Short answer: probably not.
But indulge us for a moment. At The Auto Shop, we work through every theoretical problem your vehicle might have when you bring it in. It’s a part of what make our mechanics some of the best in Phoenix, combined with our state-of-the art auto repair facility and cumulative decades of experience and know-how when it comes to all things auto repair and maintenance.
So do you need summer and winter tires if you live in Phoenix? Even if you’re an out-of-towner settling in the Valley of the Sun as a winter “snowbird,” it generally only even rains for about a week (total) during the winter here.
But many people don’t simply want to sit still – winters in Arizona, and Phoenix in particular are the whole reason people live here! And if you’re planning on making a day trip to northern or eastern Arizona, to such areas as Flagstaff, Sedona, Prescott, Pinetop and more, there’s a high chance you’ll encounter some snow.
And believe it or not, it’s known to snow in Tucson during the winters every few years, outside of the Catalina mountains consistently getting enough snow every year to warrant a ski lodge being built at the top of Mt. Lemmon.
So here’s what we recommend:
If you have a recreational vehicle, such as a truck or SUV you use for camping or towing an RV, you’re probably OK getting by on 4-wheel or all-wheel drive.
But if you’re trying to double up on using your sedan or van, you can either invest in tire chains or, if you think you might do a decent amount of driving in snowy areas of the state, you might think about at the very least two snow tires to be mounted wherever your vehicle is powered (either front-wheel or rear-wheel drive). This way, there’s no risk of damage to your vehicle should you suddenly go from snow to no-snow, and you won’t even need to stop your trip.
However, many advise to simply take the due diligence of replacing all 4 tires with snow tires if you do drive in conditions sub-45 degrees often enough.
While there was a dusting in 2013, Phoenix hasn’t had measurable snow since the 1930’s – and it’s probably not going to change anytime soon. However, one thing The Auto Shop is always ready and happy to do is keep our customers informed, prepared and safe!