All-season tires serve Southeast Iowa well

MT. PLEASANT — Winter weather in Southeast Iowa is known for its unpredictability, often swinging from sunny skies to ice-covered roads in just a few days. For drivers navigating these challenging conditions, tire safety is paramount, according to Dakoda Parker, owner of Mt. Pleasant Tire.

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"The unique part about [this area] is how it can be 60 degrees one day, and two days from now, we can have a snow and ice blizzard," Parker said.

With these rapid weather changes, he emphasized the importance of investing in tires designed to perform year-round, especially those optimized for winter traction.

Parker’s expertise comes from 13 years in the tire business, starting from "just above janitor status" and working his way up to ownership. He and his wife, Jill, purchased Mt. Pleasant Tire three years ago. The business, established in 1989 by Gary Crawford, has served the community for decades.

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The Mt. Pleasant Tire team helps customers find the appropriate new or used tires to keep them safe on the roads. With experience on the team from individuals like longtime employee Richard Dietrick, who has 65 years of experience inspecting and selling used tires, Mt. Pleasant Tire can help keep customers informed on how to best handle the always changing weather of Southeast Iowa.

"Whatever keeps you safe on the road, we’ll do our best to help," Parker said, acknowledging that budget constraints can impact tire purchases, especially during the holiday season.

Considering the financial impact of replacing tires around the holidays, Parker highlighted advancements in tire technology tailored to adaptive climates.

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"They are building tires that are year-round," he said, explaining that modern all-season tires offer 60,000-mile tread life expectancies and are designed to handle snow and ice. This eliminates the need for cumbersome studded snow tires that are noisy and must be swapped out seasonally.

The decision to invest in all-season or dedicated snow tires often hinges on regional climate and driving conditions. In Southeast Iowa, Parker advocates for all-season tires designed to handle occasional snow and ice. He explains, “For what we have here, you really only need optimized winter traction for two to three days a season.”

This makes high-quality all-season tires a practical and economical choice for most Iowans. These tires are designed to perform adequately year-round, eliminating the costs associated with seasonal tire swaps and storage.

Parker noted that premium all-season tires from brands like Goodyear or Michelin can last up to 60,000 miles, offering long-term savings when compared to the need for separate sets of summer and winter tires. For Iowa drivers, where heavy snowfall is sporadic, this durability aligns well with their needs.

In Colorado, however, the equation shifts. The state’s mountainous regions and prolonged winter conditions often demand the enhanced grip of snow tires or even chains. These specialized tires are made with softer rubber compounds and deeper tread patterns for superior traction in snow and ice. While they provide unmatched safety in extreme conditions, the expense of purchasing, installing, and maintaining snow tires can be significant.

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A Colorado driver using snow tires for four to five months annually might experience increased wear on the softer rubber compound if used year-round, requiring more frequent replacement. In contrast, Iowa’s milder winters and shorter duration of hazardous conditions make the year-round use of all-season tires both a safe and cost-effective choice.

The financial implications extend beyond the tires themselves. Drivers who opt for snow tires must account for semiannual tire swap.

“All-weather tires designed for snow and ice are probably the best for our region,” Parker said. “If you go with snow tires, there’s added cost twice a year to mount and balance them, which can range from $100 to $150.”

These recurring expenses make the up-front cost of all-season tires more appealing to Iowans who do not face the same winter driving demands.

"Unfortunately, some places will try to oversell tires to customers who may not yet need them," he said.

Parker recommends that customers ask to see their tires while they’re on the hoist for inspection. This way, drivers can understand the reasoning behind the recommendation, whether it’s due to worn tread, improper inflation, or alignment issues.

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Failing to address alignment problems can lead to repeated tire wear, even after replacement.

"If there’s an alignment issue, and you just replace the tires without fixing the alignment, the same problem will happen all over again," Parker explained.

That being said, Parker did explain that all-wheel drive vehicles require replacement of all four tires at once to prevent drivetrain damage. Uneven tread can cause one wheel to spin faster than another, potentially leading to costly repairs. Parker suggests consulting a vehicle’s owner’s manual to follow manufacturer recommendations.

Parker emphasized the importance of understanding local conditions and personal driving habits when selecting tires. For Southeast Iowa, where icy roads are typically short-lived, the versatility and convenience of all-season tires outweigh the specialized performance of snow tires, making them a clear winner in cost-effectiveness.

Additionally, drivers should always monitor their tires for signs that they may no longer be safe for winter conditions. Inspections can easily coincide with routine vehicle maintenance, such as oil changes. Parker shared that drivers can even perform a simple “Penny Test” on their tires at these times to check the tread life themselves.

"You can take out a penny and hold it upside down in the tread of your tire,” Parker explained. “If you can see the bottom of Abraham Lincoln’s head, your tires are too low on tread and need to be replaced.”

Tread wear occurs naturally over the lifetime of a tire. Uneven tread wear, however, can be caused by numerous factors such as misalignment, uneven tire treads, and even under- or overinflated tires.

Temperature changes impact air pressure in tires significantly, Parker explained. For every 10-degree drop in temperature, tires lose about one pound of air pressure. "If you’re going from 60 degrees to 20 degrees, you’ll lose four pounds of air in your tire," Parker said. This change can activate tire pressure warning lights, even when no actual leak exists. "We often perform free air pressure checks for customers to ensure their tires are properly inflated, which resolves those lights automatically."

Drivers can avoid this issue by routinely checking their tire pressure, especially during periods of rapid temperature fluctuations. Parker jokingly mentioned, "We make jokes about putting 'winter air' in your tires this time of year, and in the summer, we let air out for ‘summer air,’" referring to how temperature changes can cause over- or underinflation. Overinflation, especially during hotter months, can also lead to increased tire wear.

Parker explained that both overinflation and underinflation can lead to uneven tire wear. Underinflated tires will wear on the outer edges, while overinflated tires wear in the center. "It’s important to keep tires at the vehicle’s optimized air pressure, which can be found on the driver’s door placard or the pillar near the driver’s door," he advised.

Not every vehicle uses the same air pressure settings. Weight, fuel economy, and ride quality all play roles in determining the appropriate tire pressure for each vehicle. "For instance, a Chevy Traverse might require 35 pounds of air, while a Toyota Prius will be different," Parker said. This pressure ensures optimal ride quality, fuel economy, and minimal tire noise.

"We see a lot of issues where the cold just zaps them hard enough that the rubber no longer wants to seal to the rim," Parker noted. He also stated that the cold weather can ruin the seal of the tire valve, regardless if it is a metal valve or a rubber one, because all valves use rubber to create a tight seal.

Understanding how temperature changes affect tires and being proactive about regular tire inspections can help prevent issues on the road. Keeping tires properly inflated, monitoring tread depth, and staying aware of any warning lights are vital steps for winter driving safety.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com