Many car owners who reside in colder climates will ask themselves if they really need winter tires. Yes. It is recommended to make the shift from all-season tires to winter tires to be best prepared for the winter season. It's smart to understand the difference between all-wheel tires and winter tires. Most cars leave the factory with all-season tires since they are created to offer a good tread life and a quiet drive. They are created to function optimally in a wide array of conditions including light winter driving and wet roads. They truly combine the advantages of winter tires and summer tires.
All-season tires are not designed to handle extreme winter conditions like driving through extreme cold, snow, and ice. If you're a car owner who lives in a moderate climate, all-wheel tires could be the right choice as these weather conditions aren't a hindrance.
The condition of the streets can be unpredictable with black ice and heavy snowfall. It's so important that your vehicle's tires provide the right traction.
Winter tires are specifically designed to perform in extreme winter conditions. Patterns, biting edges, tread rubber, and tread depth are some of the features that make them maneuver so well in the colder weather. Biting edges are the thousands of tiny slits in the tread that provide traction on ice. In cold temperatures, the tread rubber of an all season or summer tire tightens up and makes it difficult to offer sufficient traction. To avoid this, tread rubber compounds of winter tires are made to stay flexible, allowing the tire to grip the road more easily. A special feature of winter tires is deeper tread depths and tread patterns that are unique. Deeper tread depths reduce snow buildup and provide better traction on the snow. The tread patterns of winter tires are designed to expel water and channel slush and snow.
The answer to the winter tires or all-season tires really depends on where you live and what the weather conditions are. All-Season tires are most likely the right fit if you live in a place that might only see a few flurries a year and where major winter conditions aren't a big deal. However, if wintry mixes are the norm in your part of the world, it's smart to take the safety measure of using winter tires. It could end up saving your life. When mounting winter and all-season tires, it's essential to install the entire set. Just changing the front and back increases the chances of skidding. And be mindful to re-mount all-season tires when the weather warms up. Although winter tires are excellent in extreme winter conditions, they’ll wear down quickly on pavement that is dry and warm.
For more information on regular tires and winter tires, reach out to the team at AutoPro Auto Service. To schedule an appointment, contact us. We are located at 7901 W. River Road in Brooklyn Park, MN.