Tis the season to install winter tires on your vehicle. I vaguely remember Wally installing winter tires on our family car. The tires were just something that appeared on the car before the snow came which was usually in December.

In Wally’s day we only put winter tires on the back wheels. Back then, the knowledge about turning into the skid was common but I guess the feeling was that winter tires on the front didn’t matter much. Today four winter tires give you much more control, especially during a skid.

There was a time when all season radials were the rage. They were supposed to be the answer to all your tire problems.The commercial production of radial tires, according to Wikipedia, began in 1970 with Ford’s introduction of them on the Lincoln Continental Mark III, and went on from there becoming ever more popular with all vehicles.

I fell for the idea too, especially since I didn’t have to pay out more money to get them changed twice a year. Having four all season radial tires was promoted as well, for safety reasons they said.

When I lived in the States, I bought a set of four Kelly all season radial tires and they lasted eight years or so. They were a wonderfully smooth riding tire. I was still under the illusion that all season radials were a good winter tire too.

I only came into the installation of winter tires all around just within the last five years. I bought four winter tires and had a shop install them at a cost of $40.00 for each tire. The change to summers would cost me another $40.00 a tire.

The high price surprised me. There had to be a cheaper way. I searched it out and bought four standard rims at a cost of $40.00 each and had the summer tires tires mounted on them for $10.00 each. That was when I resolved to start changing the wheels myself. Within two seasons I’d be saving myself some money.

Today the tire shops will store your seasonal tires at a cost of $100.00 a season. They still charge $10.00 a wheel to change them over so they get their money anyways. I’ll not bother with their offer and change and store them myself.

Much has changed over the years with tires.The old bias tire is still around for there are many industries that are dependent upon them for their strength of sidewalls, but the stiff tire is more costly when it comes to fuel consumption.

With automobiles less fuel consumption is one of the benefits of radials as well as ride, improved handling and excellent traction. I think Wally would be happy with these advances, I certainly am.

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