MATTE RELEASE: LES SCHWAB WINTER DRIVING
’Tis the Season to be on the Road
Safe Holiday Travel Tips
The holiday season is upon us — one of the busiest times of year to be on the road. More traffic on the road means there’s more potential for an accident to occur, especially during the winter months, when weather is unpredictable. If you find yourself traveling over the hills and through the woods to be with friends and family this holiday season, remember these tips for a safer journey home.
Inspect your tires
Properly inflated traction tires reduce the risk of skidding and improve braking. Les Schwab Tire Centers offer a free pre-trip safety check to help you gear up for the cold, wet, winter driving conditions. An expert will check your tires’ air pressure and tread depth and do a visual alignment check. They will also check your brakes, shocks and battery.
Understand your options
The decision between studded and winter tires comes down to the customers’ safety needs, commute and driving habits. Winter traction tires are specifically designed to provide the extra traction, braking and handling you’ll need to confidently drive on snow and ice. In temperatures below 45 degrees, winter tires can provide 25 to 50 percent more traction than all-season tires. Studded tires offer additional traction in more treacherous winter driving conditions.
With so many options, selecting the right winter tires can be daunting. But you don’t have to choose the right tire by yourself. Les Schwab has trained experts to help you make the right choice for your vehicle, driving needs and budget. Les Schwab has a full inventory of traction tires, both studless and studded, chains, and other devices to meet your winter weather needs.
If you plan to drive in packed snow and slush, chains might be a good alternative. If you need a reminder, check out this online video for a step-by-step tutorial on how to put your snow chains on. Les Schwab has a generous return policy — if you don’t use your Les Schwab snow chains this winter, you can return them for a full refund in the spring.
Know before you go
Pay attention to your local weather and road condition advisories. Plan your route ahead of time. Before you go, listen to the radio for announcements about accidents, road closures and travel advisories. For up-to-date road conditions, visit lesschwab.com/resources/road-conditions. Also, make sure to let someone know your route, just in case of an accident.
Allow extra time
Slow down. Whether you’re cornering, stopping, accelerating or driving on a straightaway, slowing down is the key to safe winter driving. Allow more space between yourself and other vehicles. And avoid using cruise control on ice, snow or extremely wet roads. If roads are covered with snow or ice, adjust your schedule to reflect the increased driving time.
Be ready for the unexpected
Be prepared for anything. A winter accident could leave you stuck on the side of the road. Packing your car with a few essentials will help keep you safe and ready for whatever conditions pop up on your trip. Pack your trunk with snacks, water bottles, an ice scraper, flares, chains, a flashlight, blankets and a Les Schwab Roadside Safety kit. And, always carry a cell phone.
Inclement weather can, on occasion, send you off-route. Make sure you have plenty of fuel to safely get to your destination. Keeping your tank as full as possible will minimize condensation, providing the maximum advantage in case of trouble. As a rule of thumb, maintain at least a half tank of gas.
About Les Schwab Tire Centers
Les Schwab Tire Centers (www.lesschwab.com) is one of the leading independent tire dealers in the United States, with more than 7,000 employees and over 440 locations throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, California, Nevada, Utah and Colorado. The company has been recognized for its business practices through several awards including: a Milestone award from the Oregon Sustainability Board, Oregon Economic and Community Development Department honors, an Environmental Excellence award from the Association of Washington Business, an Integrity Counts award from the Northern Idaho Better Business Bureau, and The Oregonian 2012, 2013 and 2014 Top Workplace recognition.
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