“Snowy Adventures Made Easy: How Our Tire Store Enhances Your Winter Fun!”

By KAVA DANN
Daily Press Staff
Finally, snow made its way into Grant County this week, as chilly temperatures brought flurries of the white substance on Wednesday and Thursday. While vehicle tires skidding in the snow is generally the opposite of a pleasant experience, the tubes located within some of those tires can serve as an excellent means to engage in winter fun.
When snow graces the ground, Werner Tire Service, located at 1155 U.S. 180 E. in Silver City, offers otherwise functional tire inner tubes available for purchase specifically for seasonal pleasures.
Kyle Brown, co-owner of Werner Tire Service, mentioned that the business has existed since 1962, but he and his brother, Keith Brown, along with their spouses, took control in 2006. In addition to the standard automotive services they provide — tire repairs, oil changes, and brake maintenance — they have been offering tubes for sledding on snowy days for about 18 years now.
The shop at Werner Tire carries a diverse selection of tube sizes, including those suitable for tractors, vehicles, and even small equipment like wheelbarrows. Kyle stated that the store began providing them for sledding purposes after customer inquiries.
“People started requesting them, but we kind of sold out,” he remarked. “We’ve since become more astute — whenever we anticipate snow, we stock up on tubes.”
Kyle mentioned that they had previously considered acquiring tubes specifically designed for snow use but discovered that the tubes intended for vehicle tires perform equally well.
“[We] realized that standard tubes used in tractor tires would suffice,” he stated.
According to Brown, the number of patrons who come in to buy tire tubes on snowy days fluctuates. He noted that it is influenced by the day of the week the snow falls, how much accumulation occurs, and whether children and parents are off from work and school on that specific day.
“If we don’t receive sufficient snow — like right here in Silver City, this is not adequate — folks may not flock here,” Brown said, indicating the snow coverage around the shop on Thursday. “However, if we get 6 or 8 inches of snow, I’ve sold literally 100 tubes in just two hours on a Saturday.”
After securing their tubes, one might ponder where the prime sledding location lies.
Kyle mentioned that Signal Peak is a favored destination for sledding because it typically experiences more snow than the town’s lower-elevation zones. He indicated that during snowy days, those looking for tubing excitement often drive up N.M. 15 and take a turn towards Signal Peak, parking in a lot adjacent to the cleared main road. From there, four-wheelers and side-by-sides are unloaded to ascend to popular runs in the vicinity, where both adults and kids can partake in thrilling snow adventures.
“It’s somewhat like a ski resort, in essence, but one that isn’t maintained,” Kyle noted. “Over the years, people have created runs, offering both speedy options and, further down, you might find ‘kiddie runs.’”
Sledding locations can also be discovered closer to town when snowfall is ample, and Kyle mentioned he has even taken his granddaughter sledding at Western New Mexico University’s Brancheau Amphitheater, the previous football field where the gentle slopes proved sufficient.
“She declared it was the most enjoyable fun ever,” he recalled.
Thus, when snow blankets Grant County and citizens grow restless within their homes, seizing some inner tubes and hitting the slopes may be the ideal way to combat snow day monotony and craft some wintry moments with family and friends.
And for reasons beyond sledding, many in Grant County are hopeful for additional snowfall this winter following the preceding months of low precipitation.
“It’s been extremely dry, and this kind of snow feels like a great, wet snow — and we desperately need it,” Kyle stated.