Winter Tires For Ice And Snow

No matter how many safety features your vehicle has, it's the tires that enable you to handle it in the snow and ice. Drivers should know whether to change or not to change the winter tires.

Tires marked "M + S" ( "mud and snow" tires), also known as "all-season" tires, provide safe all-weather performance, but may not be suitable in heavy snow. Wide, high performance tires, other than those that are specifically designed as snow tires, are not suitable for snow-covered roads. In regions with little snow and moderate winter temperatures, all-season tires may be suitable throughout the year. However, as the temperature drops below -10 C, the rubber compound in all-season tires may cause them to lose their grip as the tires harden in the cold. Wherever cold or snowy winters are the rule, snow tires become a necessary safety precaution. In deep snow, winter treads improve traction by allowing the tire to rid itself of snow as it rolls, giving it a clear bite on the road.

Years ago, snow tires used to be knobby and noisy. They were made for driving in the snow, but had poor traction in the dry and wet. Today, winter tires are made of new rubber compounds that can handle not only ice and snow but also dry, wet or slushy driving conditions. With state-of-the-art road-clearing techniques, the roads can be clear and dry a few days after a major snow storm. Tires marked with the pictograph of a peaked mountain with a snowflake meet specific snow traction performance requirements and are designed for snow conditions.