Snow tires outperform “all-season” tires
1 of 1Snow tire treads
The snow tire tread pattern is more aggressive and the rubber is softer for better traction in snow and on ice.
If you wonder whether your “all-season” tires perform just as well in snow as snow tires, we have the answer. They don't; not even close. Most “winter tires” (the new term for
snow tires) outperform all-season tires in snow, rain and
even on ice. They have a more aggressive tread pattern and are made from a softer rubber compound. The softer compound allows the tread to squash around the snow, compact it, and then toss it out as the tire rotates. Some winter tires even incorporate closed-cell bubbles in the tread material. But as you drive, road friction cuts the
outer layer of bubbles and “sharpens” the edges of each one. It's like having a few thousand freshly made squeegees wiping the road as you drive. The end result is better traction, more stability in turns, and much
better stopping power.
Of course, you'll have to fork over the dough (about $90 each) to outfit all four wheels (yup, you have to put them on all four). The best approach is to mount them on a spare set of used wheels to avoid the spring/winter,
mount/dismount headache. For a great collection of tech articles on winter tires,
check out tirerack.com. Look for the section called “Winter Tire Tech” in the “Tech
Center” section under “Shopping Tools.”
