Difference between Seasonal and Winter Tires

Posted November 25th 2014

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Many people who do not realize the importance of using special tires in winter. They continue using standard tires throughout the year. Using winter tires is essential, especially if you have heavy snow in your area. Let’s look at the difference between seasonal and winter tires, so you can make an informed selection moving forward:

Grooves Of Winter Tires

The first thing you will notice about tires made for use in the snow is the grooves. The grooves of regular tires provide solid grip on smooth roads. However, the tires developed for driving in the snow have larger grooves. Moreover, the grooves are extended beyond the standard height. This gives the tires a better grip when driving through snow. All season tires tend to slip and spin in similar conditions since they have smaller grooves.

Traction during Temperature Drops

One of the biggest issues with all season tires are they lose traction at lower temperatures. Since most people assume winter tires are only for driving in the snow, they fail to use them. The tires constructed for use in winter have the ability to maintain proper traction at severely low temperatures. A good quality winter driving tire can maintain traction at temperatures as low as -35o Celsius. Other tires would lose their grip on the road if the temperature falls below 5o Celsius. This is why you should consider investing in a good quality set of tires specifically designed to be used in the cold weather.

Elasticity of Tire Rubber

The traction and grip of a tire depends on its elasticity. Moreover, the elasticity of a tire also contributes to a car’s gas mileage. Regular tires often become hard and lose their elasticity at low temperatures. But winter tires are designed with special compounds which maintain their elasticity at low temperatures.

If you want to drive safely and avoid having to spend too much on gas during the winters, be sure to get special tires for your car.