When you get in the car, truck or SUV and back out of your McHenry driveway, the condition of your tires is probably not top of mind. They’re round. They’re made of rubber. They roll on the road to make your vehicle move. But, otherwise, what’s there to know or consider?

Let’s picture you driving down Eastbound on Route 120 near the intersection where Route 31 turns South. It’s January and it’s snowing. The snow plows have yet to come by and clean away this fresh layer of snow that has settled onto a thin sheet of ice. You have a green light as you take the curve between Walgreens and CVS. You’re thinking about work … the kids … any number of things. But you’re not thinking the car approaching from the other direction will continue through the left-turn lane and into your path.

When it happens – when you’re confronted with a situation requiring an emergency stop – you don’t have time to think about the condition of your tires. All you’re thinking is about the potential impact of your vehicle with the other driver’s vehicle. You may not even have time to think if anyone will get hurt, whether someone in the other car, or you and your loved ones in your vehicle.

It’s going to be a very close thing. With ABS brakes, all you can do is hold down on the brake pedal for all you’re worth. In these conditions, though the ABS system is pumping the brakes, it’s not a surprise when the tires break loose and start sliding on the icy, snowy pavement. This is the point where you’re hoping for any edge that will help you avoid an accident.

Other than a fast reaction time and properly operating brakes, about the only edge you can hope for in this situation is that your tires are in good enough condition to make a difference. Are they relatively new? That will help. But if they’re older and worn, if the treads aren’t as deep anymore, you may be out of luck.

This time of year, living in McHenry, if you really want an edge if faced with a situation like the one described above, there is hope. Snow tires. 

Most of the tires sold in this area have what is called “all-season tread design.” The hope is that they’ll offer the best of both worlds – relatively smooth and quiet operation in the summer and some improved traction in the winter. But ‘all-season’ tires do not provide the kind of traction you’ll get from a set of snow tires.

If you put snow tires on your car, you don’t have to throw out the ‘all-season’ tires in the garbage. You can take them off and store them until winter is over. This way you preserve the condition of the tires, avoiding additional tread wear, during the winter. When winter is over, you have the ‘all-season’ or even summer tires installed and store the snow tires for the next winter. This method will give you the best opportunity on the road when you leave your McHenry home.