When winter arrives, it brings with it cold temperatures and snow that can make driving hazardous. Most people leave their all-season tires on and don’t even give it a second thought; however, others understand the benefits of snow tires for New Jersey driving. If you don’t know the difference between all season tires versus snow tires, it might be beneficial to learn why it might be a good idea to invest in snow tires.
Winter Tires Are Constructed with Snow and Ice in Mind
Most people feel their all season tires can perform suitably in the winter, so why bother buying another set of tires and going through the hassle of installing them? While many people don’t have too many problems with their cars during the winter months, snow tires are constructed with this purpose in mind. Regular tires are made from rigid rubber that grows stiff when temperatures drop below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter tires, on the other hand, are made from a softer, more porous rubber that won’t get rigid in cold temperatures. They also feature deeper tread than your typical tires.
What If You Have All-Wheel Drive?
Having all-wheel drive is meant to give you better traction in a number of situations. While four-wheel drive can be beneficial in snowy or icy conditions, it won’t work quite as well as your snow tires would. The primary reason for this is because all-wheel drive sends power to all four wheels during acceleration, not braking. Because braking is often the biggest issue when driving in snow and ice, you need tires that will easily grip the road when you are trying to stop, rather than causing your car to slide. In addition, it’s important to take an all or nothing approach to snow tires. Installing only two tires will not provide the benefits you need.
What If There Is No Snow?
One of the biggest challenges people make when considering all season tires versus snow tires is whether you need them when the weather isn’t snowy or icy. Perhaps you don’t need to leave your home when it’s snowing and you can wait until the roads are clear before you head out. You may think this means you don’t need snow tires, but this isn’t the case. When temperatures drop to freezing or below, all season tires can become stiff and won’t grip the road as well, even if there isn't any snow.
The idea of buying a full second set of tires and installing them twice a year can be daunting to most drivers. However, when you live in New Jersey, snow and ice are inevitable. The benefits of snow tires for New Jersey driving are vast, making it necessary to evaluate whether you should make the move to snow tires. So what are the best tires for winter conditions? For most drivers in this area, changing your tires from all-purpose to winter tires can be the best option for safer driving.