Understanding the Importance of Winter Tires

It’s winter, and your windows are frosted with ice. Snow drifts blanket your grass and summer flowers. You glance out at your car in the driveway, and you’re not exactly looking forward to the trek out there, to watching your breath as you wait for it to warm up.

But you’re not going to venture out through the snow and across the ice in your summer sandals, are you? You’re not about to fumble to your car in your flip flops, right?

Right. And you don’t want to have summer tires on your car in the winter, either. Because for your vehicle, for your family, we’re not talking about frostbite here. We’re talking about safety. About assurance.

Your ride needs the right tires. So don’t tread lightly when it comes to quality.

The truth about tread

Just like you wouldn’t trust rubber flip flops to cross a frozen pond, you don’t want summer tires to

tackle a winter road. Here’s what the experts say: tire tread differs in pliability and durability at different temperatures. Given a cold enough temperature, all tire rubber becomes a lot like a clean kitchen countertop: slick and slippery.
Summer tires are ideal and designed for high performance vehicles; they come standard on your Corvettes, your Porsches, your Vipers. These tires have a shallow tread depth and are customized for speed, agility, response, and cornering. They’re great in wet road conditions due to their unique tread patterns. And while they are possible for use in most conditions, they are not the best choice in winter weather.
Winter tires, a lot like snow boots, are specifically designed for cold conditions: their tread compounds remain soft in the lowest winter temperatures, allowing for enhanced grip and handling.

Winter tires also perform better because they have flexible sidewalls, deeper tread depth and customized tread patters. Living in certain regions may require the use of even heavier, robust tires or snow chains, but anyone living in an area where snow and ice is expected should invest in winter tires. Or have a buddy on speed dial who does, and who is willing to tow you out of that ditch.

And while you’re at it, be sure to replace all four tires: nobody likes a mismatched set, and in this case it’s not just an easy way out, it’s unsafe.

Put the rubber to the road

When it comes to the safety of you and your family – and your own peace of mind – there’s only the high road. Your tires connect you to the road, your family to your world, and you need to keep a grip on what’s important: winter tires are right for snow and ice, summer tires are perfect when the weather’s nice. Because you wouldn’t think of skiing in Aspen on water skis,

right?