Each winter, people often find themselves wondering "Are my all-season tires okay for winter weather?" That can be a tough question to answer. In case you're asking that very question, here's some information to help facilitate your decision about whether or not to buy winter tires.
How are all-season and winter tires different? All-Season (aka all-weather) tires are designed to be reliable in many different weather circumstances (ex. rain, dry, etc.), but they do not focus on one particular condition. On the other hand, winter tires were created specifically to have the best possible performance in winter weather conditions.
Are all-season and winter tires made with the same materials? For the most part yes, however there is one very important difference- their rubber compounds. Winter tires are made with a special rubber compound that can handle low temperatures and allow the tire to conform to the road, therefore keeping traction and grip on icy and snow-covered roads. All-season tires have various technologies that allow them to perform well in various conditions. The rubber compound used in winter tires is unfortunately not one, so during the winter all-season tires will harden, creating less traction and grip between your tires and the pavement.
So why aren't all tires made with the rubber compound found in winter tires? All-Season and summer tires use a different rubber compound because the softer rubber used in winter tires tends to wear down more quickly. Though they are perfect for winter weather, year-round winter tire use will end up costing you more.
What do all-season and winter tires look like? All-Season tires are marked with a "M+S" meaning "mud and snow". Winter tires have a mountain and snowflake symbol on the sidewall that means they meet the standards of the Rubber Manufacturers Association for use in severe snow conditions.
So is it okay to use all-season tires during the winter? It is okay IF you live in a region with little snow or ice and moderate temperatures, like in the Southern US. However, if the temperatures where you live are typically below 44 °F during the winter, then you should invest in winter tires.
Gold, Aaron. "Snow Tire Q&A." 2008. About. 15 Dec. 2008 http://cars.about.com/od/adviceforowners/a/snowtires.htm. "Winter Tires." 22 Dec. 2005. Canada Safety Council. 15 Dec. 2008 http://www.safety-council.org/info/traffic/snowtires.html.