Winter driving can be a challenge, so ensuring a car’s tires are up to the task can give drivers extra peace of mind. In colder and snowier climes, using snow (or winter) tires may be a good idea for safety reasons.
Snow tires are different from the standard radials placed on cars, which are commonly referred to as “all-season” tires. The tread plays a big part of this: the edges “bite” into the snow and ice better to give increased traction, and the rubber composition of the tire is softer.
This softer rubber allows the tire to be more flexible, which in turn prevents snow buildup between the tread. It also grips on ice better and provides more traction.
Table of Contents
As the name suggests, winter tires are not a year-round solution. While they perform very well in winter conditions, on dry roads in some cases performance will be degraded when compared to an all-season radial. Treadwear can also be an issue with these tires, which explains why the tire manufacturers will not give warranties for early tread wear. In the spring when roads are clear, they should be removed.
Another option is something called studs, which are essentially metal posts embedded into the tire which add to the traction capabilities of the tire. It should be noted however that tire noise is obviously greater, and in some locales, these are either restricted or banned entirely. Check with local authorities for specific policies.
When looking for a winter tire, be sure to confirm it has a mountain/snowflake symbol on the sidewall. This confirms that the tire has passed industry standards for performance in severe winter conditions.
All-season tires start to lose their grip on the road at temperatures of -10 degree Celsius and below, which means the vehicle will begin to lose traction and control. Winter tires are made for winter conditions and remain more flexible in colder temperatures.
They are specially designed with deeper tread to give the vehicle better control in snowy, icy and slushy weather conditions, as well as wet and dry roads. Furthermore, they are not like the clunky winter tires of the past. They offer a smooth ride on dry pavement.
It’s recommended that drivers put four winter tires on their vehicles even if it is the front-wheel-drive to ensure maximum control. And yes, sport utility and four-wheel drive vehicles should get them as well. Just because it’s 4-wheel drive doesn’t make it invincible. Winter tires provide better grip on any vehicle.
The name says it all. By definition, all-season tires are designed to be good in all types of weather conditions. Thus, the tire will likely perform as good as it does in the rain as it would in a light snowfall or on dry roads, essentially “average” performance.
Another problem with these tires is the rigidity of the rubber. Since it is stiffer, the tread will not flex as much. Whereas snow and ice can be dislodged by the tire itself easier with a winter tire, with all-seasons there is somewhat of the opposite effect, and the packed-in snow and ice will cause a loss of traction.
In some regions, all-season tires will be sufficient for wintertime driving. If the climate is mild or wet, or snowfall is typically limited, then all seasons should not be a problem.
Make sure to buy winter tires that they are the right size for the vehicle. Tires that are too big or too small can cause damage to the car. So don’t buy a smaller size just because they are on sale. Choose ones with the right fit. Also, avoid mixing tires with different tread patterns.
Choose a winter tire that has a symbol of a snowflake inside a mountain peak, which will be on the outside of the tire. This symbol means that the tires meet the standards and requirements for excellent traction performance in snowy and icy conditions.
Some of the best brands of winter tires include the Bridgestone Blizzak, Goodyear UltraGrip, Yokohama Guardex, BF Goodrich Winter Slaloms, Canadian Tire’s Nordic WinterTrac, and Toyo Observe. Pirelli even makes winter versions of performance tires to suit everyone’s needs.
If you’ve ever been stuck in the middle of muddy, sloppy, or other difficult terrain and tried to slog your…
If you're in the market for new car speakers, you'll know that there are a number of options available. Numerous…
Due to their construction, subwoofers need a significant amount of power to recreate low-frequency sounds. A subwoofer amplifier is an…
Sound systems without subwoofers will have a faint and uninspiring sound. So, in order to get that deep bass and…
Despite the fact that your car radio is mainly designed for listening to music, you may connect other devices to…
An air compressor is a tool for creating controlled amounts of air pressure. You can use it to inflate items,…