Know The Differences: Winter Vs All Season Vs All Weather Tires
There are varied weather conditions in Edmonton and they can be hard to predict. Winter tires aren’t required by all, though everyone should be ready for the weather in their area. There is always confusion about all-season, winter and all weather tires—which one will keep you safe when driving in winter?
Let’s explore each tire type, starting with the elephant in the room: all-weather tires.
- All Weather Tires
They maintain their flexibility in temperatures below seven degrees, so they grip well on slippery grounds and don’t wear out too soon on dry roads. Thick tread blocks make the tire grip well in snow and the tire sipes push water and slush away, helping it stay stable in milder winter and wet conditions.
- All-Season Tires
Because these tires are created for dry and wet roads, the hard rubber they use helps the tread last longer throughout Spring, Summer and Fall. They become less useful when temperatures are below 7°C, so they aren’t meant for Winter. The small blocks of the tires help lower road noise and allow for smooth rolling in warmer weather.
- Winter Tires
Made for the winter season, these car tires have a softer rubber compound to give excellent grip, as well as cornering and braking on snowy surfaces when the temperature is below seven degrees Celsius. Snow and slush are cleared by the deep tread sipes and blocks which help maintain contact with the road. The studs that can be added to the bottom of the shoe give more traction and a firm grip.
The effects of tires on different types of surfaces and temperatures such as snow and ice, rain and slush, explain why having winter or all-weather tires is useful in winter. It also shows why all-season tires is meant to be only used during summer, spring, and fall.
- Steps To Recognize Winter Car Tires
Whenever you are choosing tires meant for safe and dependable driving in Edmonton’s winter, look for two key winter tire signs:
The ice grip sign helps drivers find tires that are built for safer braking and control on ice. The grip sign on tires shows they have been tested and passed on icy roads.
The 3-peak mountain snowflake sign means the tire meets winter driving standards. Winter car tires with this sign have been checked for traction in snow, so you can depend on them for good cold weather and snow grip.
- What Kind of Tire Is the Best Fit for Winter Road Conditions?
In Edmonton, people use either dedicated winter tires for the winter and summer ones for the rest of the year or they run all-weather tires all year long.
If it’s time to change your tires, deciding the type of driver you are will guide you on tire choices and boost safety on the road for all users.
- What Makes All-Weather Tires a Good Choice
Unlike three-season tires, the mt. Snowflake sign on all-weather tires tells you they are designed for safe winter driving in Canada.
Drivers who want to run just one tire option all year long or who want to save on spending money on new tires or storing them should choose all-weather tires in Edmonton.
- Why It Is Necessary to Have Winter Tires
Deep, rough tread blocks on winter tires help them grip the snow and snow and pull away from it. Because the rubber in winter tires is meant to stay flexible, you’ll get proper cornering and braking on ice and big bumps of snow, since it won’t harden at negative 30 °C.
- Is It Possible to Run All-Weather Tires All Year, In All Kinds of Weather?
Where you use your all-weather tires is the key factor in deciding whether they can be used year-round in all weather. Even though many tires perform well in some areas, only two stand out by performing well on dry, wet and snowy surfaces.
None of the tested tires performs so well that it could stand in for a summer or winter tire. We normally give more importance to scores on dry and wet roads than on snow, since in most areas, wet or dry roads are more common than snow in winter. Some all-weather tires Edmonton work much better in the wet and so if you are in a rainy area like the Pacific Northwest, your options are more limited and clear.