A Michelin tire expert explains why winter tires are worth the investment

"Loss of work time due to winter conditions can be costly," Carter said.

"For an employee making $50,000 a year, a day’s wage is about $200 per day. For emergency personnel, business owners, and health care professionals, often they cannot afford to miss a day due to winter conditions. The need for mobility has a cost that is hard to calculate, but certainly exceeds the cost of winter tires. Some people can afford to miss a day of work, but most people can’t afford to miss picking up their kids from school when winter comes suddenly."

"According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average auto liability claim for property damage in 2017 was $3,638 — and that does not include the increase in insurance premiums," Carter said.

"So, if you avoid an accident with tires built specifically for winter roads, you are likely to save significantly more than you pay for the cost of winter tires by avoiding paying the insurance deductible and cost of rising premiums."