Winter will arrive whether you want it to or not. And once the temperatures drop, only
one thing should be on your mind. Should I put winter tires on my car? Okay, maybe not
the only thing on your mind, but arguably one of the most important. Winter tires come
in a lot of sizes and price points. It's time to demystify the tire options and find the best
one for you.
Let’s Start with Summer Tires
Regular summer tires contain rubber made for warmer temperatures that performs well
in temperatures from 50-100℉. Any colder than that, and the rubber becomes rigid and
brittle and does not grip the road well. If you live somewhere frostier than 50℉ (hello,
Rochester, NY!), you might need to know what else is out there.
So, What Are the Options?
All-weather tires. These tires have a more aggressive tread pattern for better traction in snowy and muddy conditions. All-weather tires contain rubber that tolerates colder temperatures than summer tires. There is no standard for all-season tires, so some may be closer to a summer tire than a winter tire in terms of temperature tolerance.
Winter tires. These tires have a much more aggressive tread pattern angled to improve road grip. This pattern does increase tire noise. The rubber is rated for temps down to 0℉ and will stay softer on ice and dry road conditions to allow for better traction. Winter tires have to pass a federal standard for minimum snow traction.
Studded tires. Metal pieces inserted into tire tread help give better traction on icy roads. However, when there is no snow or ice, those metal bits continue chipping away at the road, so many states have outlawed them. They are permitted in New York State from October 16th to April 30th. The road damage caused by these tires has cost quite a lot in taxpayer dollars, so be cautious using them.
If you live in an area that doesn't often get snow or temps below 50℉, all-weather tires may suit you just fine. But since we live in Western New York, where snow is a fact of life for a long stretch of the year, let's talk more about winter tires.
Winter Tire Tread
The tread pattern on winter tires varies by manufacturer, but they all serve the same
purpose: to improve traction during icy and snowy conditions. The tread is made up of
various grooves cut into the part of the tire that touches the road. There are channels,
which are larger grooves made to stop water from building up between the tire and the
road and prevent hydroplaning. Sipes are more minor grooves meant to grab onto the
snow and help it grip onto itself, improving traction during snowy conditions.
Cost
Lucky for us, winter tires aren’t more expensive than regular summer tires. In fact,
changing the tires out every season decreases wear and tear, helping tires last longer.
Still, having your tires changed does cost money.
Pro-tip: One way to help with cost over the long run is to put your winter tires on their
own rims. Winter tires already on rims allow the auto shop to do a tire rotation service
instead of a mount and balance of four tires. If you keep your car for a while, you'll see a
return on rim investment after about five seasons. Also, this is a much quicker service.
Heads-up: If your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS),
the TREAD Act passed in 2000 requires that all tires have sensors connected to the
TPMS. The TREAD Act also requires the wheels for your winter tires to have sensors.
Additional sensors would be an additional cost to consider.
Other factors that impact your wallet are tire size and brand. Smaller wheels and
narrower tires can be cheaper and cut through snow better. Discuss this with your
service advisor to get the best tire for you.
I've Got an Idea!
Hey, what if I just put two winter tires on instead of all four? Sounds like a great way to
save money, right? Well, sure, at first. But this is also a literal accident waiting to
happen. The tires that are not winter tires will have less grip. If you put them on the front
only, you lose steering ability. If you put them on the rear only, the car's back end can
swing around and send you spinning as you take a turn.
What To Look For
Check your vehicle's owner's manual to see if there is a specific recommendation.
Otherwise, do some research.
A tire that meets the DOT requirements will have
three mountain peaks with a
snowflake in the middle (see photo)
stamped into the sidewall.
Talk to your service advisor about what your options are. They know your car and
should be able to walk you through finding the tires that can keep you and your family
safe this winter.
Are you Team Snow Tires or Team All Season? Let us know in the comments!
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