Wonder Lake winter has passed. Time to have your tires rotated.

No, it’s still possible that Wonder Lake will experience a snowstorm. Of course, we might spot a great white shark out in the middle of the lake, too.

No, by this time of year, even with the screwy weather we’ve seen the last few years, it’s safe to say that we probably won’t see any more snow, on the east side or west side of Wonder Lake until winter returns late this year.

Most of us are happy to hear that, though we’ll have to make exceptions for the snow mobilers and ice fishers among us. Hopefully, they had some opportunities to enjoy their endeavors but it’s now late April; enough already. Bring on the warm weather and springtime.

As long as we’ve accepted the idea that the winter of 2023-24 is behind us, maybe we should accept the idea that it’s time to remove those snow tires, if you do have snow tires on your vehicle. 

Snow tires are a great way to go through the snow in these parts. They grip the roads in winter the way those customary all-season tires just can’t do. But, as winter fades behind us, snow tires have served their purpose; it’s time to take them off.

The problem with snow tires in the warmer seasons is that they generally don’t serve any useful purpose (unless you take your vehicle into the mud often, which may require a more specialized tire to meet those needs). Driving on snow tires without snow wears the snow tires away for no useful purpose; why not save that tread for the next winter.

You can have your snow tires removed and put all-season tires on so you can put those snow tires back on next fall. But there’s another unfavorable aspect to snow tires; they’re noisy.

The advantage of snow tires in winter is that they have tread designed to grip the road when it’s covered with snow and ice. That tread is louder as you drive down a road that is free of snow and ice. The snow actually deadens the sound of snow tires. Snow- and ice-free roads don’t do that and your tires will prove louder in the spring and summer.

Have those tires rotated

Whether you’ve used snow tires or not, this is the time of year to have your tires rotated. Rotating the tires helps to provide more even tread wear on your tires.

While rotating the tires, your trusted auto repair technician will have an opportunity to thoroughly examine your tires to ensure they’re in good shape.

For that matter, this is a good time for an alignment (alignments and tire rotations are like soup and sandwiches – they seem to go naturally together). While they’re rotating your tires, aligning you steering and suspension, they can check out the steering and suspension, as well as your brakes and other components of your vehicle.

Another Wonder Lake winter has passed. Get out there and enjoy the season. Just make sure your vehicle is ready. A tire rotation is a good place to start.