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Did you know there are different types of tires for the road conditions for each season? Well, there are. There are winter tires, summer tires and all-season tires.
But how important are they? And -- more importantly -- is it safe to drive on your tire all season long, or should replace them each season?
If you don’t know whether your tires are all-purpose, winter or summer tires, that could be a problem. Sure, all-purpose tires are meant to be driven all-year-round, but with the cold winter weather in Western Pennsylvania and elsewhere above the Mason-Dixon line, your safety may be compromised during those snowstorms.
To ensure your vehicle is safely operating, it is best to change your tires at least twice a year. In this post, we’ll host a royal rumble -- all summer vs all season vs winter tires -- to see which comes out on top as the best for your vehicle during any given season.
All season tires were introduced by the Goodyear Tire Company in the 1970s and quickly grew in popularity.
Today, most people drive all season tires off the lot when they take home their new vehicle. These tires reflect an attempt to make a best-of-both-worlds tire -- one that performs moderately well in all types of weather. They are great for three seasons in most of the United States, and in the southern climes there may be no downside to driving them all-year-round.
Let’s check out how all season tires match up where the rubber meets the road:
Rubber Composite: All season tires are made with a rubber composite meant to deal with the most variety of weather conditions. It is the jack-of-all-trades in this comparison, made with a material that is more resistant to cold weather but which will still stiffen in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit -- which reduces grip on the road surface.
Tread Pattern & Depth: Here, all weather tires offer the most moderate combination as well. They are designed to work in rain and slush, but also have the grip to hold onto the road in hot and dry conditions.
Biting Edges & Sipes: These terms describe the patterns along edges of the grooves in the tire and the protrusions along the edge wall where it contacts the roadway. Again, all season tires are the average Joe of the three, able to grip hot, dry pavement better than winter tires, but not as reliable in a cold weather snowstorm.
Based on this description, it might seem like it may be reasonable to drive all purpose tires all year round. And in sub-tropical conditions, this might hold true. But if your car is operating in freezing temperatures, snow and ice for any part of the year, driving on all purpose tires puts you into danger. Popular Mechanics put the tires to the test. In winter storm conditions, winter tires reduced braking distance from 383 to 374 feet -- a difference of nine feet, enough to be the difference between a close call and replacing a fender or worse.
And if you think your all wheel drive vehicle helps to make up the difference, think again. The exact same AWD vehicle had a stopping distance of 387 feet with all-seasons, which was reduced to 366 feet -- a difference of 21 feet. All wheel drive vehicles actually perform worse in blizzard conditions with all season tires than a standard front-wheel drive vehicle!
Performance and racing vehicles are often fitted with summer tires -- along with cars sold in warm and dry climates like the American Southwest. It may not always be necessary to fit specialty tires for the summer season, but your vehicle’s performance and safety will improve should you choose to do so.
Rubber Composite: Summer tires are built to stay flexible in the hottest conditions to allow the rubber to grip the road like a glove. Should these tires be driven in freezing temperatures, the material would become brittle and crack.
Tread Pattern & Depth: The grooves are shallower, with an asymmetrical pattern and solid ribs. These tires are great for performance on dry roadways, but become dangerous in wet and freezing conditions.
Biting Edges & Sipes: Summer tires do not have the biting edge or sipe patterns to whisk away deep snow or grip on ice.
So, let’s cut to the chase. Can you use winter tires all year?
Short answer: That’s not a great idea. Here’s why:
First, the tires are not made for it. Driving on tires made with oils and resins made to keep them flexible in the cold means they will handle poorly in hot conditions. And the tread design of winter tires will make for a noisy ride in the summer.
Also, driving winter tires in the summer will end up costing you more money. Think of two sets of tires as an investment -- each set will get less wear and only perform in its intended environment -- allowing them each to last longer. Not only will it make for less tire purchases over the course of your vehicle, it will help you avoid wear and tear on other parts of your car.
Most importantly, driving on the right set of tires will help you avoid an accident when driving in the most hazardous conditions.
Highland Tire proudly serves the local Natrona Heights, Tarentum, PA area. We understand that buying new tires can be overwhelming. Let us help you choose from our large selection of tires. We feature tires that fit your needs and budget from top quality brands, such as Michelin®, BFGoodrich®, Uniroyal®, and more. We pride ourselves on being your number one choice for any tire service, from flat tire repair to tire rotation. Let us earn your business.
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