Winter Tire FAQs

Photo: Bridgestone.it

AutoGearhead: Gee... it's getting cold outside!! I will try to warm your room with this article :) In previous article, we have talk about winter driving safety tips, now we'll talk about winter tires. Winter tires have a conception of the aggressive tread that gives a better grip while throwing the snow and slush, which gives more stability during braking and better management of vehicles. The compound of winter tires is relatively mild.
The rubber of all-season tire begins to lose elasticity and harden at temperatures around -8 ° C to -10 ° C, reducing traction. At -15 ° C, this type of tires have lost its elasticity, while a winter tire will harden to about -40 ° C – it retains its elasticity for a very long time.

Taken from www.cars.about.com, Aaron Gold has shared information about winter tires frequently asked questions.

Q: What makes snow tires different from regular tires?

A: Snow tires (also known as winter tires) have tread patterns specifically designed to dig down and bite into snow and ice, plus they are made from softer rubber compounds that retain their flexibility in cold weather, allowing the tire to better conform to the surface of the road. (Regular tires tend to get hard and brittle in cold temperatures.) As a result, winter tires keep a better grip on snowy and icy surfaces than regular all-season or summer tires. Grip is critical. Not just to avoid getting stuck, but to ensure that the car can stop and steer. Life-saving safety technologies such as antilock brakes, electronic stability control and all-wheel-drive cannot do their jobs if the tires can't maintain their grip on the road surface.

Q: My car has all-season tires. Aren't those good enough?

A: Not really, no.  All-season (also known as all-weather) tires are designed to cope with all sorts of conditions, including dry roads and rain, but are not optimized for any one condition. They are generally made from harder materials that don't conform to the road surface as well in low temperatures. Think of all-season tires as sneakers and snow tires as heavy-duty snow boots. It is possible to walk down a snowy, icy sidewalk wearing sneakers -- but it's a lot easier and safer to do it with proper snow boots.

Q: Can I put snow tires on just the drive wheels of my car?

A: Putting just two snow tires on your car is a bad idea. If you have a front-wheel-drive car and put snow tires on the front only, the back wheels won't have anywhere near as much grip as the front wheels. This will make the car much more likely to spin out while braking or cornering. Likewise, if you put snow tires on the just back wheels of a rear-wheel-drive car, the wheels that do the steering won't grip as well as those that provide the power, so the car may not respond when the steering wheel is turned -- it will simply plow straight ahead. Always install snow tires as a full set of four.

Q: Can I leave my snow tires on all year?

A: You can, but it's not a good idea. Snow tires tend to be noisier, plus the softer compounds from which they are made means they will wear out faster, especially in warm weather. Wear is critical, because winter tires rely on their deep tread to dig into snow and ice. As soon as the snow is gone for good, remove your snow tires and reinstall your regular tires. The good news: Since you're savvy enough to use snow tires, you don't need to stick with the all-season tires that came with your car for the rest of the year -- you can choose a "summer" tire that will provide better handling, better traction in the rain, or a smoother, quieter ride.

Q: Unmounting one set of tires and mounting another at the beginning and end of winter is a pain. Is there an easier way?

A: Yes! Buy an extra set of wheels from a salvage yard and use those for your snow tires. The wheels don't have to be the exact same design, so long as they are the same diameter and have the same bolt pattern as your car's original wheels. If you've purchased aftermarket wheels, keep the stock wheels and use those for your snow tires. That way, when it comes time to change from summer tires to snow tires, all you have to do is have the wheels changed -- a quick and inexpensive job.

This video shows just how much difference they can make: up to 50% reduced braking distance on snow. Winter tyres are made with a higher percentage of natural rubber meaning they remain more supple at temperatures below 7º C.

By purchasing and installing winter tires, you have to remember the following:

1. Install four winter tires - To help maintain control and stability of the vehicle in icy conditions, always use a set of four winter tires.
2. Mixing tires with different models of internal structure and size affect the stability of the vehicle and should be avoided.
3. As a tire wears, traction is reduced by the snow. The tires are used near the wear indicators have reduced traction and should not be used on roads with snow or in severe snow conditions.
4. The correct air pressure for longer tread life, improves safety and reduces fuel consumption – all vital factors in saving energy and protecting the environment. Tire pressure decreases as the temperature drops, so be sure to check the pressure at least once a month when the tires are cold, preferably after the car has been out all night. (*)

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