Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - While Thanksgiving Weekend isn't the first snowfall of the winter season in Western New York, it certainly won't be the last. That's why automotive experts are advising drivers to be adequately prepared to hit the roadways this season with the right tires for your vehicle.
Bob Gugino from Bison Automotive on Kenmore Avenue in North Buffalo says there's always the type of customer that comes in earlier and prepares themselves for winter, and then there's always those that wait until the first snow or the first snow storm to get their winter tires on.
"We had some, and now the rest of them are certainly coming in because they know the big storm's coming, the holiday weekend, people are traveling and no one wants to get stuck. So we are going through tires, installing people's snow tires, and selling snow tires like they're going out of style," said Gugino in an interview with WBEN.
While in years past there may have been a concern over a shortage of winter tires available, Gugino says there are different types of tires that are in demand this season.
"There's all-season tires, there's all-weather tires, and then there's snow tires," Gugino explained. "If you buy an all-weather tire, which are very popular right now, then it isn't really that critical for you to go ahead and get snow tires, because the all-weather tires are probably 90% of a snow tire. If folks get those, the demand for it isn't quite as much for the 'snow tires'. So the shortages aren't as bad as they were."
According to Gugino, tire inventories are down across the board. He uses four different suppliers, and depending on which one he uses and what tire brand he's looking for, sometimes it becomes a struggle to find them.
"Not only because of manufacturing - I'm not quite sure why they're short, but tariffs and getting things overseas, I'm sure it has something to do with it - but also the fact that snow tires; when I was a kid, years ago, you just automatically switch the car from regular tires to snow tires, because most cars were rear-wheel drive. But now most cars, especially like a Subaru or RAV4 or a CRV, they use an all-wheel drive system, so it isn't quite as critical to get a snow tire," Gugino said.
As for what type of winter tire may be best for you, Gugino says it depends on the type of vehicle you're driving and the type of driving you may do on a regular basis.
"For most folks that are driving around in North Buffalo, the Tonawandas and Amherst, the snow gets a little deep sometimes, but not quite as bad as maybe Orchard Park or Springville or somewhere down there, then I just generally recommend an all-weather tire, because it saves them the trouble of having to switch the tires from snow tires back to regular tires. It lessens the expense, and it isn't so crucial to actually buy them," Gugino advised. "But if folks are traveling a lot, or if they have a rear-wheel drive vehicle or maybe just a front-wheel drive vehicle, then we would look into possibly snow tires, because that would give them the best safety and reliability in winter driving."
If you haven't gotten your winter tires on just yet, Gugino says it's not too late.
"I would imagine that as long as we're in the winter season, it's probably never too late," he said. "Maybe when you get into late February, early March, that's probably a little late, because now the winter season is getting past us. But we're in mid-November here, coming up to December. We still have three months of winter coming up, so I would still recommend that they do that."
And while snow tires are very important for winter driving, Gugino also discusses the other things that are just as important this winter season.
"The reliability of the way your engine runs in your vehicle and overall maintenance. Are your brakes Good? Do the lights work? Is the heater working? Wiper blades? Things like that are also very important to make sure you're driving and you're traveling for the holidays is as safe and reliable as it can possibly be," Gugino said. "You want that whole car to work from the tires at the bottom, all the way to the top with the wipers and lights, and things like that as well. It's all important. Good vehicle maintenance and having your car set up for a worst-case scenario is what you're going to look for."
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