What No One Tells You About Snow Tires

Once winter comes, you have to decide whether your vehicle needs snow tires or not. Snow tires for cars are useful during winter when additional traction is necessary. They ensure a firmer grip when driving on a wet or slippery patch. But before you decide right away, first get to know about the winter tires.

What Is A Snow Tire?

Snow tire is different from normal tires because high quality and studs are its main components. Besides, there are three specific features of winter tires make them unique: tread rubber, tread depth and patterns, and biting edges with thousands of tiny slits in the tread that provide traction on ice. You can see the picture below to know more about their purposes.

Snow tires advantages
Snow tires advantages

Pros And Cons Of Snow Tires

Pros Of Snow Tires:

  • Better grip: When it’s snowing intensely, there is no alternative to performance winter tires. Winter tires ensure maximum grip in icy or snowy conditions. The combination of hard studs, grippier rubber and deep treads guarantee the maximum traction. During a harsh winter, you cant depend on anything but snow tires for cars.
  • Superior braking: Your ordinary tires are prone to skidding when you brake hard while driving in an adverse condition. However, performance winter tires can dig deep and brake as you want.
  • Longer Life For Regular Tires: When you change winter tires for the regular ones, you’re giving regular tires a longer life because they don’t have to suffer from severe conditions which they can’t suffer. Besides, in the long run, it is a good way to save money.
cons of snow tire
Cons of snow tire

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Cons Of Snow Tires:

  • Tough on roads: The hard and firm grip in snow tires can do significant damage to road asphalt. If you don’t change winter tires when winter is over, it will tear up any road that you drive on.
  • Comparatively fragile: Because of their softer rubber, winter tires for cars wear out quickly than regular tires. Also, using them in a normal condition will ruin the tread forever. So, unless you need to, use all-season tires for durability.
  • Poor Handling: In comparison to all-season tires, snow tires don’t offer precise handling. You have to be more careful when you are driving with winter tires on.

FAQs About Snow Tires

Should I Install Snow Tires Or All-Season Tires?

Choosing what type of tire you should install depends on where you live and the conditions in which you drive. The majority of all-season tires are actually made for moderate climates and are not useful in ice or snow. In fact, some of them are really suitable in extreme cold, icy and snowy condition in the winter months. However, if you have to drive in real winter weather with icy roads, installing snow tires isn’t an over-the –top precaution – it’s vital safety measure that could save your life and your car.

all-season tires
Snow Tires Vs All-Season Tires

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Should I Mix And Match Tires?

The answer is definitely no. The best thing to do is that install four winter tires, two on the front and two at the rear. Mounting only two winter tires can be dangerous to the driver and other passengers. Moreover, read driving knowledge from our experts to know more maintenance tips for your car in the winter.

When To Use Snow Tires?

It is recommended that you should install winter tires once you can see your breath in daytime. After the article about the pros and cons of snow tires, it is apparent that you need to know when it’s time for winter tires or regular tires. Keep tracks of forthcoming weather developments, and only switch to snow tires for cars when necessary.

Choosing Quality Snow Tires

Review websites like TireRack, ConsumerReports and AmericasTire are dependable sources of knowing about snow tire ratings. Professional and customer opinions on these sites should give you an exact idea. Tire Rack’s Rogers said: “The best winter tires are offered by Bridgestone, Michelin and Continental… Some of the other brands don’t offer nearly the same performance.”