How to check if your Mazda’s winter tires are still good
October 19 2022,
One of the most important elements of winter driving is having winter tires that are still in good condition, especially in Regina where winters can be harsh on even the best vehicles with the best AWD systems. Your Mazda features a range of technologies designed to facilitate winter driving, but the best way to ensure your peace of mind this winter is to drive on quality, Mazda-approved winter tires that are in good condition.
There are many ways to determine if your winter tires are still good to go as you will see below. We can also help you at our Tire Centre if you're not sure if your winter tires are ready for another season.
The first step is to check tread depth
To be effective in preserving stability and braking effectiveness in winter, your winter tires have to have a tread depth of at least 4.8 mm, and once the tread depth goes below 4 mm, your tires are not suitable to be used in winter. Having a tread depth of at least 4.8 mm before the season begins will ensure that your winter tires will last all through winter.
To determine if the tread depth is deep enough, you can use a specific tool that will measure the tread depth, or you can also use a good old quarter by putting the caribou face down in the tread. If you can see the nose of the caribou, you should replace your winter tires. You can also use your tire’s wear indicators which should be visible if your tires are still in good condition.
Of course, tread depth is one thing but ultimately there are certain elements aside from that that you can check to determine if you need new winter tires for your Mazda.
The first is how your winter tires behaved last year. If you felt that you had difficulty getting up hills or getting out of snowbanks in February or March of last year, now might be a good time to replace your winter tires. You want to have the confidence of knowing that your winter tires are still in good condition and there is nothing like driving in winter with a set of new tires.
Finally, if this is your third or fourth winter with your winter tires, it might be good to have them replaced. You will enjoy the increased effectiveness and performance of modern winter tire technology and most winter tires are note designed to go above 30,000 km. Regardless of the tread depth, installing quality winter tires that are new on your vehicle will make winter driving a lot more enjoyable for you. Give us a call today to learn more.
