You might have heard the phrase “there’s no such thing as cold weather, just whether or not you’re wearing warm enough gear.” If you’re from the Midwest, you’re no stranger to the unpredictable winters that we so often experience. The road can go from bone dry to icy in a matter of minutes! The time is now to seriously consider snow tires for your vehicle.
The snow tires that are on the market today are far more capable of taking on this ice and snow than all-season tires. With multi-tread technology, winter tires can cut through snow and ice with ease and stability. Surprisingly, they also maintain great fuel efficiency and can last up to six winters. Most importantly, snow tires do a better job of providing you with the safety and assurance you’ll be glad you have when carrying precious cargo.
We can provide you with a custom snow tire recommendation based upon the make/model of your vehicle.
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Snow tires, more accurately called winter tires, are tires that are made specifically for snow, ice, and other winter weather conditions. These tires have a series of numerous 3D sipes (or zig zag grooves) that cover the surface of the tread block. The sipes’ duty is to soak up the water layer while also cutting through snow and ice, like cleats would on a football field.
You might think you can get away with all-season tires during the winter, but do they perform the same as winter tires? Let's see how the two compare and if using all-season tires is the smartest option for you.
- Snow tires’ rubber compound stays flexible up to -45°, while normal tires stiffen and harden when the weather drops below 45°.
- Snow tires have a series of 3D sipes (or grooves), while normal tires have regular tread grooves.
- Snow tires are designed specifically for icy and snowy conditions, while normal tires are made for dry and wet conditions.
- Snow tires increase your stability on ice, while normal tires have decreased stability.
All-season tires aren’t as all-season as they may sound. Just like humans, no one person can do it all. Tires are the same way!
But, let’s take a moment to congratulate all-season tires for their great reputation seven months of the year on the summer sun-dried and rainy roads. It’s impressive. But, what about the other five months of the year (when the snow is coming down fast and hard and you’re feeling less than confident that your tires will be able to take on your next trip)?
While all-season tires do well in both dry and wet conditions, they don’t grip the road at the same level that ice and snow tires do. In fact, when the weather drops, all-season tires become stiff and immobile, and you could be gliding down the freeway in a moment, unable to slow down!
Why are snow tires better able to grip the road? Snow tires have thousands of tiny asymmetrical cuts that overlap in an intricate pattern that has been expertly designed to be in the harshest of conditions. The deep grooves and edges split the ice and make for enhanced traction while all-season tires stay above the surface of the ice just gliding by.
While some region’s drivers may be able to get away with using only all-season tires, if you're looking for tires in Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana, you'll most likely want to invest in a set of winter tires. The weather conditions are unpredictable and scary in the winter months. According to the Michigan State Police, “In 2020, Michigan traffic deaths rose by 10% despite a drastic drop in overall traffic. Nationally, the number of U.S. traffic deaths in the first six months of 2021 hit 20,160, the highest first-half total since 2006.”
The time is now to make the switch to winter tires so your vehicle is prepared for even the most treacherous winters.
You can drive normal speeds with snow tires on winter roads. However if you are driving too fast in the winter, snow tires will only slightly decrease your chances of losing control. Remember that snow tires are meant to keep you safe in the unpredictable Midwest weather conditions but they do not provide you with immunity from other winter-related accidents on the road.
If your climate is hot and rarely drops under 45°, this investment might not be for you. But for our friends in the Midwest, it would be a great investment to buy snow tires. We may have more seasonal fluctuations so it’s easy to look past snow tires but the safety benefits that snow tires can provide for you are priceless.
If you’re leaning towards snow tires, you’ll want to change your tires to match the season. You should put snow tires on in Michigan around November, when the temperature consistently starts to drop below 45°.
It is not wise to purchase snow tires only for your front tires. When you do this the front increases its risk of losing rear tire traction while braking or cornering on winter roads. This is because the rear wheels balance the weight of the car when it turns.
If you’re going to put on snow tires, you’ll need to get four of them to get the full benefits of winter tires and ensure balance and security on the road. Even if your car has all-wheel drive, two different sets of tires cause safety issues and could end in a potential disaster.
Snow tires can last at least 30,000 miles and up to 40,000 miles, depending on the conditions you face. Your tires can last 4-6 seasons before needing replacement. That’s much longer than the 3-4 years most all-season tires last. However the total number of seasons your snow tires will last is dependent upon the weather conditions you’re driving in and total number of miles you are putting on your tires each season. A rule of thumb is to stay around 5,000 miles per winter on your tires.
You can change winter tires back to summer or all-season tires again when the roads are clear and the temperature stays above 45°. If an unexpected snowfall comes and the temperature drops to colder temperatures, your tires will certainly be fine, but remember to be careful of road conditions.
There are many great options within different price ranges. Two snow tire options that we recommend are the Michelin X Ice and Bridgestone Blizzak. If you want to learn more about the advantages, cost, and durability of snow tires, call your local Wonderland Tire retailer to find the best fit for your vehicle.
All-season tires are still a great option for your vehicle. With great durability in all months of the year, they give you close to the traction of snow tires, mileage warranty, and you never have to take them off. Our recommended all-season tires are Firestone WeatherGrip and Hankook 4S2 tires. If you want to learn more about the advantages, cost, and durability of snow tires, call your local Wonderland Tire retailer to find the best fit for your vehicle.
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