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Discount Tire Shares Tips About Essential Differences Between
Winter Season Tires and All-Season Tires |
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As fall and winter approach motorist are advised
to prepare in advance of severe weather |
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Scottsdale, Ariz. - (October 01, 2006)
The fall and winter season usually ushers
in thoughts of chilly air, beautiful landscapes
and the holidays. The severe weather that
follows makes for dangerous driving
conditions (wet, ice, slush, snow) in many
parts of the country. Discount Tire,
America's largest independent tire retailer,
reminds motorists to prepare their vehicles
by replacing their all-season tires with winter
season tires in advance of severe winter weather
for added traction, control, handling and safety. |
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All-season tires are not designed for severe winter
weather. All-season tire tread designs are
engineered to provide extended mileage and
durability under the summer sun. They are
less effective at maintaining traction in
winter weather and lose flexibility in
temperatures below 45°F, which affects handling,
control and braking distance. |
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Today's winter season tires are much more
technologically advanced and safer than "snow"
tires of the past. Winter season tires are
engineered with different compounds to maintain
flexibility and tread designs to provide safer
handling and control in all winter road conditions
and under freezing temperatures. |
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According to Michelin, winter season tires can
deliver approximately 25 - 50 percent more traction
than all-season tires under severe winter weather
conditions, a vital difference that allows a vehicle
to stop safely and avoid fatal accidents. |
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According to Discount Tire, it is best to use tires
that are specifically designed for the road and weather
conditions you will be driving in. Winter season tires
have different compounds to maintain their flexibility
and tread designs that deliver much better traction,
handling and control, especially in severe winter weather. |
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Discount Tire also recommends installing four winter season
tires for optimum safety and handling as opposed to paring
winter tires with all-season tires, an application that
creates a traction mismatch which leads to difficult
road handling. |
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Why Buy Winter Season Tires? |
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Winter season tires are manufactured to maintain flexibility in cold weather.
• Flexibility. Under low temperatures,
winter tires stay flexible versus all-season
tires that can turn hard like a brick!
This reduces traction and control.
• The tread compound of a standard
all-season tire progressively loses its
flexibility and road adherence when
temperatures drop below 45°F (according to Michelin). |
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Winter season tire tread compounds are specifically designed to improve the following.
• Traction for better control.
• Handling in emergency maneuvers.
• Braking for shorter and safer distances.
The braking distance of a winter season tire
compared to an all-season tire, depending on
speed and road conditions, can be as much as
10 percent shorter or two vehicle lengths. |
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Winter season tire tread patterns are designed to maintain rubber/road contact.
• Tread patterns increase cold weather traction,
control and overall road safety.
• Tread depth on all-season tires is lower which
creates a significant drop in slush and snow traction.
The tire packs up and can't clean out as winter tires
are designed to do. |
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About Discount Tire: |
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Discount Tire, based in Scottsdale, Arizona,
is America's largest independent tire company.
Also referred to as America's Tire in California
and Oregon, Discount Tire currently operates
639 stores across the country. The company
provides retail sales of tires, wheels and
related accessories and services through
retail outlets and mail/Internet orders.
Tires.com offers online access to tire
research and safety information as well as
Discount Tire products and services.
For more information on Discount Tire,
visit www.tires.com. |
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