There are plenty of Chevy SUVs to choose from, and they’re all designed to be driven all-year round. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider better equipping your vehicle to tackle winter conditions, especially if you reside in an area prone to getting plenty of snow like we do here in Tulsa. Changing your tires to a set specifically designed for the season can be a great way to prepare before winter hits, leading to better traction, improved overall safety and, of course, more confidence for you behind the wheel. Today we’re going to give you some information about choosing the best tires for your Chevy SUV ahead of the winter season.
Why Do Winter-Ready Tires Matter?
While all-season tires can make a difference, your best and safest bet is of course going to be getting winter tires. All-season tires were designed to deliver year-round versatility, but they can still lose grip in freezing temperatures when driving through snowy or icy conditions. But winter tires are specifically designed to tackle the unique experiences inherent with driving through these conditions. They’ve been engineered with the following features to help tackle winter weather:
- Aggressive tread patterns; increased snow evacuation
- Sipes, biting edges; increased traction on slick surfaces
- Soft rubber compounds; increased flexibility in cold temperatures
Top 5 Winter Tire Picks for Chevy SUVs
With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of the top five winter tires you can choose to outfit your Chevy SUV with, which you can learn more about below:
- Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV
- Excellent ice, snow grip
- Quiet, comfortable ride
- Long tread life
- Ideal For: Equinox, Traverse
- Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2
- Excellent snow traction, braking
- Multicell compound; improves ice grip
- Ideal For: Tahoe, Suburban
- Continental VikingContact 7
- Balanced snow, slush, dry performance
- Low rolling resistance; improves fuel economy
- Ideal For: City drivers with occasional winter exposure
- Cooper Evolution Winter
- Budget friendly
- Studdable for extreme conditions
- Ideal For: Rural drivers
- Firestone Winterforce 2 UV
- Cold weather durability, reliability
- 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake Certified
- Available in multiple sizes for all Chevy SUVs
All-Season Alternatives for Mild Winters
If you live in an area that sees less harsh conditions through the winter season, or if you’re simply not ready to worry about swapping tires seasonally, you should at least consider upgrading to high-performance all-season tires. There are plenty of options out there to fit that mold as well, and here are three of our favorites:
- Michelin CrossClimate2
- Features winter certification
- Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady
- Year-round traction; including light snow
- Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Plus
- Great highway driving choice
Tire Tips Before Winter Hits
Now that you have some suggestions for how you should be upgrading your tires for the upcoming season, we thought we’d give you some additional tire tips before winter hits.
- If you’ve already got winter tires for your Chevy SUV, or you’re considering not upgrading at all, it’s important to check your tread depth to make sure the tires you have are at least passable for the encroaching winter conditions. If your tires don’t have at least 4/32” tread depth, you need new tires before the first snowfall of the season.
- Inspect your tires for cracks or uneven wear, and if you notice any you should once again consider upgrading.
- Colder temperatures reduce the PSI of your tires, which means you should be checking tire pressure weekly.
- Rotate your tires before the season to ensure even wear and maximize their lifespan.
Whether you need to purchase new tires or have somebody professionally inspect them, our service department here at Jim Glover Chevrolet can take care of you. Feel free to get in touch with us at your earliest convenience with any questions or to schedule an appointment. We look forward to working with you!