All-season tires are not meant to be used throughout the year, despite their name. All-season tires can’t maintain winter road traction, and they aren’t designed for winter weather. They can become rigid at temperatures below 45°F, which reduces vehicle tire traction, steering control, and braking distance.
“Many people don’t realize that tire traction diminishes when temperatures drop below 45 degrees,”Roger Fournier is the regional vice president of Discount Tire, America’s largest independent tire and wheel retailer. “When cold weather sets in, motorists with standard all-season tires are less equipped to avoid accidents and stay on the road.”
Winter tires are considered the most reliable for drivers. All-season tires can lose traction and pick up materials, but winter tires provide rubber-to-road contact. The extra gripping edges that winter tread patterns offer are thousands. “sipes,”This improves cold-weather traction and control as well as overall road safety. Winter tires are made to be flexible in cold conditions, which helps them retain better road adhesion when temperatures drop below 45 degrees F.
Drivers with winter tires have greater control in icy conditions. This makes braking easier and shorter. Depending on road conditions and speed, a winter tire can reduce braking distance by up to 10 percent.
All-wheel drive vehicles can be made more efficient by using winter tires. “Many drivers believe they can get by if they have all-wheel-drive or 4-wheel-drive vehicles,”Fournier. “Those features are only as capable as the traction provided by the tires, since the tires are the only thing between the car and the road.”
While winter tires can cost more than all-season tires, they are much safer and easier to use. Winter tires work best when properly inflated, just like all tires. One pound of tire pressure is lost when temperatures drop by 10 degrees. You should check your tires after each frost.
