Do you need winter tires?

11/2/2011

As the snow starts to fall and temperatures get colder, drivers need to start paying attention to their vehicle and how it performs in the winter. One of the most important considerations is the tires. Those who live in colder states have obviously heard about winter tires - but are these really necessary?

A recent popular trend is "all-season tires" which are marketed as performing well under all conditions. While these offer an improvement over the tires from years past, they do not perform quite as well as dedicated winter tires.

"The hardness of these tires at lower temperatures means they no longer conform to the surface of the road," says Joerg Burfien, director of research and development for Continental Tire, told Edmunds Inside Line. "This leads directly to reduced grip on the road and a much-reduced overall performance - mileage, braking distances, cornering, handling, etc. - ranging from 20-25 percent."

Edmunds' own tire testing found that all-season tires need about 20 percent more space to stop than winter tires in cold conditions. "Summer" tires, or normal tires that aren't marketed as all-season, took a whopping 120 percent longer. That could easily be the difference between normal braking and an accident.

Winter tires are a precaution that drivers in the snowier states simply must consider. Fortunately, many tire shops will offer tire deals or sales during November so buyers don't have to pay as much.