Do You Need Winter Tires? How, and What to Know
The holidays are over and the sun is setting later, but don’t let that fool you: winter is far from over. In fact, some of the coldest, snowiest and most unpredictable weather is likely ahead. This is the time of year I find myself wondering if I should have invested in winter tires or “snow tires” for my car. They are certainly a good investment if they keep my car from sliding off the road or let me say “yes” to another ski trip. But how do I really know, and and what should I look for?
I live near the mountains in Vancouver, Canada, and while we don’t get a lot of snow here in the city, drive just an hour East or North and you are on mountain roads. In many parts of Canada, winter tires are required on certain highways from October through March.
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Do I Really Need Winter Tires?
The primary concern for most people is that they don’t want to get “stuck” in the snow (or in a 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?
In cities like Philadelphia, Memphis and are Seattle that are 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 passenger safety, as well as the collision deductible and future insurance premiums, are on the table.
Read: How Important Are Your Tires? How to Make the Right Tire Choice
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” when the temperature drops below freezing.
Today’s most popular tires deliver up to 80,000 miles of wear with tread designs and compounds that maximize long, even wear, but 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.
Read: The Truth About Worn Tires and Tire Replacement: What You Need to Know
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, can be a bit overwhelming with the sheer amount of choices available. Some cars have over 200 tire choices. 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.
When Should I Switch Back to All Season Tires?
“Winter tires won’t make your vehicle fall off the road and burst into flames on a warm summer day,” said Woody Rogers. “But winter tires should be removed at the end of the winter season when daily low temps are consistently above the low 40s. If temps are still falling to around freezing at the low, but the occasional daily high is pushing 50+, it’s OK to keep using the winter tires. That’s usually just a short transition at the end of the season. What’s important is to not take them off too early. A final burp of winter weather and frozen precip on the ground is where winter tires would still be the best option.”
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 – $1,000+ 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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