All-Season Tires vs Snow Tires
Whether we want to think about it or not, winter is coming. Thinking about getting our vehicles ready for winter should start sooner rather than later and having the proper tires can really help for a safer winter. Are you interested in snow tires for your vehicle but don’t understand the difference between all-season tires and snow tires? We are here to help so that you can be properly ready for the snow to start.
All-Season Tires Advantages
Many vehicles are in fact actually fitted with all-season tires when they leave the factory. All-season tires offer a versatile performance and are designed to handle a variety of conditions including wet roads and light winter driving. All-season tires simply put are designed to offer a combination of benefits from summer and winter tires. One advantage of all-season tires is that they can be used on your vehicle year round since they are good for every season.
All-season tires don’t necessarily mean that they are the best choice for harsher winter conditions. All-season tires are not designed to handle extreme winter conditions such as driving through snow or on ice. All-season tires are ideal for drivers who live in moderate climates where they do not encounter the extreme cold, ice and snow in the winter months.
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Snow Tires Advantages
With the combination of cold temperatures, ice, and snow, snow tires are specifically designed to perform well in winter conditions. There are actually three specific features that all combine to make snow tires the ultimate choice for winter driving conditions.
The tread rubber: in extreme cold temperatures, the tread rubber of an all-season or summer tire stiffens and becomes less able to provide sufficient traction. To eliminate this issue, tread rubber compounds of winter tires are designed to remain flexible, allowing the tire to grip the road better.
The tread depth and pattern: deeper tread depths reduce snow buildup and provide better traction on the snow. Winter tire tread patterns are also designed to channel snow and slush and to expel water.
Biting edges: snow tires increase the number of biting edges or the tiny slits in the tread to provide traction on ice.
While you can get through the winter with all-season tires, living in Wisconsin snow tires are a generally better way to go. Throughout the winter months, we experience extreme conditions to snow, below zero temperatures and ice. Snow tires are meant to be placed on your vehicle only during the winter months. During the other seasons, the snow tires must be replaced with your normal regular tires.
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If you are interested in talking with a team member about snow tires for your vehicle, please give us a call. You can also look at our website to check out our tire store and more.
