Buying tires does not need to be difficult. If you have any questions, make sure to come in so we can advise you. There are many differences between summer tires, winter tires and all season tires. The differences are mainly evident in the tread patterns of the tires, and each tire consists of different compounds. Below, this article will discuss which tire performs the best in what conditions so that you can choose between the three.
The summer tires, like the name suggests, performs best when the temperature is warm outside, regardless of the surface condition. On the other hand, winter tires offer maximum performance when the surface is snowy or icy. The all-season tire is instead, the combination of the summer and winter tires as it possesses qualities of both.
Summer Tires
In the summer tires, you can spot a continuous center rib that has good straight line stability. Moreover, you will also find a large contact area on the outside of the tire. The contact area allows the car to grip the road whenever you make a sharp corner turn. Summer tires tend to have less tread depth, which helps in making the car more responsive and adds to the handling quality of the car.
Winter Tires
Winter tires have a slightly more complicated tread pattern. The design of the winter tread is one that evacuates water and snow from the roads. The grooves of the tires are also very deep grooves and an increased tread depth. This tread depth provides the car with good grip and traction on when the tires come in contact with the snow.
Some tires also have zigzag patterns across the tires that provide incredible grip on icy and snowy conditions. This pattern helps to improve the rigidity of the treads and also allows for increased traction whenever you are making sharp turns.
All-Season Tires
The design of the all season tire is somewhat of a combination between the two tires. Therefore, in the center of the tires you will find the elongated stripe like the summer tires, and for snowy conditions, you will find the tire to have stripes on the outside as well to improve traction.
Compounds
Each of these tires performs best in different temperatures. Summer tires consist of compound that is meant for temperatures that go beyond the 40 degrees Fahrenheit mark. The winter tires on the other hand can perform well below freezing temperatures, and allows for the rubber compounds to remain soft and flexible.
The all-season tire is the compromise option for both of these tires as it still remains somewhat flexible in the freezing temperatures, while still being operable in the higher temperature where winter tires are softer in quality and wear out much quicker. Now that you understand the differences between the tires, you can make the better choice when replacing your tires.
Buying Tires
In the rain and wet surfaces, summer tires perform the best, while winter tires are great for snowy and freezing conditions. Picking out the best tire for your depends on where you live, and the most frequent climate of that location.