All Weather Vs. Snow Tires

All Weather Tires

All weather tires are those designed to offer good traction in a variety of bad weather conditions. Ratings may differ from manufacturer to manufacturer, but in general, there are two types of all weather tires. The first is made to be used in rain, light snow and dry conditions, while the second is designed for mud and snow. All weather tires are usually meant to be used all year long, and are most popular in climates where heavy snowfall is not common.

Snow tires are designed specifically for heavy snow conditions and ice. In many states, they can officially take the place of chains where chains are required, and are very popular among those who drive in mountains. Most states also have laws that require snow tires to be removed after a certain date to reduce wear on roads, since the tread of snow tires can break apart roads more easily than normal tires. Similar laws may apply to all-weather tires, although this is less common.

Several features make snow tires different from all weather version. Both have custom treads that are designed specifically to repel water or mud, but snow tires have extra grooves designed specifically to propel snow away from the tire. The rubber used to make snow tires is often softer than all-weather tires, designed to have more give and provide more traction on ice than the harder rubber of other versions.

In addition to all weather and snow tires, vehicles can also be equipped with summer tires. These tires are designed to provide maximum traction on dry or newly wet roads, and are often created to perform best in warm climates. Summer tires are designed for a very specific market, and will not perform well in other locations, especially the icy climates where snow tires are advisable.

Snow tires should be purchased and installed on all four wheels. Some people prefer to save costs by using only two snow tires, but this only displaces the traction onto the tires than cannot handle it when the car begins to slip. It is also advisable to purchase rims with the snow tires if the driver lives in an icy climate. Tires with rims are much easier to take off and remove than tires than need to be removed from their rims at the end of every season.