Understanding Snow Tires and Winter Tires

If you live in an area where extreme winter conditions are experienced, you will obviously need to mount winter tires on your vehicle in preparation for the winter. Snow tires are not the best for snowy conditions, and in most cases, the winter is characterized by snow which usually takes a while to disappear due to the low temperatures experienced during the winter.

The approach of the winter gets you wondering if you should swap your current snow tires for winter tires. If you are in a dilemma about this, the answer you are looking for is a yes. You should know that winter tires can be considered a must for the winter season. Here is what you need to understand about snow tires which can also be all-season tires or mud tires.

What Are Winter Tires

To know the difference between winter and snow tires, let’s understand what each means by giving a simple definition of each tire type.

The winter tires are identified by the symbol of a three-way peaked mountain. Winter tires are designed for performance in cold temperatures and have special features to offer good gripping and help the vehicle appropriately handle the snowy road.

What Are Snow Tires

Snow tires are also known as all-season tires or mud tires. The specific symbol of an M+S can identify the snow tires. snow tires are the type of tires you will need to mount on your vehicle for seasons such as summer, fall, and spring for best performance.

Advantages Of Winter Tires

Winter tires are manufactured with a special soft compound. This feature helps to maintain a grip on the road even when the temperatures are as low as below seven degrees Celsius, which are experienced during the winter season.

On the contrary, snow tires or all-season tires are made of a stiff material, making them lose elasticity when subjected to extremely cold temperatures. This characteristic makes snow tires unsuitable for use during the winter.

The condition of snow winters losing elasticity prevents them from appropriately handling, cornering, and stopping the vehicle. These situations are very dangerous if they happen on the road. This is because they pose a safety hazard to the driver and other road users and also possible damage to the vehicle.

During the winter season, it is recommended that drivers use winter tires for their vehicles because the tires are manufactured to enhance better traction in snowy, icy, and slushy conditions, which is not the case with snow tires.

Are Winter Tires A Must

The answer to this question is a yes. Winter tires are a mandatory requirement for drivers during the winter season because they facilitate the safety of the driver and other road users. They also minimize the chances of getting involved in devastating road accidents during winter.

Surprisingly, for some areas and countries, using winter tires during the winter season is a rule, and opting for snow tires will land you an authority fine. Some insurance companies in the areas or countries will fail to compensate for accidents caused by using snow tires instead of winter tires during the winter season.

Can All-Season Tires / Snow Tires Perform Well During The Winter

The answer you are looking for is a no. you may be convinced that snow tires will do the magic and perform well during the winter, but this will not be the case. This is because winter is usually characterized by snowfalls and ice blocks that snow tires are not designed to handle.

However, sometimes the answer to this question may be determined by factors such as your location and your driving skills. For example, snow tires can serve you in locations where the winter is experienced at mild levels. This is because mild winter is not characterized by extreme conditions such as snowfalls, slashes, and ice blocks.

When the winter is moderate and you are an experienced driver, the risks are minimized, and you may not require winter tires. In these cases, your snow tires will serve you throughout all the seasons of the year.

However, it is always good to avoid the risks if the moderate winter turns out to be extreme. To be on the safe side, you should prepare yourself with winter tires rather than continue using your snow tires.