Nationwide program encouraging tire dealers and consumers to prepare for winter

It may still be just the beginning of autumn, but Continental Tire North America is advising both tire dealers and car owners that now is the prime time to start thinking ahead to winter.

The company is embarking upon a promotional program to make merchants and consumers aware of its tire lines and to provide a list of winter safety-related services that tire dealers can provide.

A press release has been sent out to national and local media outlets encouraging news stories about proper pre-winter tire and maintenance preparations.

“It’s a fact: As temperatures drop below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, so does an all-season tire’s ability to grip the road. And that can lead to dangerous driving conditions,” says Joerg Burfien, Continental’s director of research and development. “Since all-season and winter tires are about as similar as sandals and snowshoes, we’ve launched a program to encourage our customers to stay safer in winter by switching to Continental winter tires,” he explains.

“Summer tires just aren’t built to hold the road in the same way that winter tires do,” Burfien continues. “During winter, drivers experience a dramatic drop in grip, meaning longer stopping distances, less driving control and by far, less safety.”

Winter tires are uniquely designed to deliver safety and control in snow, ice, and cold weather conditions because they are specially engineered to deliver a substantial increase of traction over all-season radials – by as much as a 25 to 50 percent, he says. That’s enough gripping traction and braking power to avoid a severe weather-related wreck.

“Once your car is properly outfitted with the right tires for the season, there are a number of other steps drivers can take to make sure their car is ready for when the cold weather comes,” Burfien says. “Now is the time to give your car a thorough checkup.”

• Radiator: Add a dose of antifreeze to the coolant.

• Shocks: Should be checked. Defective shock absorbers increase braking distance and shorten the lifetime of tires.

• Wiper fluid: Add a dose of frost protector.

• Battery: Check the acid level for optimum performance.

• Spark plugs: check for wear and replace if necessary.

• Lights: Check and align properly for maximum efficiency.

• Be sure to include the following equipment in your trunk: A set of jumper cables, a snow brush/ice scraper and a de-icing spray.

• Winter tires: Set the pressure 2.9 psi higher than what is recommended for summer tires.

“Once you’ve given your car a thorough checkup, the best protection against breakdowns and accidents in winter is driving with foresight,” Burfien points out. “This includes taking extra care on bridges or at traffic lights, as well as keeping a greater following distance from the car in front,” he adds.

“Really, the best advice we can offer drivers is to use common sense,” says Burfien.

The Continental winter tire lineup, as described by Burfien, includes:

• The ContiWinterContact TS810 – engineered to handle unpredictable snow and wet driving conditions.

• The ContiWinterContact TS810 S – built for winter driving performance.

• The ContiWinterContact TS790 – a state-of-the-art winter tire featuring exceptional handling and braking at low temperatures.

For more information, visit www.conti-online.com.