Snow Tires FAQ

There are many components of a vehicle that just need to work. When it comes to your tires, we all know that they need to work properly, but we tend to ignore them until there is a problem. Instead of forgetting about your tires until you start skating all over the road, fishtailing around in the snow or sliding dangerously on ice, why don't you take a few moments to start considering how you can improve the quality and performance of your tires in winter weather conditions. One of the best ways to do this is to install snow tires. But you may have some questions.

Do I even need snow tires?

Most vehicles are equipped with all season or standard tires. This variety is not made for use in extremely hot, cold, dry or wet weather conditions. In reality, this type of tire is a compromise that sits somewhere between all of them. If you live in an area that receives a lot of snow or gets very cold in the winter, you should start thinking about investing in snow tires.

Snow tires are specially made to perform very well in cold and snowy conditions. They are also created to perform well on ice. A standard tire become very inflexible when it gets cold outside. This really lowers the tire's ability to grip onto the road. That means that a car using standard tires in the winter might need as much as an extra 20% distance to come to a complete stop. If something jumps in front of your car or if you start to slide off of the road, that extra 20% could be the difference between ending up safe or ending up in an accident.

Won't four-wheel drive or antilock brakes take care of me in the winter?

A lot of people make the mistake of thinking that four-wheel drive or antilock breaks will solve all of their problems when they are driving on snow. Four-wheel drive will help you control your vehicle in the snow, but it will not help it stop. An antilock brake system help your brakes avoid locking up when you press on them, but this feature is not the end-all be-all when it comes to stopping on snow. Overall, it would be unsafe to assume that four-wheel drive or antilock brakes replace the need for snow tires.

Do I only need snow tires on my front wheels?

If you're not careful, placing snow tires on only your front wheels can actually create some of the issues that you're trying to prevent in the first place. The problem comes when you mix different tire types. Mixing standard tires with snow tires can make your vehicle difficult to control and may even cause you to spin-out. If you drive on snow often, this can lead to suspension problems or other issues.

When you are choosing which type of snow tire to go with, realize that there are three primary categories. The first category is called a performance snow tire. They perform very well in conditions which experience constantly changing temperatures. Studless snow tires work well in conditions where there is a lot of snow or ice. The final category, studdable snow tires, perform very well in mountainous snowy regions.

Pay close attention when you are shopping for your next set of snow tires. Make sure that you get the best fit for your car and the region that you live in to make sure that your vehicle is safe.