How Well Do All Season Tires Do in the Winter?
We’ve been talking a lot about winter car care tips all month long. After all, this is one of the most dangerous driving seasons of the year. And we want you to be safe on the roads. Earlier this month, we talked about purchasing snow tires and what kinds of things to consider when choosing your winter tires.
We know that not every driver in the Vancouver area can afford to buy an extra set of tires just for the winter. And we also know that any all-season tires have been built to work in all road conditions and in all kinds of temperatures. But, we also know that many all-season tires just don’t have the same traction ability that snow tires do.
All-Season Tires Lack Traction in Winter
The truth is all-season tires are great. But they perform much better in warmer conditions than in cold and wet conditions. The biggest problem is all-season tires just don’t have the same level of traction that winter tires do. And according to some recent research by Popular Mechanics, all-season tires just don’t cut it in wintery driving conditions.
They ran some comparison tests on identical vehicles. First, they used all-season tires and then changed them out for snow tires. According to the tests, the winter tires were the hands down winner when it comes to driving on snow and ice. Of course, the all-season tires performed okay. It’s not like driving on skis, obviously. But the winter tires offered better traction and stability than the all-season tires. The results were true for both AWD and FWD vehicles.
Winter Tires Outperform The Competition
And according to Popular Mechanics, they noticed the most significant difference when the vehicles were braking and cornering. That’s when using snow tires actually improved the performance of the vehicle by as much as 5 percent and 20 percent, respectively. So, it’s clear that while all-season tires are a great option for year-round driving, they can’t perform as well as snow tires do in the winter.
And one more word of caution, no matter what type of vehicle you drive, or tires you use, the best way to safe in the winter is to practice save driving habits. So be smart on the roads and you’ll stay much safer.
Are You Ready for Some Snow Tires?
We know your safety is important to you. We also know that most people in Vancouver have a budget. That’s why we offer great deals and financing for qualified customers. That way, if you need to get snow tires now, we can hook you up, and you can pay as you go. And if you need any other kind of auto repair in Vancouver WA, then come see us at Hoesly Automotive.
All-season tires are good for most of the year. But they don’t give you much traction in the winter, especially in icy conditions. So if you want to be as safe as possible, then come see us at Hoesly Automotive for your net set of snow tires today.
We’re here to help Vancouver-Portland drivers get their cars, trucks, crossovers, and SUVs ready for all of the winter driving conditions. Just call us or click here to set up an appointment online.
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