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VERIFY: Are snow tires worth it?

Thanks to all this snow, right about now is when you figure out you need a pair of new tires. But should you invest in some seasonal treads?

Thanks to all this snow, right about now is when you figure out you need a pair of new tires. But should you invest in some seasonal treads?

Coopersville Oil Change &Tire owner Frank Noel is keeping busy this season.

"We do new and used tires but this time of year, it's mainly new," he said. "It's all about snow tires."

But are these tires that'll cost you about $400 - $500 a set worth it?

Joe Wiesenfelder with Cars.com says the composition is what makes snow tires so unique.

"A few things make it a winter tire. It's very deep, wide tread and marked deep grooves typically a squared off shoulder, which helps bite into snow as you're cornering a different rubber compound," Wiesenfelder said.

"If you want the absolute best performance at all temps winter tires and summer tires are the way to go," he added.

A thought that resonates with Frank Noel.

"Any new tire is a good tire, but the snow tires are softer compound, they'll dig through the snow better and stick to the ice better," he said.

"If you want the best for the winter, especially because it looks like we're going to have a hard one, you're going to want some good traction."

Making for less slips and more safe rides home.

"It'd be worth the money to spend up front than to spend it on a wrecker and maybe a body shop," Noel said as he nodded his head.

So what's the consensus? Are snow tires worth it?

Experts say, "yes," especially here in snowy West Michigan.

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