WALKER, Mich. (WZZM) - Many West Michigan drivers are realizing too late the difference good tires can make when snow and ice are on the roads.
Often vehicles that end up in the ditch during a snow storm have worn tires. But the five inches that fell on West Michigan this week were no problem for Christa Graban.
"Three days ago, I got new tires," she explains. "It's just a world of difference. The traction was great [driving in]. I couldn't feel it slipping at all."
The staff at Alpine Collision Center in Grand Rapids say it's not unusual to see poor tires on cars brought in for body work.
"Without proper tread, there is nothing holding the car to the surface," says owner Steve Tomaskzewski. "It becomes even more critical with the weather we just had."
The long awaited arrival of significant snow has the team at Discount Tire on Alpine Avenue hustling to equip customer vehicles with new rubber.
"You want to make sure you have enough tread depth to get you where you want to go safely," says Assistant Manager John Kerr. "The way I look at it, a set of tires is cheaper than an insurance deductible."
"I paid $585 for them," says Graban. "It's a lot of money, but I think it's worth it."
An easy way to check your tires is push a penny, Abe Lincoln head first, into the tread. If all or most of Lincoln's head is visible and not covered by the rubber, it's time to replace the tires.