Snow Tires

When people think of cars, the first thing that usually comes to mind is their looks, style or how fast they can cover a mile. If they think deeper, they will come to the size of the engine, or the amount of power it can deliver. However, it is quite common for most to overlook one of the most vital components of a car; the wheels, and more importantly the tires. The tires are what give the car the traction it needs to both propel the car as well as keep it from sliding off the track. This means it is vital for the safety of the passengers and should always be maintained. And in countries where winters are harsh and snow and ice forms, it is suggested that all drivers equip snow tires to ensure greater grip and heightened security.

Snow tires are special tires that are specifically designed for the winter season which help the car provide its optimum performance even in the harshest colds. Snow tires have treads which allow them to go through the snow and grip the road with greater force. Tire manufacturers also employ a different form of rubber which varies from the material used to produce conventional tires, which is softer and allows it stay elastic even in the freezing temperatures, helping to retain its surface area on the road. For tires, it’s all about providing the most grip; grip which helps the driver to control the car and keep the passengers safe. And though the vehicle may contain many technological utilities to improve safety such as electronic stability control or four wheel drive capabilities, it can do nothing if it can’t grab the road surface.

There are another set of tires known as all-season tires which are basically tires that are generalized to provide a sufficient amount of performance all throughout the year. They are a cheaper alternative in the case of not having to buy a separate set of tires for one time of the year, but they cannot rival the performance of snow tires in winter. This is mainly because such tires aim for weather patterns that can be seen more frequently, such as rain and dry road surfaces. To handle such situations, they are made with harder materials which, during colder seasons, become tight and hard. This reduces the surface area which is in contact with the road, drastically reducing grip, and hence drive control.

Many car enthusiasts will also argue that buying a complete set of four snow tires is not required and simply buying a pair for the main wheels is enough. This can be thought of to be a worse idea than equipping regular tires, and can be proved quite easily. If snow tires are only equipped on the front pair on a car with a front wheel drive system, it will mean that the rear tires have a much lower amount of traction which may force the car into a spin-out during turns or while braking. This will also occur in the case of putting on two tires on the rear wheels of a rear wheel drive car, where the front two wheels will have reduced friction, resulting in limited steering capability. The best idea is to put safety first and pull out the extra dollars for the complete set.

Finally, the biggest reason why drivers are reluctant to get snow tires is because of the extra labor that has to be put in every year. The simplest solution is to keep an extra set of wheels with the snow tires on which is quite easy as many people purchase a second set of more fashionable rims for their vehicles. Equipping the stock set with snow tires will mean that putting them on will only require a quick change, and lighten the load on the costs as well.

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