There are a lot of pranksters out there who love to play jokes on people every April 1st to mark April Fool’s Day. One of the biggest culprits is Mother Nature, who often delivers spring-like weather in late March only to unleash an early April snowstorm. It’s enough to mess with the minds of drivers who begin thinking of swapping out their winter tires the day spring arrives.
If you’re trying to decide on the right time to make the switch to summer radials, Vince Klimkosz suggests you ignore Mother Nature and simply follow the calendar.
“I always say anytime after Good Friday is a safe time to switch out your tires,” said Klimkosz, owner of the three Guelph area locations of Vinnie’s Mr. Fixit. “Sometimes you get warm weather early and you think you should do it. Then it starts snowing. Anytime toward the end of March is a safe time to think about making the switch.”
Given the fact this year has seen much more typical winter weather in Ontario, Klimkosz said it’s a good idea to book a full vehicle inspection when your vehicle is on the hoist for a tire swap.
“It’s been a tough winter with a lot of deep snow,” said Klimkosz. “When you’re getting your tires replaced it’s a good opportunity to inspect your fender liners and under car shields that could have been damaged and have them repaired or replaced. It’s also a good time for a brake inspection when the wheels are off. Winter salt is hard on your brakes and your suspension.”
Klimkosz says that many drivers procrastinate and don’t bring their vehicles in until May, June, or even July for the tire swap. While it’s not a safety issue to be driving on winter tires in warmer weather, doing so can reduce the life of your tires and lead to increased tread wear.
For all makes and models of cars and trucks, early season preventative maintenance is a great way to prepare your vehicle for the rigors of summer driving. This includes simple things like checking all lights to ensure they made it through the winter, swapping out wiper blades to ensure you’re ready for heavy spring rains, scheduling an oil change or even a transmission flush for vehicles with high mileage counts.
Once you’re winter tires are off your vehicle, it’s important to consider how you store them.
“You don’t want to leave them outside and exposed to weather that can result in water damage,” said Klimkosz. “Water can get in the tires and rust the rims. Store them in a garden shed or basement, somewhere where they can stay cool and out of the sun. That’s the worst thing you can do. If you have no choice, take them out of the bags. Let them breathe.”
When you’re to book your tire swap and spring maintenance or check-up, visit any of the three locations of Vinnie’s Mr. Fixit and have the work completed by licenced technicians.
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This article was sponsored by Vinnie's Mr. Fixit, a 2024 GuelphToday Reader Favourite.