Winter Tires vs. All-Season Tires: What’s Right for Your Vehicle?

With winter right around the corner, people all across the Richmond, Ashland, and Mechanicsville areas are beginning their preparations for frigid weather and snow storms. This includes stocking up on bread, canned goods, and firewood. However, you also need to prepare your vehicle for the snowy season so you can maneuver it safely on the icy roads.

These preparations include getting the right tires for your vehicle. There are different preferences. Winter tires and all-season tires both have their pros and cons, but which of these tire styles is right for your vehicle? We'll carefully explain the differences between these two tire styles so you can figure out which one would be best for you. 

Winter Tires

Winter tires, or snow tires, are designed specifically for winter conditions. Cold temperatures, as well as hot temperatures, can have a dramatic effect on your tires. The cold can stiffen the rubber on your tires, resulting in the tire having a difficult time providing traction. Winter tires are designed to combat the cold while still remaining flexible enough to allow your vehicle to regain traction.

These tires feature deeper tread to help reduce snow buildup. When snow clogs your tread, it can result in wheel slip and sliding. Snow tires also feature more slits in their tread to help remain stable on icy roads. 

All-Season Tires

All-season tires are designed to withstand the extremes of both winter and summer. They offer a versatile performance and good tread life. They can easily grip wet roads and light snowy conditions. These tires not only offer refined handling, but they can result in a quieter ride.

All-season tires perform much better in the summer than they do in the winter. These tires help with performance and traction, but during harsh winter conditions, they don't offer the superior performance and security of winter or snow tires. The rubber in all-season tires is more sensitive to temperature, so frigid weather can have a drastic effect on the tires. 

Which Is Better for Me?

Choosing between these two types of tires is entirely your preference. Both are designed to handle the weather. Winter tires, though, were specifically designed to offer superior performance on snow-covered roads during colder temperatures. The rubber is more durable when it comes to the freezing temperatures.

If you live in an area that gets very cold during the winter months, you may want to opt for snow tires. Not only will they provide the necessary traction and performance, but you won't have to worry about them wearing under the pressure. All-season tires can be effective during the winter, but it's the winter tires that'll offer you better security if the weather turns ugly. 

Do you have more questions about which tires are better for your vehicle during the winter? Feel free to contact us at Richmond Ford Lincoln. We're always happy to help drivers in the Richmond, Ashland, and Mechanicsville areas prepare their vehicles for the changing seasons.