All season tires not the answer for harsh winters

By Bill Magnus We always buy all season tires for our car, but there are times I wish we had winter tires when things get bad. We’ve never had an accident, but that is only a matter of luck I think and time. The winters where I live can be pretty brutal, though I do thank my luck stars that I don’t live in Buffalo, NY. I suspect if I lived there I would have a skidoo ready to use at any given time during the winter. Even then, that might not be enough. When you live in a city that can get six feet of snow in one shot, you know you have to be ready for everything.

I don’t live in Buffalo though, but I am only a few hours away. We don’t get the same snow amounts that they do, but we do get some. For the most part when we look at winter tires vs high performance all season tires we use are just fine for the most part, but there are times when we have to stay home due to the amount of snow we get. Though the all season tires might be fine, I know I am not the only person on the roads. Not everyone is as cautious as I am. There are some who are entirely too bold in the snow, and those are the ones I am worried about.

Perhaps after looking at all season tires reviews and ratings, looking at all season tires is the reason why I am so cautious. Even though they aren’t the best in the show, they keep me alert. I know I could have problems so I don’t take any chances. Those who have the heavy-duty tires are the ones who think there is no stopping them. I have seen more than one of these people blowing by me on a bad road, and I see them a few miles later in the ditch, or even worse, in an accident. Perhaps if they were using the all season tires they would have more common sense. Maybe.

If you have all season tires, make sure they are in good shape when winter does come you should really consider buying performance winter tires. If you live where there is a lot of snow, and if you have a long driveway or have to travel up a mountain to get to your home, you might want to think twice about having them. They are great for most purposes, but in some cases these all season tires are not a good idea. Get the heavy duty winter tires if you know you have to fight with the snow just to get home, and think about getting chains for those times when the tires just aren’t enough.

Consumer Reports for example conducts multi-product tests, assigning scores based on performance in braking, dry-road traction, snow traction,resistance to hydroplaning, cornering and emergency handling. Some performance winter tires are designed to actually grab the snow and throw it as the tire turns. Always remember to install your snows in the fall but take them off for the spring and summer as they will wear down and reduce their effects on snow. Select a tire that suits the driving conditions you face most often, Snow or ice: snow tires, Heavy traffic: more responsive tires, Winding roads or in the mountains: a tire that handles well-Extensive highway driving: tires with a smooth, quiet ride. If you face very different driving conditions (heavy snow in the winter and lots of highway driving in the summer), consider selecting two sets of tires. Specific winter tires deliver much better snow and ice performance than all-season tires because of their tread designs. If you will be driving in snowy or icy conditions, winter tires will provide as much as 50% better traction and keep you safer on the road. Winter tires are made for cold and snowy conditions and will give you added car safety for you and your family.

It's recommended you install four winter tires, even on front-wheel drive vehicles, for best control in slippery and snowy conditions.It is advisable to take off your winter tires when the roads become clear and you don't think it will snow again. Also consider Investing in a good quality tire gage for checking your tire pressure regularly and keep you tires at the same foot pounds on each wheel.

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