While snowfall in winter makes the surroundings look beautiful, it also poses a hazard to anyone driving during that time. As the roads turn slippery due to the ice, controlling your vehicle while making turns becomes far more challenging than usual.
So, if you reside in an area that witnesses snowfall during the colder months, it's a good idea to replace your car tires with tires built specifically for driving in the snow. However, as not everyone likes to go through the hassle of changing their tires to suit the weather, many tend to go for all-season tires. But, are all-season tires OK for winter? Or is opting for snow or winter tires a better option? Let's find out below.
What's the difference between all season tires and winter tires?
All-season tires are designed to perform well for most terrains and weather conditions. As can be ascertained from its name, these tires can be used throughout the year-be it in the sweltering heat, heavy rain, or colder months. The rubber compound used for making these tires is comparatively hard, making them more durable and providing good traction at a wider temperature range.
But the question here is - are all-season tires good in snow? Well, that depends on the temperature as well as the depth of the snow. While all-weather tires can withstand light snow, they don't provide the best grip when the temperature goes below a certain range. So, if you're looking for tires that can help you drive through deep snow and freezing temperatures, these may not be the best option.
On the other hand, winter tires or snow tires are built especially for driving in cold weather. These tires are made with softer rubber than all-weather tires, which makes them more flexible. Designed with irregular edges and grooves, winter tires provide a better grip in extremely cold weather when the roads are covered with snow or ice.
Since roads turn slippery after a snowstorm due to the melting snow subsequently solidifying into ice, it's easy to lose control of your vehicle while driving, especially when turning and braking. Winter tires give you a better advantage than all-season tires in such conditions due to the added flexibility and stronger grip on the road.
Can you use all season tires all year?
Well, the answer is yes. The durable rubber compound used to build all-weather tires ensures that these work well throughout the year. The tires provide a good grip on dry and wet terrain, making them a good fit for most weather conditions. However, these are more suitable for regions with mild winters.
But, in case you live in a snowy region and are looking for tires to help you drive safely during such unfavorable conditions, it's best to go for tires specially built for the purpose.
What temperature do all-season tires fail?
While all-season tires can withstand a wide range of temperatures, the comparatively hard rubber compound makes it unsuitable when the temperature drops below a certain point. So, the question is - what temperature is too cold for all-season tires? Usually, all-season tires can handle temperatures as low as 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7.2 degree Celsius) . But, if the temperature falls further, or there is a severe snowstorm resulting in deep snow or ice, you might find your tires failing to provide enough grip on the road.
This is because of two reasons. Firstly, the grooves in all-season tires are comparatively shallow, and the tire's rubber tends to stiffen with the drop in temperature, thereby weakening its grip.
Summing up
To summarize, while all-season tires provide some traction in light snow, these may not be the best choice when driving in deep snow or ice, as the temperature will be far less than what these are designed to handle.
Therefore, when it comes to driving in the snow, it is best to stick to snow or winter tires, which provide better grip and traction even on roads covered with slippery ice.
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