Most people worry more about a car’s specific model, amenities, body type, performance package, and even color. They usually do not give much thought to the car’s tires. Indeed, the vehicle’s tires do not come to mind right away when buying a car and we tend to disregard the fact that tires are undoubtedly the most crucial part of your car.
Yes. If you come to think of it, your vehicle’s tires are mainly the reason that you can hit the road. Every tire has a specific purpose, although primarily tires serve as support for the weight of your vehicle, road shock absorbers, dispatchers of braking forces and grip to the road surface, and regulators of travel direction. Still, we need to understand how tires are built based on whether they are for the winter season or for all types of seasons.
You can go visit auto repair shops Houston if you need assistance in terms of auto repair and choosing the right type of tires that best suit your vehicle.
Winter Tires and All Season Tires: Main Difference
If you are a car owner, it is also a must that you become aware of the difference between winter tires and all-season tires so you can enjoy a safe and comfortable ride on the road with the appropriate set of tires. Consider the following facts:
All-Season Tires
Under most circumstances, all-season tires are a great option for they can provide you with a quiet, comfortable ride. All year long, a lot of all-season tires perform admirably on wet and bare pavement. Also, the traction that all-season tires give while you navigate the sporadic winter storm and gentle snow is good. However, all-season tires cannot perform the same when it comes to thick ice, heavy snow, and extreme cold temperatures. Unlike winter tires, they just could not withstand such harsh conditions.
Winter Tires
Tires referred to as winter or snow tires are made to hold out against heavy winter conditions for an extended period of time. The winter tires’ tread compounds remain softer and more malleable, thereby enhancing steering, handling, and grip during colder temperatures, especially when the temperature goes down below 45°F. Aside from that, snow tires have deep, wide, and jagged tread whose biting edges allow the tires to maintain grip amidst the worst road conditions during winter. In particular, studded winter tires provide more enhanced traction when you are traveling on ice or snow.
Are Winter Tires Better Than All-Season Tires?
It’s true that all-season tires are quite popular. All-season tires are a common feature of automobiles that are released fresh from the factory and it’s understandable why these tires are so well-liked. They are built to be versatile and deliver a comparatively good treadwear, smooth ride, and year-round efficiency. However, all-season tires cannot be considered entirely ideal for all kinds of situations, particularly if we are talking about extreme weather conditions. The truth is that these tires are only beneficial for drivers who live in areas with moderate climate and seldom encounter heavy winter.
On the other hand, according to Kral (2021), winter tires perform significantly better than all-season tires especially now that a few technological advancements in tire development have been introduced. Winter tires perform better on cold withered roads and on snowy muddy pavements.
Surely, all-season tires cannot handle ice the way winter tires do. The rubber compounds in all-season tires actually glide on ice. On the contrary, winter tires–which are created with softer rubber compounds and with the addition of silica–have increased flexibility and traction on ice. Additionally, the snow tires’ unique tread helps the ice retain less water.
How much will it cost you?
When it comes to purchase costs, winter tires are more expensive. However, you need not feel bad if you just consider the fact that you are receiving a lot for your investment. What’s more important is that winter tires have the potential to prevent “at-fault” accidents. In fact, as stated on Diffen, compared to a car with all-season tires, a vehicle equipped with winter tires has lesser chances of getting into an accident under snowy circumstances.
So, yes. Winter tires work better than all-season tires but only on ice or under snowy conditions. As claimed by Cars.com, if you are using performance vehicles and are after more on traction than riding in quiet and comfort, then winter tires are your better option.
Choose the Right Tires for Your Vehicle
With auto repair Houston, you can get good advice as to the correct set of tires that best suits your car and your preferences. If you are torn between winter tires and all-season tires, remember a few points. Basically, all season tires can do everything, but they aren’t particularly good at anything. It doesn’t matter if the surface is wet, dry, or covered with ice; they work well enough in most conditions that they can be used all year long.
However, they typically perform poorly in extreme driving conditions (i.e. thick snow). Winter tires, on the other hand, are best suited for extreme driving conditions. In comparison to all-season or summer tires, winter tires offer higher grip on ice or snowy roads and in low temperatures. One main disadvantage of winter tires is that they should only be used when temperatures are constantly low (i.e. roughly below 40 degrees F). They lose traction and wear down more quickly on a hot pavement; therefore, they shouldn’t be driven in the summer.