Five Holiday Travel Tips From Les SchwabTire Centers (NAPSA)—The winter holiday season is filled with travels near and far to share in merriment with loved ones, trade gifts and 1. Ls eo ‘1s create memories. With moretraffic on the road as a result of these festivities, safe driving practices are critical for keeping you and yours protected. Legal tire studs-on dates are fast approaching and now is a great time to get your vehicle winter-ready before road conditions become highly unpredictable. Consider these five safety tips to help you safely travel over the hills and through the woods. Inspect yourtires Properly inflated traction tires reduce the risk of skidding and improve braking. Your local tire experts can check yourtires’ air pressure and tread depth, and do a visual alignment check. Be sure to ask if they can also check your brakes, shocks andbattery. Understand your options The decision between studded or studless and winter tires comes down to personal needs based on your commute and driving habits. Winter traction tires are specifically designed to provide the extra traction, braking and handling you'll need to confidently drive on snow andice. In temperatures below 45 degrees, winter tires can provide 25 to 50 percent more traction thanall- season tires. Both studded tires and snow chains offer additional traction in more treacherous winter driving conditions. Check out http://lesschwab.com/resources/ winter-driving for step-by-step tutorial videos on how to put on your snow chains. Knowbefore you go Pay attention to your local weather and road condition advisories. Plan your route ahead of time. Before you go, listen to the Don’t let safe driving practices take a holiday. Remember these five safety tips. radio for announcements about accidents, road closures and travel advisories. Also, let someone know your route, in case an accident occurs. Allow extra time Slow down. Whether you're cor- nering, stopping, accelerating or driving on a straightaway, reducing speed is the key to safe winter driving. Allow more space between yourself and other vehicles. And avoid using cruise control on ice, snow or extremely wet roads. If roads are covered with snow orice, adjust your schedule to reflect the increased driving time. Be ready for the unexpected A winter accident could leave you stuck on the side of the road in cold, wet weather. Packing your car with a few essentials will help keep you safe and ready for any weather conditions. It’s a good idea to store snacks, water bottles, an ice scraper, flares, chains, a flashlight, blankets and a roadside safety kit in your trunk. And, alwayscarry a cell phone. Inclement weather can, on occasion, send you off-route. Make sure you have plenty of fuel to safely get to your destination. Another benefit to keeping your tank as full as possible is minimizing condensation. On cold mornings, moisture in your gas tank can freeze, block the fuel flow and keep yourcar from starting. As a rule of thumb, maintain at least a half tank of gas. Your local tire experts at Les SchwabTire Centers will help you prepare for wet and icy driving conditions. Customer safety is always on our minds. Before you hit the road, we'll check yourtires’ air pressure and tread depth and do a visual alignment to ensure the tires are wearing evenly. We'll also check your brakes, shocks and battery. All for free as part of our pre-trip safety check. Our full inventory of traction tires, both studless and studded, chains, and other devices will meet your needs. No appointment is necessary; we'll take care of your car or truck while you warm up with some fresh, hot coffee and popcorn. To find the store nearest you, visit www.lesschwab.com/ about/store-locator. Safe travels! About Les Schwab Tire Centers Les Schwab Tire Centers (www.lesschwab.com) is one of the leading independenttire dealers in the United States, with more than 7,000 employees and more than 440 locations throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, California, Nevada, Utah and Col- orado. The company has been recognized for its business practices through several awards including: a Milestone award from the Oregon Sustainability Board, Oregon Economic and Community Development Department honors, an Environmental Excellence award from the Association of Washington Business, an Integrity Counts award from the Northern Idaho Better Business Bureau, and The Oregonian 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 Top Workplace recognition.
