What’s the Big Deal about Snow Tires?

by | Oct 30, 2024 | Consumer Issues

A tire treading through snow under a reddish-purple sky.

Winter tire season is fast approaching as the weather becomes more and more unpredictable. Shopping for winter tires can be confusing, so I’ve put together a fact sheet:

People often ask (young people especially), “Like, what’s the big deal about snow tires?” Snow tires handle snow, yes, but they also handle salt. Even inexperienced drivers know that salt is an agent of rust and disintegration. Snow tires will take salt crystals and suck them into channels and grooves, and eject them away from the car. The same is true for water, including salt water. 

  • Snow tires get more traction because they are outfitted with, what I call, “little spikes.”
  • It’s important to change all four tires when switching to snow tires. It’s a safety risk to have more than one type of tread on your car.
  • Snow tires smoothen your ride — even when it’s just cold with no snow — because they’re designed for cold weather.
  • Stopping distance with snow tires is 30% less than standard tires.
  • Snow tires deliver more traction in the snow than regular tires on dry roads. 
  • The way they are designed makes the tire more solid when it is turning, which is called “enhanced turning.”
  • All-season tires begin losing traction at 44 degrees — the rubber contracts instead of gripping the road.
  • Winter tires can be stored standing up, and are usually good for two whole seasons.

In researching this, I was surprised at the amount of work that goes into treading. The Kelly Blue Book has a comprehensive guide that will show you the actual tread patterns of seasonal tires, which can be found here. (https://www.kbb.com/car-advice/winter-tires-worth-cost/) 

It’s important to remember that prices vary on winter tires depending on the manufacturer and the size of the tires. 

Any tires are a large investment, but blizzards and ice storms have a way of coming earlier or later than predicted, and getting stuck driving in those conditions at some point is almost unavoidable. It’s better to protect yourself, your cute kids, and your teenagers. Contact us for help!