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As sure as the sun rises in the east, winter in Boulder will be here sooner than you know it.  Even though the sun is still shining Boulder Tire knows it is never too early to start thinking about getting safely through the winter months.

Your tires are your vehicles first defense against snowy, frozen road surfaces and low temperatures.  This is a great time of year to consider the conditions and type of tires you have on your car, truck or SUV and to start looking for alternatives if needed.

You should check your current tires for cracks, damage and soft spots.  Make sure you have enough tread left to get through that first winter storm.  If you want a quick tread gauge, stick a penny in the shallowest part of your tread with Lincoln's head upside down.  If you can see his whole head, hair and all, your tires are worn out.

If you have a second set of winter tires, take them out of storage and put them through the same condition check.  Then bring them to Boulder Tire so we can air them up to the right pressure, check their balance and get them ready to go on your vehicle.

Speaking of winter tires, if you don't have tires specially made to handle the white stuff you may want to start thinking about them. You are probably running one of the following right now:

• All-Season or Touring Tires - These tires are great for dry, wet or lightly dusted snowy roads but are insufficient for the deep stuff.
• Light Truck Tires - In good condition these tires are often truly capable of all-season driving and have deep, open tread patterns that work well to dig through the snow to the grippy stuff below.
• Sport and Performance Tires - These tires are a step above all-season tires in terms of grip and performance on dry or wet roads but they perform poorly even in lightly dusted snow conditions and are absolutely useless on ice.
• High Performance Tires - These tires carry a V or Z rating and should never be used on frozen road surfaces. These are fair weather tires only.

If you plan to drive in the winter and your tires are not up to the task, Boulder Tire suggests a set of dedicated snow tires. Not only can this type of tire cut through powder to grip the road underneath, they stay more flexible in extreme temperatures for a better ride and better handling.

Most of our customers purchase a set of snow tires and have them mounted on a new set of inexpensive steel or alloy wheels.  Having a dedicated winter wheel and tire combo makes it easy to swap back in the spring and keeps your expensive alloy wheels from getting damaged by salt, snow, curbs and repeated mounting and balancing.  And don't forget, they can save your life.

Spending a little precautionary time on your tires can have you ready to roll safe and sound when Old Man Winter brings his wrath. Come see Boulder Tire today to discuss your options, your budget and your driving style. We will be happy to help you prepare