Choosing Great Looking Wheels

Should You Purchase Winter Tires Over Their All-Season Counterparts?

by Tommy Brewer

Your tires play multiple roles when you are driving. To begin with, the tires work adequately to support the weight of your car while simultaneously absorbing the shocks that your car could be exposed to while on the road. Moreover, the tires are also responsible for transmitting both braking forces as well as torque when driving. Not to mention that with the right degree of tread and pressure, the tires will also function to keep you safe in varying driving conditions. That said, purchasing new tires should never be done on a whim. The best approach is to weigh your options so that you know what types of tires would be most appropriate for your driving style, regional climate, and so on. Although some people assume that all-season tires are the most adaptable option to invest in, you could be surprised at how functional winter tires would be for your needs. Before you put any money down, keep reading to understand why you should consider purchasing winter tires over their all-season counterparts.

Winter tires are functional for a majority of the year

If you are an avid car enthusiast, you probably would want to own different sets of tires to match the changing seasons of the year. And while this may be the best way to make the most of your tires, this is not financially feasible for many motorists since tires are incredibly expensive. Keeping that in mind, your choice of tires must be capable of providing your vehicle with the performance it requires for most of the year. Although some people assume that all-season tires will perform at optimum in severe weather changes during the summer and the winter, the reality is that the hard rubber compound they are manufactured from makes them better suited to the summer months than the winter. Once the temperatures drop, these tires have a tendency of becoming brittle, which is not the case with winter tires. Admittedly, winter tires will be slightly vulnerable to damage when routinely driving on hot tarmac, but these tires are flexible rather than being exceedingly soft. This flexibility not only provides traction during snowy and slippery conditions, but you can use your winter tires on both sandy and muddy terrains too. 

Winter tires offer improved handling of your car

Speaking of traction, another selling point of winter tires that makes them better suited for everyday driving than their all-season counterparts are is the exceptional traction that they offer. Irrespective of the prevailing weather conditions, it is vital that your car's tires are capable of gripping the road securely at all times. When driving with winter tires, you will notice that the car's stopping distance remains unaffected by skidding, and the same goes for abruptly turning the vehicle too, which can be credited to the increased tread depth provided by these tires.

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