Many of us have heard about the different types of tires you can purchase for our vehicles. The two most common are All-Season Tires and Winter Tires. For our November blog, the ABC Smog & Auto Repair team wants to educate our loyal customers about each set of tires differences. The pros, cons, and benefits!
All-Season Tire Pros
As technology has improved, so have today’s all-season tires. All-season tires, designed to have versatile performance on your vehicle, make them extremely popular for drivers around the country. They are designed to function on almost every road condition thrown their way. These tires are intended to combat wet roads & normal driving conditions well and can be driven into the lighter winter road conditions. All Season Tires can even be driven into the hotter summer months. All-season tires are durable are typically very consistent. All-season tires may require less maintenance than more specific weather tires and can be used on your vehicle for years. Generally, All-Season tires are less expensive than specific weather ones.
All-Season Tire Cons
If you live in an area that receives heavy snowstorms & harsh weather conditions, all-season tires are much less safe for you. They are geared for lighter snow and average temperatures. They can stand the test of cold weather, but anything well below freezing will cause these tire treads to harden, compromising your vehicle’s traction.
Winter Tire Pros
With their given name, Winter Tires are not made for all seasons/road conditions, but they will protect you and anyone inside your vehicle when it counts, in above-average snow and icy conditions. From heavy snowfall to black ice, winter roads can be incredibly unpredictable. Winter tires can meet the combination of snow, wind & cold temperatures. They are specifically designed with an aggressive tread to eliminate snow build-up for your safety and have anti-sliding technology engineered into the tread. These specific tires perform exceptionally well in snow, ice, slush, wet, and even dry roads, and many can be altered with studs to increase traction. Snow tires give you the peace of mind that your vehicle’s traction and brakes are equipped to the max to handle the extreme and dangerous driving conditions that present themselves in the winter months. Another advantage of Winter Tires is that you only use them for a few months instead of year-round, which allows you to re-use them from 4 to 5 winter seasons.
Tread Rubber – In frigid temperatures, normal tires rubber tread stiffens and becomes less able to provide sufficient traction with the road. All-season and Winter tires rubber compounds are specifically designed to remain flexible for winter tires, allowing them to grip the road better.
Tread Depth and Patterns – Unique tread patterns and deeper tread are the norms for winter tires. By having deeper tread depths, you’re ensuring reduced snow build-up & get better traction overall. Winter tire tread patterns are also designed to channel snow and slush and expel water.
Winter Tire Edges – Thousands of tiny slits in the tread are unique to winter tires, created for the effort of not sliding/slipping on the ice.
Winter Tire Cons
Winter tires do provide extra safety & security when using them. However, it’s important to remember that they will be extra tough on typical driving conditions on the road. Their tread can dig into the asphalt on the road &, if driven on regular dry pavement, can crack & cause damage to the road. Winter tires are made from softer rubber than all-season, which makes these tires wear down faster that other tires. After the harsh winter season, a switch to another tire must is needed, which is an extra step duiring shoulder season.
When choosing either winter tires or all-season tires ultimately depends on where you live and what types of traveling you do. If you only see a few snow flurries each year & ice is rarely a factor in your life, all-season tires are probably the way to go. But if you live somewhere more temperamental & driving can turn dangerous due to mother nature, there is no issue with being extra-cautious and purchasing a set of winter tires. Think of them as an essential safety measure that could save your life.
We hope you’ve learned a great deal about the difference between all-weather & winter tires!
Still unsure about what’s best for your vehicle? Give ABC Smog & Auto Repair a call for expert advice! When you bring your vehicle to ABC Smog and Auto Repair in Fremont, CA, you can expect only the best in auto repair services, all completed by our fine auto mechanics, Lucky and Annabel Lally, to schedule an appointment today! We are located at 40851 Albrae Street, Fremont, California, 94538.
Your vehicle’s needs are our priority.
