All-season tires can be used year-round but that doesn't mean that they
are the best choice year-round. In regions with freezing winter weather,
winter tires are one of the best ways to improve vehicle safety on
snowy and icy roads.
Winter tires feature aggressive tread
patterns with deep grooves that dig into packed snow. This improves both
accelerating and braking ability. Even at slow speeds, winter tires can
reduce stopping distance by up to 25%. In one evaluation, stopping
distance was measured for a sub-compact, minivan, and 4-wheel drive
vehicle traveling at 30 mph:
Sub-Compact
-Winter:
128 feet
-All-season: 166 feet
Minivan
-Winter:
126 feet
-All-season: 168 feet
4-Wheel
Drive
-Winter:
117 feet
-All-season: 140 feet
Stopping 20
to 40 feet shorter makes a big difference between a collision and a
close call, and winter tires also improve overall handling and cornering
on slippery surfaces.
*Ministry of Transportation, Quebec
2002
Don't Call Them Snow
Tires
Winter tires are often mandatory
in regions with heavy snow like Quebec and several European countries,
but they don't only improve traction on snowy or icy roads. Beyond
aggressive tread patterns and studs, winter tires feature a different
rubber composition than all-season tires that improves handling even on
dry surfaces.
Composed with advanced tread compounds
including greater percentages of natural rubber and silica, winter
tires retrain their flexibility in freezing temperatures unlike
all-season tires that can harden and lose traction. Anybody that drives
where winter temperatures are regularly below 45 degrees Fahrenheit can
benefit from winter tires.
