The weather this February has been brutal for Chicagoans. Tons of snow, barely above freezing during the day means snow turns to water, but then it refreezes as ice every night. This makes for very hazardous driving conditions all over Chicago and the suburbs.
When you see accidents on icy roads, do you wonder if winter tires would have prevented them? Do you think that people who keep “all-season” tires on their cars all year are just asking for an accident?
There are a few things you should know about winter tires VS. all-season tires, especially if you are considering buying new tires in the future.
Let’s take a look at the facts and myths, as well as the differences, between winter and all-season tires.
The Two Big Differences
There are two major differences when talking about all-season tires and winter tires.
The first is that winter tires have a different tread. The tread pattern on winter tires has multiple narrow cuts across the tread. These are called “siping” and these small cuts give a winter tire small, sharp edges, like extraordinarily strong fingernails, that grip or bite into snow.
The second is that winter tires contain a softer rubber compound than all-season tires. Softer rubber means better grip. The harder rubber in all-season tires tends to become harder below freezing and slide around more easily.
Facts, Myths, and Half-Truths
Can winter tires increase your overall safety in snowy or icy conditions?
- Myth: Winter Tires Don’t Slide on Ice – Unfortunately, this isn’t true. Winter tires will most definitely slide on ice-covered roads. Traveling too fast for the conditions and hard braking will most definitely cause your car to slide over the ice, winter tires, or no! The only real solution for ice is studded tires.
- Fact: Using Winter Tires Costs More- There is no denying this one. While winter tires don’t necessarily cost more than an all-season tire, most people don’t want to use them in the summer. This means that you must pay to have the winter tires removed in the early spring and your all-season tires exchanged for winter tires in late fall. To avoid some of this expense, you can buy a second set of rims and have your all-season tires mounted on them. You can store the tires and rims in your garage or another area, and then simply exchange both tires and rims every year. Changing the tire and rim is a job you can do yourself in your own driveway!
- Half-Truth: Winter Tires Perform Better in Cold Weather- This is partially true if you are talking about snowy roads. Both tires work equally well in cold, dry conditions, but if you drive on snow-covered roads frequently, then yes, winter tires will definitely be a huge plus when it comes to traction.
- Myth: If You Have Winter Tires, You Drive at Normal Speeds- Don’t we wish things were this easy? The fact is that winter tires, good as they are, will slide on ice or very slick roads. No matter how good the salesperson says they are, winter tires are still tires and they have limits! Always drive more slowly in poor weather conditions, even if you have brand new, top-of-the-line winter tires!
- Fact: Winter Tires Do Not Do Well in Wet Weather or Summer Temps: Remember that one of the main differences between the two types of tires is that winter tires are softer? That makes them noticeably mushier during the hot summer months. Above 60 degrees, winter tires will give your vehicle a wobbly feeling when making turns and the steering wheel will feel a bit loose as if something is loose in the front suspension. At highway speeds in the summer, winter tires can be downright dangerous. They have poor braking ability in wet or warm weather. If you use winter tires, you would be smart to change them out every spring.
- Myth: Two Winter Tires on the Drive Axle are All You Need- This is a big NO, NO, NO. While it’s true that the drive axel does most of the work, you still need stability on all four wheels. If you need proof: after the next heavy snow, try walking outside with a winter boot on one foot and a summer sandal on the other foot. Case closed.
- Half-Truth: Winter Tires Are SO Noisy- While that used to be the case a few decades ago, it’s not really true now. A few heavy-duty pickup trucks may need heavier winter tires that cause noise but for your everyday passenger car or SUV, you will find that they don’t make nearly as much noise as the toddlers in your back seat do!
Winter Tires or All Season
While most people like the idea of winter tires, the same amount of people don’t want the added expense of paying for and keeping two sets of tires.
Is there a price on safety? Imagine if you could see the future and you knew that if you put winter tires on your ride, you would avoid a terrible accident? Would they seem expensive if you knew that?
Of course, no one can predict or see the future and the fact is that not everyone CAN afford a second set of tires. If you are fortunate enough, however, you should seriously consider investing in a second set of winter tires.
At My Mechanic, we know a whole lot about tires. If you are unsure about the current condition of your tires, if you are wondering which tire would work best for your driving habits, or if you have any other questions regarding tires, brakes, or other automotive needs, we have the answers.
Call us today at My Mechanic. Make an appointment or call us with your questions. We are the automotive experts, and we want to help. Call today while you are thinking about it! You’ll be glad you did.
