires being $118 per tire, having to pay around $600 or more to have a set of four mounted and balanced sooner than usual could put some customers in trouble.

Therefore, Piggott warns customers that removing a dedicated winter tire to replace it with a different tire can save money in the long run.

Their many years of experience guide customers to a more seasonally appropriate alternative.

“In my opinion, all-weather tires are better than summer or all-season tires for the climate we have in Central Oregon,” he said.

All-season and all-weather tires are often confused or the term is used interchangeably, but Piggott said there is an important difference.

Expert Advice on Preparing Your Car for Summer

Dustin Piggot, a service manager at a Subaru dealership with years of technical experience, told The US Sun in an exclusive interview what items drivers should have checked before temperatures soared:

1. Perform a multipoint inspection. A paid inspection will ask a technician to check vital systems like your brakes, power steering, and front and rear suspension for leaks or defects. They will also test the condition of the battery and check vital fluid levels and conditions.
2. Refrigeration system. Before things get hot, drivers should have their cooling system inspected for proper coolant levels and condition, evaluate radiator hoses, and check the radiator.
3. Check your air conditioning system. If the freon is low and needs to be charged or parts need to be replaced, it is essential to resolve the problem before the temperature rises.
4. Make sure your tires are suitable for warmer climates. If you live in a climate that requires a dedicated winter tire, switch to all-season or summer tires if possible to extend the life of your winter tire. Winter tires are softer and wear out much more quickly in warmer climates.
5. Observe the depth of the tread. Tires with low tread depth will make it more difficult to stop your car if you need to avoid an accident.
6. Give your car some TLC. Before it gets too hot, Piggott says it’s important to give your car a good cleaning to remove winter grime and grime and treat its paintwork with a nice coat of wax to protect it from harsh UV rays and high heat. Many dealerships like his offer detailing and washing services.

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“These are different from all-season tires in that they have a designated rating for snow and ice,” he continued.

“They are recognized by the DOT as a tire suitable for all driving conditions, but they also have a longer tread life. They can also be left on the car year-round.”

He noted that in Bend, many of his customers choose to drive with all-weather tires because of their year-round capabilities compared to a truly dedicated winter tire.

Many drivers in Bend who use winter tires have two sets of wheels in the garage with the tires pre-mounted for warmer climates, and go to the shop to balance the separate set and fill it with air when the temperature rises.

Some bring the tires to mount them on the same wheels and pay for disassembly, assembly and balancing.