Spring has finally arrived with its revival vibe! The days get brighter, the weather gets warmer and the mood gets better. With the weather warming, it is tempting to spend more time outside and escape on quick getaways with family or friends somewhere outside the city. For most of us, spring is associated with a dry, friendly, and lively season compared to tiring winters.
However, I'm afraid to disappoint you by telling you that spring brings with it certain driving challenges. Starting with potholes on the roads that appear as a result of melting snow to increased risks of hydroplaning, spring driving may not be as harmless as you might think.
As such, today we are talking about the most important tips to drive safely in the spring season. Please familiarize yourself with all of them because you might not even know about the existence of certain eminent risks. So, the more informed, the more protected, as the quote says.
What Are The Driving Hazards of Spring?
I bet you are already tired of the hard winters with packed snow and ice. Probably with the arrival of spring, you breathed a sigh of relief because you got rid of the difficult winter driving. Still, it's not the right time to relax because spring comes with its own challenges. At least the months of March to April are still sensible from a safe driving perspective and here are the associated risks.
Wet Roads
First of all, spring is associated with an increased amount of water on the roads. There are several reasons for this phenomenon. It is about 1) the snow melting that forms layers of water on the road. In addition, it is about 2) rains that become more frequent in most US territories.
The point is that rainwater and wet roads increase the risk of vehicles sliding on the road. Also, wet surfaces make the braking distances longer, which dramatically increases the risks of accidents and collisions. Many motorists overlook this aspect and do not expect an unusually long braking distance. As a result, the statistics of accidents on wet surfaces are higher than that of accidents on dry land.
Another risk associated with spring rain and wet roads is hydroplaning. This process involves the loss of contact between the tire and the road, as a result of which the vehicle becomes difficult to control. In this context, it is important to maintain a judicious speed, especially in wet conditions to prevent hydroplaning.
Last but not least, be careful on flooded roads. Melting snow and/or heavy rains lead to the formation of water puddles. They may seem harmless, but you can never be sure of their depth. If you are sure that they are passable, make sure to reduce the speed to avoid water entering the internal construction of the vehicle. Avoid these areas if there are alternative routes.
Potholes
With the melting of the snow, it seems that the asphalt also undergoes the "melting process". Well, this is more of a metaphor, but I hope you understand what I mean: potholes. These are an inevitable hazard after heavy winters. The outbreak of potholes in the spring is explained as follows: during the winter, water ends up freezing in the small cracks of the roads and asphalt.
As you probably know, the water expands with the transition from a liquid to a solid state. As the weather warms, the (expanded) ice melts, leaving behind much larger cracks. They subsequently damage the condition of the roads, severely impacting their integrity.
Obviously, responsible organizations take action quickly and are committed to fixing the damaged roads. However, you must understand that the process might take some time. Meanwhile, all you have to do is to be very careful about potholes and do your best to avoid them. This means driving at a reasonable speed and being maximally focused on the road. Avoid all kinds of distractions and keep a safe distance from other vehicles.
Wind
Even if the weather indeed becomes friendlier with the arrival of spring, you must be aware of the danger associated with strong winds. These can bring different things on the road that could endanger your safety and that of your passengers.
Keep a safe distance from other vehicles in traffic. The driver in front of you may encounter an obstacle brought by the wind on the road, which is why he may brake aggressively. If you don't keep a safe distance, you probably won't be able to avoid the collision.
Children, Pedestrians, Runners, and Motorcyclists
Spring makes people want to spend more time outdoors. This means that you will meet more children and pedestrians in both urban and rural areas. It is essential to be highly careful of what is happening around you when you are driving. Pedestrians, and especially children, can appear out of nowhere.
In addition, keep in mind that children and teenagers will spend more time outside until late at night. They play basketball, ride bikes, and do all kinds of activities that could make them inattentive to the traffic. In this sense, you have to be even more careful, especially in the evening because the darkness reduces visibility even more.
Further on, fit people will also want to exercise more in the open air. Thus, you can find yourself with a runner right in front of your vehicle without even understanding where he came from. The danger is even greater because many runners practice while wearing AirPods, which makes them absent from the traffic conditions.
Last but not least, keep in mind that motorcyclists also intend to take their bikes "for a ride". Be alert for them, especially when changing lanes. Make sure to take into account blind spots that can confuse you and make motorcyclists unobservable.
Animals On The Roads
With the arrival of spring, many animals come back to life after a long period of hibernation. Even domestic ones in rural households become more active. This means that the outbreak of animals on the roads is higher at this time of the year, which means that you have to double your attention behind the wheel.
This is especially valid for drivers who live in forest and rural areas, or near small and large woods. Still, it is not excluded that some animals appear on highway routes or city streets as well.
Spring Vehicle Checks
With the arrival of spring, it is recommended not only to be cautious while driving but also to give your vehicle an extra check. A few maintenance procedures will add some safety checks for the spring season. So, make sure your vehicle is ready for the spring season:
Clean Your Vehicle
I'm sure you wash the vehicle regularly. So I want to draw your attention to a deeper cleaning in the first weeks of spring. The point is that winter slush, road salts, and other grip chemicals used in winter can be deposited on the wheels and other parts of the vehicle. These might lead to the corrosion of details if they are not removed effectively. In this sense, professional cleaning would help you remove traces of salt and other chemicals for safe spring driving.
Check Your Brakes
The braking abilities of the vehicle are essential in any season. You can omit any other components of the vehicle, but not the brakes because they are directly proportional to your degree of safety.
Normally, you should check the braking system once every six months. And if you checked it before winter (you did prepare for winter, didn't you?) then spring is a good time to do another check. The idea is that winter salt and chemicals (Again!) might cause damage to your brakes. To be sure of the vehicle's braking capacity, you would do well to check the brake system.
Check And Change Your Tires
Tires play an essential role in the behavior of the vehicle in diverse conditions. Namely, they determine traction in winter conditions and braking capacity in wet conditions, among others. So, opting for the right tires is a key element if we talk about safety, performance, and confident traction.
Spring is the right time to take a closer look at your tires. More than likely, you are still using winter tires, especially if you live in areas with a severe climate. You might be wondering: is it time to change tires? Well, here are a couple of things to consider. A quick spoiler: there isn't such a thing as a "Tire Replacement Date". What you really should consider is the weather conditions.
When To Switch From Winter To All Season Tires?
To begin with, consider the temperatures in the area where you live. In some states, winter can last until April with temperatures below zero, even if the calendar already indicates spring months. The right thing to do is to consider the temperature consistency. Winter tires are a great option when the temperatures are mostly negative, or below zero Celsius. So, don't rush to switch to other tires if spring still has the tinge of winter with low temperatures.
If the climate becomes constantly warm, i.e. with temperatures above zero Celsius, you can switch to all-season tires. Unlike winter tires, all-season ones are a better option for wet roads, moderately warm temperatures, and dry conditions.
If you are a fan of all-weather tires, making any replacements is unnecessary. All-weather tires usually do a great job in both cold and warm climates. But what is really important is to make sure that your all-weather tires are in optimal shape.
This means that you have to check the integrity of the tire sidewall, the depth of the tread, and the signs of uneven wear or other damage symptoms. Specialists recommend getting new tires if yours do not meet the minimum safety standards. Remember what I told you about the risks of hydroplaning during the spring? A tire with a worn tread is not able to evacuate water efficiently or provide a safe braking distance. So if your tires don't seem to offer safety, don't risk it and replace them with a set with more capacities.
Monitor Tire Pressure
Finally, all that remains to become fully ready for spring adventures is to keep an eye on the tire pressure. The point is that the weather temperatures influence the pressure in them. As such, depending on how warm it is outside, you may notice that the pressure in the tires increases. Driving on overinflated tires is not a healthy practice. This accelerates the uneven wear of the tread and makes the vehicle overbounce on irregular surfaces, among others.
With this in mind, we recommend checking your tire pressure regularly during the spring. In fact, drivers must always take into account the pressure and adjust it whenever necessary. However, the transition periods between hot and cold and vice versa require increased attention to this aspect.
Spring Driving Tips: FAQs
What Are The Key Facts To Know About Spring Driving?
Spring is not always friendly, dry, and warm, especially in the first weeks. At the same time, with the warming of the weather, the driving conditions change and we have to adapt to them for safety reasons. As such, we must take into account certain risks that include but are not limited to:
- larger number of potholes on the roads
- higher risks of hydroplaning and slipping due to rain and snow melting
- higher number of motorcycles, pedestrians, children, and runners on the roads
- possible appearance of animals on the road
- more intense wind that can bring obstacles on the driving surfaces
Please, be aware of these spring-specific aspects and drive with caution.
Should I Change Tires In Spring?
It depends on the type of tires you have been driving during winter. If you used all-weather tires, it's ok to use them in spring as well. These do a great job in warm weather. Just make sure they are in a healthy condition. If you used winter tires you should keep in mind replacing them for tires suitable for the warm season (all-season, all-weather, or summer tires).
Using winter tires in the warm season will affect their tread life, gas mileage, and performance. If talking about the "WHEN", you should consider the weather temperatures. If the temperatures consistently stay around 5-7 Celsius, removing your winter tires is a wise step.
Why Trust Us?
The NeoTires team cares about our customer's driving experience and not only that. We want and can contribute to improving the performance of your vehicle in various conditions. We do this by offering the right tires. Our team has been passionate about tires for over 5 years. Our specialists test them, compare them, and review them from different aspects to understand which products are more suitable for certain conditions.
In addition, we are a tire dealer that keeps an eye on the big players in the industry like Bridgestone, Pirelli, Hankook, Nokian, Cooper, Goodyear, and others. We learn from them about various technologies and innovations and bring their best products to ensure ultimate performance and safety in our store.
With this in mind, you can count on us in one of these 4 scenarios:
- you need top-quality tires with a generous warranty from the most reputable manufacturers;
- you need guidance and assistance in all tire-related matters;
- look for a reliable dealer ready to offer comfortable buying conditions and impressive prices for the best products;
- you just need professional driving tips, maintenance recommendations, and informational support about driving, tires, and vehicles.
We are here to help you with any of these needs. Our trained assistants and professional mechanics will ensure a friendly communication process and most importantly - result-oriented communication. We can't influence your driving conditions, but what we can do is help you perform the best in any of them. Drive safe and choose your tires wisely!
