North Houston Beemer
Servicing BMW and MINI Cooper owners in Spring, TX

What type of technology do you use? Do you prefer an 8-track tape or an iPod? When it comes to winter tires, much of Spring driver's perception dates back to when 8-track was the best way to listen to the Bee Gees.

Twenty years ago in Texas, winter tires differed from highway tires only in their tread design. Texas drivers called them snow tires back then, and they had big, knobby lugs that were designed to give good traction in deep snow. They had the same rubber compound as regular tires and they weren't very good on ice, packed snow or wet Texas roads. They were not even very good on dry roads. They really helped in deep or loose snow, but they did a poor job the rest of the time. They were loud and rode hard. People couldn't wait to get them off in the spring.

Then all-season tires started to appear in Spring tire shops. All-season tires are really a compromise between summer and winter performance. They have acceptable hot weather ride and tread life and can get Texas drivers through mild winter road conditions OK. But there are some really good reasons to consider winter tires.

Modern winter tires do a terrific job for Texas driving in a wide range of winter conditions. First of all, below 45°F/7°C, regular tires become hard and inflexible. That means they don't provide the road grip Texas vehicles need. Even if you don't live somewhere in Texas with a lot of snow, but it still gets below 45°F/7°C in the winter, you will be safer with winter tires.

In addition, they are specifically designed to more effectively move snow and water. That's the key to traction on ice-packed snow and wet Spring area roads. They use a micropore compound that allows the tire to bite into ice and snow. They also use wider grooves that run around the circumference of the tread to expel snow from the tire better. The lugs and grooves on winter tires have a special shape that throws the packed snow out of the tread as the tire turns. The tread is then open when it comes back in contact with the road and can provide good traction for Texas drivers.







Many modern cars have traction control and anti-lock brakes so Texas drivers may think that they don't need winter tires. But you need traction to accelerate, steer and stop. The tires provide the traction so that the traction control and anti-lock brakes have something to work with.


So when the Spring temperatures drop below 45°F/7°C, be sure you have a set of four winter tires for maximum performance on snow, packed snow, ice, plus wet and dry roads. Your friendly and knowledgeable North Houston Beemer tire professional can help you find the right winter tire for your vehicle and driving needs.

North Houston Beemer
22820 I-45 North Ste. 1-A
Spring, Texas 77373