Do You Need Winter Tires? How, and What to Know

The primary concern for most people is that they don’t want to get “stuck” in the snow (or in the ditch) during the winter. But most people don’t drive in snow all winter, either. So how do you know if you really need snow tires?

While in cities like Philadelphia, Memphis and are Seattle located at the extreme edges of the snow belt, relatively new all-season tires will probably work just fine. But the odds change as you move further into the snow belt or the all-season tires have a few years of wear on them. And who wants to gamble…especially when their collision deductible and future insurance premiums are on the table.

The Magic of Winter Tires: Rubber that Won’t Freeze

Choosing tires often means making a compromise. One tire can’t be the fastest on the track, most controllable in the snow, and longest wearing. The Ultra High-Performance tire that grips the track with tread temperatures of 200° is incompetent as its tread compound becomes like “hard plastic” at below 32°. Today’s 80,000-mile tires require tread designs and compounds that maximize long, even wear… not winter traction. And while many all-season tires, including those that come standard on new cars, touring and performance tires, address some of these issues, they still emphasize longer wear, a quieter ride or greater fuel economy…not winter traction.

Further Reading: Michelin’s “Safe When New, Safe When Worn” Tires: The Best Tires … Get Better With Wear?

Traction Control Isn’t the Same as Tire Traction

It’s also important to note that the recent advancements in electronic driver aids, such as ABS and traction control don’t provide more traction. They only help prevent drivers from over braking or overpowering the available traction of their tires. The only thing the driver can do to increase traction…to actually get more grip and control… is install better tires.

“In the simplest terms, winter tires are suitable for any driver whose “winter season” consists of average temperatures below 40 degrees and experiences anything more than infrequent snow/slush/ice conditions,” Woody Rogers, Chief Information Officer of Tire Rack told us. “Atlanta, GA, for example probably doesn’t warrant a set of dedicated winter tires. But as you move a little north to say Cincinnati, OH it’s time to consider them. At this edge of the snow belt real winter driving may be only a few times a year, but when it happens, having winter tires makes the journey so much easier.”

How Do I Buy Winter Tires?

Selecting tires for any season, including winter tires, can be a bit overwhelming with the sheer amount of choices available. Some cars have over 200 tire choices available! But narrowing down the winter selection is made easier; these tires carry a marking of  M + S and a snowflake. For more help, the Tire Decision Guide on Tire Rack’s website makes tire selection much simpler, and allows for a function to select winter tires.

Further Reading: Can You Buy Tires Online? What You Need to Know, And What We Learned

When Should I Switch Back to All Season Tires?

When I asked my friends who drive locally, most do opt to purchase separate snow tires for the winter months in Canada. I use good quality M+S (mud + snow) rated all seasons because we don’t travel to the mountains often. But with more driving in the mountains in winter, I may need to consider a set of winter tires.

What is the Cost?

Snow tires can range greatly in price, depending on the size your vehicle requires and the quality of the tire and brand. Look to spend anywhere between $400 – $7000+ for a set of four winter tires. But even at the high end, that can be less than the cost of being towed out of a ditch in a blizzard. Or worse.

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