It might be Autumn but it’s a great time to start thinking ahead to Winter. And our friends at Continental Tires sent us a few tips to help you.
Of course, the first thing that comes to mind when prepping your car for winter is the tires, because once the temperature drops below 45-degrees Fahrenheit, an all-season tire’s ability to grip the road is compromised (and if you’re running Summer tires beware!). The colder weather brings a whole new set of driving challenges – slush, ice and hard-packed snow. And even with all of the performance capabilities built into today’s vehicles, they will only perform as well as their tires allow. And in extreme winter weather, that can mean the difference between focused braking power and out-of-control handling.

“As temperatures drop below 45-degrees, so does an all-season tire’s ability to grip the road. And that can lead to dangerous driving conditions,” said Joerg Burfien, director of R&D, Continental Tire North America, Inc. “Since all-season and winter tires are about as similar as sandals and snowshoes, we’ve launched a program to encourage people to stay safe in winter by switching to Continental Winter Tires.
“Summer tires just aren’t built to hold the road in the same way winter tires do,” Burfien continued.  “During the winter, drivers experience a dramatic reduction in grip, meaning longer stopping distances, less control and less safety,” he said.
All winter tires (recognized by a snowflake symbol on the sidewall) are uniquely designed to deliver safety and control in snow, ice, and cold weather conditions, because they are engineered to deliver a substantial increase of traction over all-season radials – by as much as a 25-50%. That’s enough traction and braking power to avoid a severe weather-related accident.  
Continental’s ContiWinterContact tires are engineered with pliable tread compounds and tread designs that remain soft and flexible in even the coldest temperatures, increasing the contact area and providing better grip on wet or icy roads.  Tread design features include supple compounds, deeper tread grooves and smaller shoulder grooves.
The Continental winter tire lineup includes:
ContiWinterContact TS810 – engineered to handle unpredictable snow and wet conditions
ContiWinterContact TS810 S – built for winter driving performance
ContiWinterContact TS790 – state-of-the-art winter tires featuring exceptional handling and braking at low temperatures
Once your car is outfitted with the right tires for the season, there are a number of other steps a driver can take to prepare their for the cold weather. Now is the time to give your car a thorough checkup. You can do most of these jobs yourself, but some work really must be done by a professional.
Radiator: Add a dose of anti-freeze to the coolant
Shocks: Should be checked. Defective shock absorbers increase braking distance and shorten the life of tires
Washer fluid: Add a dose of frost protector
Battery: Check the acid level at terminals
Spark plugs: check for wear and replace if necessary
Lights:  Check and align properly for maximum efficiency
Winter tires: Set the pressure 2.9psi higher than is recommended for summer tires
Be sure to include the following equipment in your trunk: a set of jumper cables, a snow brush/ice scraper and a de-icing spray
Once you’ve given your car a thorough checkup, the best protection against breakdowns and accidents in winter is driving with foresight. This includes taking extra care on bridges or at traffic lights, as well as keeping a greater distance from the car in front. “The best advice we can offer is to use common sense,” Burfien said.
In the Decemeber 2008 issue of eurotuner magazine we will have a full test on Continental’s winter tires, as well as more tips from the experts at tirerack.com
Contact tirerack.com or www.discounttire.com for some great deals on winter tires.