Many auto manufacturers outfit their cars with all-season tires before leaving the factory.
They are wildly popular because they have a decent tread life, a quiet drive, and they perform well throughout the year.
They are adaptable to many things including small snowfalls and wet conditions on the roadway.
All-season tires were created to showcase the best parts of summer and winter tires. But do you need winter tires specifically for the colder, snowier weather?
Let’s look at all-season tires and winter tires and see what is better for you and your vehicle.
All Season Tires
These types of tires work best in the spring, summer, and autumn months. Many businesses in the tire industry also refer to them as three-season tires.
All-season tires don’t function as well during a deep freeze in winter. The grip on the tires will suffer if the temperature dips into frigid weather.
What they are good for is having good traction on the road in hotter weather. Their treads are usually straight and level which helps fend off water during your drive.
These tires are created to keep you safe and secure on the road. If you live in an area that has a gentler winter, then all-season tires will work just fine.
However, when the winter conditions turn bitterly cold and snow and ice are on the road, it’s extremely important to have the proper tires for your car to stay in control when you drive.
Winter Tires
It can be very fickle driving during the wintertime. You want to equip your car with the right kind of tires because hazards like snowstorms or black ice can be somewhat treacherous.
You require excellent traction and these tires have been created to meet the challenges of winter.
Certain elements make winter tires special including the rubber, patterns, and biting edges of the treads.
Biting edges and or sipes are small cuts on the tire’s treads letting it grip into snow and ice, giving the driver a more secure and dependable ride.
In all season tires, the rubber on the treads tend to lose traction in severe winter weather.
Whereas winter tires have been created to be pliable in frosty temperatures so that they can grip the surface of the road more efficiently.
Winter tires have special patterns and have deeper treads. The depth of the treads allows them to lessen the accumulation of snow which makes for improved traction.
The patterns on a winter tire drive out water, slush, and snow. The biting edges also help with better traction, especially on ice.
Other Considerations
Some states require that you have winter tires. If you don’t adhere to this, you could be legally punished for it. If those are your circumstances, winter tires for your vehicle become an obvious choice.
How often do you drive your vehicle? If you only use it for your work commute, errands, and short jaunts to visit people in a city locale, changing out your tires twice annually might be too much of a cost and hassle. If you drive a lot in colder areas, or travel long distances, snow tires are the way to go.
If you do choose to go with winter tires for your car, you must always put on four tires. If you just install the front winter tires that leaves you open to have your back tires slip on the road.
Having snow tires only on the back of your car will affect the front tires to the point of not being able to control your vehicle.
Remember, when spring hits, you will have to install all-season tires again because if you keep your winter tires on, they will become worn because of the warmer and dry roadways.
In Conclusion
It’s not just about the tires when it comes to maintaining your car. To keep it in good working order, you must have it checked from time to time to ensure it has a longer life cycle.
When you take your vehicle to an auto mechanic or auto dealership service department, they are likely to complete a full inspection of the vehicle using a multi-point inspection form checklist.
This process helps to provide customers with the peace of mind that their vehicle is in good running order and helps to generate additional business for the automotive repair company.
If you operate an Auto Repair Shop or Auto Dealership Service Department and are looking to purchase Multi-Point Inspection Forms, check out MBR Marketing.
All-season or winter tires? Both choices have pros and cons to it. The answer comes down to a lot of factors like your area’s legal guidelines, weather conditions, driving habits, and if you have the funds to change your tires out depending on the season.
If snow happens just a few times during the winter months, you will be able to get away with having all-season tires on your vehicle.
With winter tires, you will experience improved traction, security, and a better braking force. If icy, slippery roads will be a common occurrence, you must get winter tires.
At that point, it becomes a safety issue, and you need to do everything you can to keep safe while driving.
You want to be ready for whatever the road has in store for you, and in this instance the proverb, better safe than sorry, comes to mind.
