The difference between all-season tires versus those made for snow, ice, and winter is that winter tires provide a clear advantage when driving over snow, ice, and even freezing surfaces, compared to all-season tires.
Snow tires use special rubber compounds that don’t harden in cold temperatures. This allows them to provide much more grip, and makes them less likely to slip. They are much more able to bite down and provide traction as you gingerly apply the throttle.
Winter tires also use tread patterns that are wide and provide lots of edges. Edges are important when the roads are slick. These tread patterns combine with the special rubber compounds to provide grip and traction in wintry conditions and temperatures.
Even if the roads are clear but the temperatures are below freezing, snow tires will provide much more grip than all-season tires.
All-season tires, on the other hand, provide more grip and traction in the winter than a summer or performance tire. However, they are still vastly outperformed by winter tires.
All-season tires use rubber compounds that are viable across a wide range of temperatures. They also feature tread patterns that are not completely useless in the winter. Those compromises give you more versatility, but reduce your ability to avoid collisions.
The main issue is this: while snow tires perform very well in the winter, they lose tread rapidly during warmer months. All those edges are quickly worn down over hot asphalt, and the rubber that grips ice is rubbed away over regular surfaces.
Therefore, if you do not replace your winter tires with all-season or summer tires as soon as the seasons change, you’re practically throwing away money. The choice between all-season and winter tires depends on how much time you spend in cold, wintry areas, and how able you are to swap tires based on the season.
The best solution to ensuring your safety on the road is to use summer or winter tires based on your location. If you don’t know where you’ll be driving over the next 12-24 months, you are best off getting a set of all-season tires, and knowing that you need to drive with aggressive caution during winter weather.
When you are ready to make a purchase, we’ll work with you to make sure you get the best deal and tires for your particular vehicle. Call or email our service department to place your order.
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