April Showers remind us to change our tyres

Rain, Rain, and more rain- so since the snow is gone time to get your snow tyres off, plus if you are still running your studded tyres in Ontario, you are breaking the law.

Temperatures above 7°C rapidly degrade winter tyres performance as wells as their lifespan. Also, if you kept your summer tyres in a plastic bag, and you didn't quite dry them out last autumn, expect some wheel pitting or rust. Clean out the dirt from the inner rim (use a stiff bristle brush & water) and then either use a car shampoo or car wax like Mother's brand to protect the paint (steel rims) and it doesn't hurt to keep your polished rims to rub on some wax polish.

Built up dirt and silt can make a wheel feel like it needs to be balanced and produce a wheel bounce which is amplified by speed. If you find your summer tyres are losing air frequently check the valves, but more importantly check the grip for nails and slivers of steel. Tacks or nails in the tread pattern can be repaired with a tyre slug, or even patched inside by a tyre repairer. I have had many pieces of steel enter the tyre just on the edge of the grip where the wall starts- this condition will cost you a new tyre, and you are risking a lot if you continue to drive on it- just filling up the tyre won't bring back it's performance: sidewalls can come apart on the highway and could cause your car to swerve into traffic or force you into the gravel and your estate will have to take care of the insurance claims.
Drive safely, I am out there.