If you live in an area with particularly harsh winters, you know how bad the roads can get. But often times, if your car isn’t ready for winter weather it can be easy to get stuck in snow or lose control on the road. During my research about preparing your car for severe winter weather, I encountered several web sites that recommended snow tires (also known as winter tires). Many drivers have all-season tires which are designed to be adequate in most all types of weather conditions, but for drivers who live in areas with severe winter weather, all-season tires do not provide the traction and control needed to stay safe on the road.
Because snow tires are usually more expensive than all-season tires, most people don’t know about them or don’t want to buy them until it’s too late. There is also a lot of confusion about when and if snow tires are actually necessary. Even thinking about purchasing a new set of tires when you’re already on a holiday budget can be overwhelming and stressful, but in some cases, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
5 FAQs About Snow Tires
Before you go out a buy a new set of tires, read these 5 FAQs about snow tires to make a more informed decision.
1. What makes snow tires different from regular-all season tires?
All-season tires are designed to cope with all sorts of road conditions while snow tires are designed to give you the extra traction, braking and handling you need to drive more safely on snow and ice. Snow tires deliver as much as 25 – 50 percent more traction than all-season tires, which means that your anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control will be more effective because of the extra grip from the snow tires.
2. Can I use a combination of snow and all-season tires?
Using a combination of snow and all-season tires is worse than not having snow-tires. If you use just one or two snow tires, your car may not respond when the steering wheel is turned. Four snow tires are needed to achieve optimal traction and safety.
3. Can I just purchase snow tires and use them all-year round?
It’s not a good idea to use your snow tires all year because they tend to wear out faster in warmer weather. This means you’ll have to replace your tires more often.
4. When should I and install my snow tires?
If you live in an area with particularly severe winter, it’s a good idea to buy your tires as soon as possible—before demand for these tires begin increasing after the first storm. A good guideline is to install your snow tires when the temperature is regularly below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. You should remove your snow tires once the temperature is consistently higher than 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. How do I choose a good set of snow tires?
When shopping for snow tires, be on the lookout for a small icon of a small mountain with a snow flake. This icon indicates that the tire meets the standards for severe snow traction performance, as determined by the Rubber Manufactures Association (RMA).
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