How Road Salt Affects Tire Life in Winter

Winter presents unique challenges for drivers, from snowy or icy roads to frigid temperatures, fresh potholes, and harsh chemical enhanced treatments like road salt. The dry, gray-white coating left on vehicles after driving has many car owners flocking to car washes on the first nice day to prevent damage to the car’s paint and finishes, but that salt can also affect tire longevity.

While salt is critical for keeping roads safe by melting ice and snow, it can also accelerate tire deterioration, leading to increased wear, corrosion, and a shorter lifespan. In this blog, we’ll explore how road salt impacts tires, the signs of salt-related damage, and the preventative measures you can take to keep your tires in top condition.

The Role of Road Salt in Winter Road Safety

Road salt is necessary for winter road safety and maintenance. It helps improve traction and prevent ice-related accidents. When applied to roadways, salt lowers the freezing point of water, helping melt snow and ice more quickly. This makes driving safer by reducing the risk of skidding and losing control.

However, the same properties that make salt effective at breaking down ice and snow also make it potentially harmful to your vehicle’s tires. The continuous exposure to salt, combined with moisture and fluctuating temperatures, can cause tire damage over time.

Road Salt Tire Damage: How It Happens

The Chemical Effects of Road Salt on Tires

Road salt is similar to table salt, as both are primarily sodium chloride (NaCl). However, road salt has a different composition, structure, and purpose, making it more useful in winter conditions and a potential cause of damage to wheels, tires, and cars. Although sodium chloride can work well on its own above 15°F, road salt includes calcium chloride and magnesium chloride to work in lower temperatures down to -20°F. When the salt trucks spread this mixture on the roads, it combines with the water from the snow and slush to form a brine solution. This chemical reaction lowers the freezing point of water, melting existing ice and preventing ice from forming.

Unfortunately, the additional minerals in road salt make it more corrosive than table salt. The mixture of chemicals and moisture on salted roads also creates an electrolyte solution that accelerates oxidation, forming rust on metal components or the car’s surface and deteriorating tire rubber over time.

Tire Wear & Corrosion from Road Salt

Rims & Valve Stems: Salt can corrode metal parts like rims and valve stems, leading to rust and leaks.
Rubber Degradation: The salt and moisture mix can break down the tire’s rubber compound, causing cracks and reducing flexibility.
Steel Belts: If salt seeps into small cracks in the tire tread, it can eventually reach the steel belts inside, accelerating rust and weakening the overall structure.

Protecting Tires from Road Salt: Preventative Measures

Cleaning Tires & Wheels After Winter Drives

Regular cleaning is one of the best ways to prevent salt buildup on your tires. These steps will help keep your tires and wheels free from corrosive salt damage:

Use a hose or pressure washer to rinse off road salt after wet winter drives
Pay special attention to the wheel wells and rims where salt tends to accumulate
Wash your car regularly during winter, including the undercarriage, to prevent corrosion

Tip: If you use a hose or pressure washer at home rather than a professional car wash, disconnect from the spigot after each use to prevent frozen pipes!

Tire Coatings & Sealants for Protection

Applying tire coatings or sealants can add an extra layer of protection against salt damage. Consider using products designed for winter tire protection, such as:

Rubber protectants to prevent cracking and drying
Wheel sealants to reduce corrosion on rims and metal components
Spray-on coatings to help repel salt and moisture

Tip: Use coatings and sealants as directed. Some products should not be used on the tread portion of the tire, as it can result in traction loss.

Keeping Tires Covered or Sheltered

If possible, park your vehicle in a garage or covered area to reduce prolonged exposure to road salt. If parking indoors isn’t an option, using tire covers can help shield tires from the elements when your car is not in use.

Winter Tire Care: Maintaining Tire Health During Snowy Months

Regular Tire Inspections

Monitoring your tires and car frequently throughout the winter can help you catch early signs of salt damage. Be on the lookout for:

Cracks or splits in the rubber
Discoloration or unusual wear patterns
Corrosion or rust on metal parts
Decreasing tire tread depth, which can impact traction

Rotating & Aligning Tires

Winter roads are often covered in ice, slush, and salt, creating inconsistent traction. Some tires may grip the road better than others as you drive, resulting in uneven wear. Even in ideal conditions, tires will wear unevenly. For example, front-wheel-drive vehicles will have more wear to the front tires as they are responsible for most of the acceleration and steering.

Rear-wheel-drive cars will see more wear on the rear tires for the same reasons. Getting a tire rotation at least every 5,000 to 7,500 miles will help promote even wear, extending the overall tire life and improving stability during winter months.

Plenty of new hazards are presented on the roadways during winter, too. Hitting potholes, driving over ice chunks, and handling the uneven road surfaces can easily knock your wheels out of alignment, causing:

Uneven Tread Wear: Misalignment can cause excessive wear on one side, reducing grip and making winter driving more dangerous.
Pulling to One Side: Even a slight misalignment can make your vehicle pull to the left or right, creating especially risky driving conditions on icy or slushy roads where traction is already compromised.
Reduced Fuel Efficiency: Misalignment increases rolling resistance, forcing your engine to work harder and consume more fuel.

Regular tire rotations and alignments ensure even wear and help counteract the effects and consequences of winter roads.

Salt & Tire Corrosion: The Long-Term Impact on Tire Longevity

How Road Salt Contributes to Premature Tire Deterioration

Long-term exposure to road salt can significantly reduce tire lifespan. The chemically created brine on the road can penetrate the tire’s rubber surface, leading to issues such as:

Rubber Dehydration: Salt draws moisture from rubber, causing it to dry out and become brittle, leading to cracks and structural weakness.
Accelerated Oxidation: Salt increases exposure to oxygen and moisture, which causes rubber compounds to break down faster than they would under normal circumstances.

The road salt does not directly corrode the rubber, but it can seep into small cracks and crevices to reach the interior metal reinforcements, including the steel belts, valve stems and rims.

Beyond just tires, salt can affect other vehicle components, including the undercarriage, suspension, and brake systems. Addressing salt-related damage early can prevent costly repairs and extend the life of your vehicle.

Signs Your Tires May Be Affected by Salt Damage

Cracking or splitting in the rubber
Bulging or bubbling on the tire surface
Visible rust on rims, valve stems, or other metal parts
Uneven tread wear, which may indicate salt damage affecting the tire structure

Addressing these signs right away is crucial in avoiding costly repairs later. Deepening cracks can weaken the tire’s structure, increasing the risk of blowouts or premature failure that requires a complete tire replacement. Excessive rust on the rims and other components would also require a complete replacement due to structural failure. Salt buildup can cause additional damage to your car if ignored, such as suspension issues, alignment problems, and brake system damage.

Winter Tire Preservation Tips

Tire Cleaning & Maintenance

Cleaning road salt off tires helps prevent damage. However, it is important to use the right techniques and products to avoid damaging the rubber or metal components.

Rinse tires thoroughly with cold water. This will help remove loose salt and debris. Use a garden hose spray nozzle or pressure washer on a low setting to clear out deep grooves and hard-to-reach areas. Avoid hot water, as this can increase the salt’s corrosive effects.
Use a mild soap or tire cleaner. Mix a few drops of dish soap in warm water to break down salt residues or use a tire-safe cleaner. Use a soft-bristled brush or microfiber cloth to gently scrub tires without being abrasive. Avoid harsh chemicals or acidic cleaners that may dry out rubber or strip protective coatings from the wheels.
Pay attention to wheel rims and valve stems. Salt corrosion often starts on these metal components. Use a non-abrasive wheel cleaner and clean wheel brush to remove salt buildup. Dry these areas thoroughly to prevent moisture from trapping hidden salt residue.
Apply a protective coating or tire dressing. After cleaning, apply a tire protectant or rubber conditioner to help shield against future salt exposure. Silicone-based tire dressings provide a water-repellent barrier. Avoid oil-based tire shine products as they can attract dirt and break down rubber over time.
Clean your tires regularly during winter. If you frequently drive on salted roads, wash them at least once a week. Consider visiting a car wash with an undercarriage spray to remove salt from hard-to-reach areas.

Using Winter-Specific Tires

Winter tires are specifically engineered to handle harsh winter conditions, including freezing temperatures, ice, snow, and road salt exposure. Unlike all-season or summer tires, they’re built with materials and tread patterns that offer superior grip, durability, and protection against salt-related damage. There are different types of winter tires to choose from depending on your driving habits and vehicle needs, but overall, they offer similar benefits:

Built with superior cold-weather rubber compounds: Winter tires use a softer, more flexible rubber compound that remains pliable for better road surface contact, even in freezing temperatures. All-season tires tend to harden in the cold, reducing traction.
Designed with enhanced tread patterns for snowy or icy roads: These tires have deeper grooves and siping that channel away slush, snow, and water to reduce the risk of hydroplaning and improve traction on slippery surfaces.
Increased resistance to road salt damage: Winter tires’ rubber compounds are formulated to resist salt, helping to reduce the adverse effects of prolonged salt exposure. Many include protective coatings or additives to enhance their durability against chemical wear from de-icing agents.

For those who frequently drive in harsh winter conditions, winter tires are a worthy investment for safety and tire health all season.

Protect Your Tires From Road Salt This Winter

Proactively protecting your tires from road salt can extend their lifespan and improve vehicle performance throughout winter. Regular cleaning, protective coatings, and winter tire care are crucial to help prevent salt-related damage.

Visit your nearest Telle Tire location for professional tire inspections, rotations, alignments, and more. Our experts will help keep your tires in top shape so you can drive safely all year.