Les Schwab Tires, which calls itself the nation's top-ranked independent tire retailer, is opening the winter driving season with free vehicle safety checks and a safety awareness campaign. The checks are available at all 630 Les Schwab Tire Centers nationwide. Drivers can pull up and ask for a safety inspection, or schedule service at lesschwab.com.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, about a quarter of weather-related vehicle crashes happen in snowy, slushy, or icy conditions. Les Schwab says the campaign also highlights lesser-known winter risks that catch many drivers off guard.

Winter risks drivers often miss

The retailer points out that modern cars are safer only until they lose traction. Anti-lock brakes and traction control help, but once a vehicle exceeds the limits of grip, those systems cannot stop a slide. Drivers need to recognize those limits before they are crossed.

Les Schwab also says a vehicle can be more dangerous in the first 10 minutes of a winter drive. Cold temperatures can slow brake response, thicken oil and transmission fluid, distort windshield visibility, and stiffen rubber compounds, so the car may not feel like the one a driver is used to.

Tires can develop a temporary flat spot after sitting overnight in cold weather. Until they warm up, that flat spot can cause vibration, reduced grip, and uneven wear. The company adds that drivers need a warm-up too: cold, shivering drivers react more slowly, and fogged glass at departure can cut visibility. Using the air conditioner while heating the cabin helps clear humidity.

Stores are running extended hours through the end of 2026 for the winter rush. Les Schwab Tires was founded in 1952 in Central Oregon and today has 630 locations and more than 9,000 employees.

More detail is in the company announcement on PR Newswire.

Tagged: Federal Highway Administration

Les Schwab Offers Free Safety Checks for Winter Driving Season