When the winter season kicks in, most drivers are usually in a dilemma whether to keep using all season tires or switch to winter tires. The different types of tires are manufactured for specific functionality and therefore in these cases, the answer is yes they should switch to winter tires in preparation for the winter.
All drivers should have knowledge of the different types of tires available in the market and their functionality. This is key to ensuring they use the right tire for the right season to ensure their safety and that of other road users. Learn more about the difference between all season tires online and winter tires here.
1. The Traction And Grip
When it comes to the amount of traction and grip the tires give during use, the winter tires are better as compared to the all season tires counterpart.
However, the all-season tires are manufactured to also provide traction and grip when the weather is snowy and slippery it does not mean they are the best for the winter season.
The question here is the amount of traction and grip you are looking for. Is it just a little or the maximum possible? If you are looking for the best traction and grip, the winter tires are the solution but if you want a little, then you can use the all-season tires.
Buying tires is a matter of asking yourself the amount of functionality you want to reach. Some tires may function well, while others function the best. There is no harm in choosing the best functioning tires if they meet your needs and budget.
2. Flexibility Of The Tires In Low Temperatures
In these cases, the winter tires are more flexible for low temperatures than the cheap all weather tires. If the temperatures go extremely low, the winter tires will perform better due to the increased control and proper grip on the road.
Winter tires are manufactured with special rubber compounds that make the tires elastic. On the other hand, all-season tires are made of hard compounds of rubber which make them less elastic when the temperatures are below 7 degrees Celsius hence poor functionality.
The non-elasticity property of all season tires makes them lose traction when the temperatures are below 7 degrees Celsius which is almost the entire summer.
The winter tires are also manufactured to effectively minimize the build-up of snow to enhance more control which is not the case with all-season tires.
3. Confidence Basis
Having the right tires mounted gives you confidence in knowing that you can drive safely no matter the weather conditions. The winter season is likely to come with some challenges on the road due to the low temperatures.
It is good to avoid going through the fear that comes with experiencing challenges in controlling your vehicle during the winter. To have confidence in the road you need to mount the right tires. In these cases, the winter tires will offer more confidence for driving during the winter than all season tires.
Given that you have the assurance that the winter tires will efficiently work through icy and sketchy conditions, you will drive with more confidence.
4. Two Wheels Or Four
Having two wheels winter tires at the front of your car is different from having four wheels winter tires at the front.
Using different tires at the front and the back of your vehicle allows the vehicle to react differently when subjected to challenging surfaces. This is to mean that the tires end up working against each other.
It is not therefore not advisable to use a combination of winter tires and cheap all weather tires. If you decide to go for winter tires, just buy a wheel offset and a complete set for your vehicle and if you want the all-season tires make sure you get a complete set too.
Using the same set of tires at the front and at the back helps the vehicle react the same to whatever weather conditions they are subjected to and this helps to keep you safe.
5. The Tires Material
Most vehicles are manufactured with all-season tires. The material used to manufacture these tires is a fine and small tread which helps in providing grip during the warm seasons. However, this tread is not the most suitable for winter because it makes the wheel slippery on the road surface when you are driving.
The winter tires are thick and kind of blocky which allows them to grip the snowy and icy roads during the winter without slipping.
