Are Your Tires Ready For Winter?

George Ceballos says he gets his tires checked about once a year.

"I'll probably get it checked out soon here not only for my safety but the safety of those around here," Ceballos says.

Like a lot of people, Ceballos' tires weren't his first thought in the fall.

"You don't really think about it. You never really know when we're going to get snow and when it happens you think oh I guess I have to get winter tires now," Ceballos says.

While most people wait until the first winter storm to get their car looked at, the truth is the sooner you get your tires checked, the less likely you are to end up in an accident..

"A lot of people neglect to look at their tires until they start slipping and sliding around. Next thing you know they come in and we get them fixed up," Doug Peterson of Reliable Auto Service says.

Since the snow started falling this week, the phone ringing off the hook at Reliable Auto Center in Altoona, and this year has been a little different.

Instead of just getting winter tires, the large snowfall amounts have led people to get their tires studded as well.

"We've been doing more studding of tires this year than previous years. A lot of people just going with winter tires and getting them studded and it's the best chance they have of getting around in this weather.

And with the winter weather just getting started, the safest option is usually the best option.

Adding studs to your winter tires usually costs an extra $20 per tire, but Reliable says the most important part is simply getting the tires checked to make sure they can make it through the winter.