ALT-1 The Difference between all Season Tires and Winter Tires
All season tires and snow tires are not technically created for the same purpose. In spite of the fact that the term “all season” seems to indicate that these tires may be used year long, they do have their limitations. Both kinds of tires have specific uses, and both are needed for maximum performance and safety throughout the year.All season tires are designed to work well under a variety of conditions. For this reason they are made with denser compounds that will take a lot of wear and tear. These, however, harden when exposed to colder weather. In fact, this may begin to happen when temperature reach the 40’s. Hardened rubber, and tires that have no softer studded qualities, do not hold the road or maintain traction as well as tires that are created specifically for that purpose.Tread designs in all season tires are, by necessity, geared toward driving in many different temperatures and under different driving conditions. They must hold up in high heat, and they are designed to produce a smoother ride. In general, since they are sold to be used year long, they must try to adapt to various situations. Treads on these tires are not as deep as snow tires and often do not produce the grip needed for achieving traction on snow, ice and slush. Once shallow tread is packed with snow, traction is reduced even further.Snow tires, on the other hand, are designed for one thing only, to hold the road in snowy and icy conditions. They are made of a more malleable, soft rubber that maintains its grip on the pavement better, and they are equipped with deeper tread. They are studded with grips on the tires to bite into snow and ice.Special compounds that go into the construction of snow tires keep the rubber pliable even at extremely low temperatures. They also produce a feature that allows the tires to go through slush and water without skidding. This compound would be impractical for an all weather tire, since driving in warmer conditions would decrease the life of the tire significantly.While it may seem like an extravagance, it is recommended that everyone have a set of snow tires that can be put on the car at the start of cold weather and be removed in the spring. Having these tires on separate wheels is a further expense, but saves time in swapping them out and saves wear and tear on the tires.
