Winter Tires vs. All-Season Tires

Most new vehicles on the Washington roads have all-season tires, which provide versatile performance for almost all conditions. However, all-season tires are not necessarily the optimal choice for severe winter weather. In low temperatures or deep snow, winter tires may be more appropriate.

What’s the difference between winter tires vs. all-season? Put simply, winter tires are engineered for driving in winter conditions. Like most things, there are advantages and disadvantages to consider before swapping your all-season tires for winter tires. Learn more with Ron Lewis Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Waynesburg below.

The Advantages & Disadvantages of Winter Tires

Winter tires can help you navigate seasonal challenges like snow and ice on the Morgantown, WV roads, but there are a couple of potential drawbacks to keep in mind as well. We’ll explain more below:

Advantages

• Unique Rubber Compound: All-season tires are made of a rubber compound that stiffens in extremely cold temperatures, so they may have trouble gripping the roads. Winter tires use a special rubber that remains soft and malleable in the cold, ensuring good road grip.
• Specially-Designed Tread: The tread patterns on winter tires are designed to keep the grooves free of snow and slush, improving traction in winter conditions.
• Biting Edge Design: Winter tires have a unique biting edge that helps keep you in control of your vehicle by digging into the snow and ice on the road to provide better traction.

Disadvantages

• Wear: If the temperature warms up and the roads are dry, winter tires are prone to wearing out more quickly due to the softer tread rubber.
• Swapping Out: Switching to winter tires adds to your seasonal maintenance. You’ll need an appointment to install them and an appointment to go back to all-season or summer tires at the end of winter.

Winter Tire Storage & Maintenance Tips

Winter tires aren’t ideal for year-round use, so Uniontown drivers will need to think about winter tire storage. Like any tires, winter tires also have maintenance considerations. Read these tips to learn more:

Winter Tire Storage Tips

• Store Clean Tires: Help your winter tires last as long as possible and prevent corrosion by washing them before storing them away for spring, summer, and fall.
• Clean & Temperature-Controlled Storage: Choose a temperature-controlled space to store your tires. Stack the tires vertically, and rotate the stack regularly so the tires don’t develop flat spots. 

Winter Tire Maintenance Tips

• Tire Pressure in Winter: Cold weather can cause lower tire pressure in winter. To combat this, we suggest filling your tires when they’re cold, so you can get them up to the correct PSI.
• Tread Wear: Winter tires will experience tread wear, so you should inspect the treads periodically to ensure you’ll have good traction when you need it most. You should also rotate your winter tires to help achieve balanced tread wear. 

Find Winter Tires in Waynesburg

We hope this comparison of winter tires vs. all-season tires has helped you determine what suits your needs. If you have other questions about winter tires or your tire pressure in winter, contact us to talk to a service advisor. Our parts department will help you find the right tires for your vehicle, and our service specials can help you save.