With colder weather approaching, tire dealers are encouraging vehicle owners to make sure their tires are safe.

Roger Ditmore, a manager at Flynn’s Tire and Auto Service in Butler, said the first thing that drivers should check is tire tread.

The minimum tread required by the state is 2/32 of an inch, but Ditmore said that is not enough to handle snow.

“That’s not going to get you through the winter,” Ditmore said, noting that tread should be at least double that measurement to handle winter weather.

Although the “penny test,” where you stick a penny in the tread and if the top of Abe Lincoln’s head is exposed that means there’s not enough tread, is popular, Ditmore said tread can be measured simply with a $1 tread gauge meter.

He said it is a good idea to consider getting snow tires, especially in this area.

Mike Vogel, service manager at Flynn’s, said that snow tires have wider tread to accommodate snow and slush and the tires have holes in them to allow for studs. Stud season for tires is from Nov. 15 to April 15.

Ditmore said snow tires are made of softer rubber, so it is a good idea to take them off during the summer. They will still work during warm weather, but they will be unusable for winter conditions afterward.

He also said it is important to use four winter tires, not just two. Even if a car has front or real wheel drive, it will need the same traction on all of the tires or it is more likely to spin out.

Vogel agreed, saying that the Rubber Manufacturers Association recommends using four snow tires instead of just two, and most car manufacturers have recommended the same thing since the 1980s.

Ditmore said as long as winter tires are not used during the summer, they will last at least two years.

Vogel said the ideal time to have snow tires on is from mid-November to mid-April. Ditmore said, to be safe, he already has his snow tires on his vehicle.

Prices for snow tires vary, just like with all season tires. When buying snow tires, Ditmore said people should look for the “mountain snowflake” symbol, which means that the tire has been proven to work in snow and mud.

Rick McKivigan, owner of Butler Tires for Less, said customers should look for good tread and high quality soft rubber in a snow tire. Brand names are a plus too, he said.

“There’s a lot of quality product out there,” McKivigan said.

Although winter tires can be helpful, McKivigan said a good set of all season tires will cover 80 percent of winter weather. During really bad winter weather, however, snow tires come in handy.

Ditmore said it is important to keep an eye on air pressure in tires, too.

“Air pressure is key,” he said.

For every 10 degree temperature drop, a tire loses one pound of air. When air pressure is low, it can decrease traction and cause a car’s fuel efficiency to decrease as well.

Ditmore said it also is important not to overinflate tires. The treads on the outside of the tires will be less effective if they are too full.

McKivigan said getting a car and its tires ready for winter is an important process for being safe through the rough weather.

“You need to be prepared,” McKivigan said.