One of the best investments you can make to help with safe driving is the purchase of good quality tires which you inspect regularly, maintain with the proper air pressure, and replace when they are old and/or worn. Doing some research and seeking advice at some reputable tire stores about the best quality tires for your vehicle and the driving conditions is very practical. Look at tread patterns, tire width, and hardness ratings which are appropriate for your area. During winter in Alaska, roads are often covered with hard ice, so tire studs and snipping are worth considering for winter driving.
Consider purchasing an extra set of wheels for your vehicle and have the winter tires mounted on those wheels. Then switching between summer and winter tires is an easier task and the amount of wear and potential damage to the bead of the tire is reduced.
Do not assume that four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive (AWD) is going to keep your vehicle from losing traction and sliding, perhaps into the ditch. A vehicle with 4×4 or AWD has little advantage when braking and can still lose traction if the vehicle has bad tires. Good quality tires, even on a two-wheel drive vehicle, can provide better traction on icy roads than poor quality tires on a four-wheel drive vehicle. Evidence of this is the many vehicles pulled out of the ditch during the winter which are 4×4 or AWD.
