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Do You Need Winter Tires?

Are you curious about the difference between different types of tires? When it comes to winter tires and regular tires, the main difference between the two is tread depth. On winter tires the tread depth starts at between 8 and 9 mm as opposed to 7 and 8 mm on a regular tire. Winter tires have a wider and deeper groove within the tire tread which forms a larger channel for snow and water to travel through and maintains a grip on the road.

One of the most important features of winter tires is the fact they are made with a larger percentage of natural rubber and silica in the compound. This doesn’t harden as much as synthetic rubber in cold weather which improves the tire grip.

What are the benefits of winter tires?

Winter tires enhance road grip which in turn provides road safety during wet and icy conditions. These tires also offer an effect on reducing stopping distances. It has been tested a vehicle fitted with winter tires will come to a stop on a snow-covered road after 114 feet while normal tires braking distance is a further 26 feet (140 feet).

Reasons why you should consider purchasing winter tires:

• Winter tires are not only for snow or ice-covered roads, they are also very effective for cold weather. When the weather is cold, tires get hard which reduces traction. Winter tires have better traction due to softer and more flexible rubber.

• Using winter tires will extend the life of your regular all-season tires since you will be using your winter tires for the winter season.

• With no compromises made for other seasons, drivers will benefit from significantly increased traction during acceleration, notably shorter stopping distances, and a drastic increase in directional stability at speed.

• Proper tires for the season give your all-wheel drive system plenty more grip to work with, allowing it to do its job with maximum effectiveness.

The answer to whether you need snow tires can depend on where you live. Whether you have a front-wheel, rear-wheel or even an all-wheel drive car could also play into the equation. Also, it can depend on the demand to drive in snowy conditions.

Winter tires are not only needed when there is snow on the ground, they provide a good grip in all cold conditions whether the road is wet or dry. If you live in an area that gets regular low temperatures even without snow, winter tires are inevitably safer than your regular tires. Always re-mount those all-season tires when spring rolls around. While winter tires are undeniably superior in extreme winter conditions, they’ll wear down faster on warm, dry pavement. If you’re in a place where snow is measured in feet rather than inches and winter temperatures that stay below freezing for weeks on end, winter tires might be a good investment after all. If you feel winter tires are right for your vehicle, give our tire shop a call for the best deals on quality snow tires near you!