michelin Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

Michelin X-Ice Xi3 Snow Tires – My Go-To for Safety and Security #ad

Paula — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 11:58:48 +0000

Michelin X-Ice Xi3 snow tires are my new go-to for safety and security on the road. My family and I love winter. While other people are hiding from the cold weather, we’re out thoroughly enjoying the cold in our layers and puffy coats hunting for ski hills to tackle. Listen, I figure if you live in Canada you better get comfortable with snowy weather and winter sports. In winter months we ski often. Sometimes that’s a long drive to Collingwood ski hills in northern Ontario, or a longer drive to Quebec and Vermont. Ski road trips can be treacherous. Driving through the mountain roads during the winter months is no ordinary driving experience. We found that out the hard way last year, slipping around Vermont. This year, Michelin X-Ice Xi3 tires help keep us safe on all of our trips, whether that’s around the block to school, or across the province in search of fresh powder and challenging ski hills. I’ve never really given thought to buying snow tires for the winter season before this year. I always thought all-season tires weren’t that different for driving. Boy, was I wrong! I slipped and slid all over the road on my all-season tires as soon as the snow hit this season. My husband’s car was no different. Our tires were spinning at every red light struggling to grip the road. And I even had issues getting up the street to get the kids to school. It was so bad. My husband kept saying you can’t put a price on your family’s safety. He was a broken record, but I was hesitant to put out the expense of seasonal tires, rims for them, and installation. However, as soon as we had the winter tires installed I realized I shouldn’t have waited so long. Michelin X-Ice Xi3 Snow Tires – My Only Choice We’ve had Michelin X-Ice Xi3 snow tires for a couple of weeks, and I cannot believe the difference. It’s like night and day. Before we got our tires, I asked around on Facebook, and I was told that Michelin X-Ice Xi3 snow tires were the ones to get, and my on line army was right. Michelin has a good reputation and I knew it was a great tire company, but they have cemented their reputation in my mind this winter. Since having these installed, I have had no trouble getting up and down the neighbourhood hills. I’ve had no issues with sliding in the Saturn, and neither has my husband. It’s been wonderful. Driving no longer feels like a disaster waiting to happen. I recognize it was unsafe to wait and wouldn’t be without my snow tires now that I have a good reliable set. Just this week my husband said: “It’s nice not slipping and spinning your wheels at every red light.” You can tell they are high quality tires by looking at them. But the difference is pronounced when you start driving with these Michelins. We were getting stuck in snow before we made the switch. Now we spend less time slipping and sliding and more time adventuring. More time on the ski hill this winter is the goal. These tires help us embrace winter. This third generation X-Ice winter tire gives us the traction needed to safely navigate extreme winter conditions. Their Cross Z Sipes, Micro-Pumps, and their FleX-Ice compound makes for excellent grip in rough winter conditions. Their winter performance lasts for 60,000 kilometres, and their MaxTouch Construction has a unique contact patch shape which further enhances grip and tread life. Baby it’s cold outside. So we both got snow tires for Christmas 🎄- very important this year. Snowiest season we’ve had in years. #ad These Michelin tires are getting us back and forth on all our winter travel, our day to day school runs, gym runs and errands too. And of course can’t wait to see how they grip on icy highways and backroads for our family vacations and ski trips. #safety #wintertireseason #wintertires #family #tires #winter #winterdriving #roadtrips #skiing #fun #ontario #holidays #christmas A post shared by Paula Schuck (@inkscrblr) on Dec 29, 2017 at 2:32pm PST And if safety isn’t enough, the Michelin X-Ice Xi3 tire is environmentally and wallet friendly, with a design that helps reduce fuel consumption while giving me that extremely important winter grip I’ve come to enjoy and rely on. And speaking of your wallet, in Ontario, there are even some financial incentives like breaks on insurance premiums if you put on snow tires. So it’s a win all the way around. Protect Your Family with Michelin X-Ice Xi3 Snow Tires It’s only been a couple of weeks, but we really like these Michelin X-Ice Xi3 tires. After all that slipping, sliding, and white knuckle driving, taking to the road with these tires has been such a wonderful change. It’s so nice to have that confidence of knowing that when I’m on the road this winter, my family will be safe and secure. If you’re still looking for quality snow tires, I highly recommend the Michelin X-Ice Xi3 snow tire. Don’t forget to read this winter driving tips post while you are at it. Save yourself the trouble of shopping and have them shipped. BUY Michelin winter tires on Amazon Now. This post has been sponsored by Michelin. I received a set of tires in exchange for consideration here. My opinion is all my own and it is also truthful.

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Buying Snow Tires – What You Need to Know

Paula — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 12:45:05 +0000

Buying snow tires is something I have debated and put off for a couple of winter seasons now. Last year I got new all-season tires in the spring and assumed they’d get me through the winter. It wasn’t a super snowy year, but there were a few challenging winter road trips, especially on our annual trip to Vermont. This year with all the snow in the forecast, and the number of ski road trips we take, I knew I needed them so I started shopping months ago. I had so many questions initially. Are they worth the money? What kind should I buy? Which snow tires are best with my type of vehicle? There are all sorts of things to think about when buying snow tires. Not everyone needs them, but odds are good if you live in Ontario, or most of the Canadian provinces, then you need good snow tires. This year we opted for Michelin X-Ice Xi3 winter tires. The Michelin X-Ice Xi3 winter tires are recommended for winter weather everywhere where temperature consistently reaches below zero degrees or freezing. Here’s what to look for if you need to buy winter snow tires. Buying Snow Tires – Do You Need Them? Snow tires are for snowy, icy, cold weather conditions. So the first question to ask yourself is do you actually need snow tires? If you live in Ontario like I do, the answer is a resounding yes. Ontario is a winter wonderland from December to March. Slippery and snowy and cold. We get snow and ice and all the other wonderful winter stuff that makes driving during the winter treacherous. Perhaps you think: “Well, we get next to no snow or ice in my area, so I don’t need tires like this.” In fact, snow tires are made of more flexible rubber than all-season tires. That’s why they grip better. So even if you get little to no snow or ice in your area, you can still benefit from buying snow tires if your neck of the woods gets cold. The softer rubber will provide better grip and stability in the cold months. We have two vehicles and we use them both daily. One car, a Saturn Ion, is mostly intended for the fast in town trips and the travel to our local ski hill. The van is the one we drive long distances with skis and boots and suitcases in the back. Both carry my family in winter and that means safety is vital. Buying Snow Tires – How to Choose Them Get GOOD Tires If you’re committing to buying snow tires, don’t be cheap. Almost any snow tire will provide better performance in the cold than an all-season tire, but the better the tire the better the performance. You get what you pay for, and since a good snow tire will last you three to four winters, it pays to get quality ones that last. Plus, I hate waste so get the kind of snow tires that will endure (and take care of them too) so you don’t end up wasting your money and buying more often than necessary. Studded Tires Studded snow tires have metal studs embedded into the treads for added traction on ice. The studs can damage your driveway and roads as well. Double check the Transportation Board or Highway Safety Authority for your area rules for your province or state. Read Ontario winter driving information here. In mountainous Vermont, studdable tires are permitted for instance. In Ontario they are prohibited, unless you dwell in northern Ontario. Now, last year when we needed to climb a mountain in Vermont, the amazing Eric at Mad River Glen came to get us in a vehicle with studded tires. Those things are heavy duty and great for climbing mountains in Vermont. But that was literally one day of our winter so clearly we wouldn’t need that level of traction very often and they aren’t allowed in southern Ontario, my home, anyways. Buy a Full Set You’ll also need to get a full set of tires. Some people think they can just buy two snow tires for their vehicle, but that is a mistake. You need the same level of grip from all four tires. If you just put snow tires on your drive axle, you’re setting yourself up for possible pinwheeling and spinning out. Also the tires will wear differently and potentially might not last as long if you only get two. So don’t think that you can get away with two tires. You NEED all four for maximum efficiency and grip. Don’t Forget Installation You can’t just throw on snow tires all by yourself. You should have them mounted and balanced by a professional. Don’t forget to budget in the average $10 to $20 per tire mounting and balancing fee that most places charge. You may also need new rims and potentially new sensors for the tires too. Budget for that and decide how much you need to replace and what you can afford. Apparently salt and winter conditions can be harder on your standard rims. Wheel Packages When buying snow tires, consider investing in a wheel package. A wheel package means you buy the tires and four wheels to go with them. When it’s time to change from all-season to winter tires and vice versa, it makes things easier. That ease also can translate to a savings of up to $50 each time you swap out tires. Check The Insurance Snow Tire Incentives And don’t forget when you buy snow tires to check in with your insurance company or broker. There might be a savings incentive. Today I learned that we save 5 % discount on auto insurance because of the snow tires. That makes me happy. Final Notes on When to Replace Your Winter Tires Three to four seasons use is standard for winter tires. BUT, if you use them too long in the spring, or summer, and forget to switch them out you may do damage to your good winter tires. Also of course this depends on the roads you drive on and how much you use them. Good winter tires are meant only for winter use. Summer use can wear them down. The Quarter Test? Michelin X-ICE Xi3 tires are the ones we chose this year. This brand is expected to last 60,000 kms. When we want or think we need to replace them, three or four seasons down the road, we will take a quarter and place it head first into the tread. Michelin indicates that the top part of the figurehead should be covered by the tread. If you can see the whole head, then it’s time to replace the tires. Buying Snow Tires is Worth It Buying snow tires can be an excellent investment in your family’s safety. Winter driving is hard enough without getting stuck and worrying if your tires will grip. Even without snow and ice, buying snow tires offers an increased level of grip in cold weather in general, and are an excellent investment. That is especially true when you split the cost up over three or four seasons. This is one of two posts about snow tires. This series has been sponsored by Michelin Canada. I received product in exchange for consideration here. My opinion is all my own and it is also truthful.

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