Today, most cars come equipped with all-season tires as indicated by the M+S (mud and snow) markings on the sidewall. These tires are not designed to be best in one specific weather condition but are meant to be adequate in all weather conditions. An all-season tires’ tread design is not as defined as a winter tire’s tread and is not as flexible in the cold. The tread of an all-season tire can quickly get packed with snow creating low traction much more quickly than the deep tread of a winter tire.
Winter tires, as indicated by a mountain / snowflake symbol on the sidewall, will give you better traction, braking ability and maneuverability you’ll need to drive safely on snow and ice. They are made from different rubber compounds than all-season tires and have specific tread patterns designed for the winter conditions. They are fashioned to prevent snow buildup and to help maintain traction on ice and packed snow.
Snow tires are rated based upon actual testing. For example, a test performed with two identical vehicles, one fitted with snow tires and the other with all-season tires, showed that the vehicle with winter tires traveling at 15 mph on ice stopped from 1/2 to a full car length shorter than identical vehicle with all-season tires. Continue reading ‘Shopping For Winter Snow Tires’ »