Which is better: all-season or winter tires
Some car owners periodically think about whether it is necessary to change tires from summer to winter every year if there are all-season tires. To understand this, you need to understand the characteristics of each type of tire. We need to find out how they differ, what features they have. After that, it will become clear whether it is enough to buy an all-season vehicle once and safely ride it for a whole year. In the article, we will consider the features of using tires for each season, the driver will receive answers to questions about when you can use all-season tires, and whether they can replace winter tires. For more references, check out: best summer performance tire
What is the difference between tires: summer, winter and all-season
Tires for different seasons have significant differences that allow them to show their performance in a certain period of time. Between themselves, they differ in the composition of the rubber compound, tread pattern, operational properties, which makes them well or poorly designed for driving under certain conditions.
Summer tires
Should provide good traction and good handling at high temperatures. To do this, she must have a certain tread, as well as the chemical composition of the rubber.
Summer tires are stiffer than winter tires. Operating a car at speed in summer on dry roads can significantly increase the temperature of the asphalt. The tire has to withstand this heat, it becomes softer, but it does not melt, and it maintains good contact with the road surface, even on wet asphalt.
At low temperatures, on the contrary, it becomes tanned and becomes too hard and fragile, loses grip, the braking distance increases, and the car can skid. It is recommended to use at an air temperature of +5 ° C.
Winter tires
Rubber has a different composition, it is softer and retains elasticity at low temperatures. And with a positive value, it becomes too soft, "sticky". This leads to rapid tire wear.
What is the difference between tires: summer, winter and all-season
Tires for different seasons have significant differences that allow them to show their performance in a certain period of time. Between themselves, they differ in the composition of the rubber compound, tread pattern, operational properties, which makes them well or poorly designed for driving under certain conditions.
Summer tires
Should provide good traction and good handling at high temperatures. To do this, she must have a certain tread, as well as the chemical composition of the rubber.
Summer tires are stiffer than winter tires. Operating a car at speed in summer on dry roads can significantly increase the temperature of the asphalt. The tire has to withstand this heat, it becomes softer, but it does not melt, and it maintains good contact with the road surface, even on wet asphalt.
At low temperatures, on the contrary, it becomes tanned and becomes too hard and fragile, loses grip, the braking distance increases, and the car can skid. It is recommended to use at an air temperature of +5 ° C.
Winter tires
Rubber has a different composition, it is softer and retains elasticity at low temperatures. And with a positive value, it becomes too soft, "sticky". This leads to rapid tire wear.
The tread of winter tires is high, it consists of blocks separated by sipes with reinforced sidewalls, often studded tires (equipped with spikes). This helps the wheels move freely on snow and ice, but on dry road surfaces, handling decreases, this leads to an increase in fuel consumption, moreover, due to increased friction of the material, the noise level increases.
The advantage of winter tires manifests itself in frosty conditions, even in the absence of snow on the roads. According to the results of the braking tests carried out, the braking distance of a car equipped with high-quality winter tires was 30% lower compared to summer tires.
All season tires
Designed for operating temperatures ranging from -7 ° C to + 10 ° C. It has an average performance between winter and summer tires.
Having studied the composition of the rubber, one can understand: they have not yet come up with a tire composition that can perfectly manifest itself at any temperature. But, there is a "all-season", which is able to behave well during the off-season.
In terms of composition, such tires are softer than summer tires, but to a lesser extent compared to winter ones. Therefore, when used in summer, the rubber will melt and wear out faster.
And in winter, she begins to tan at temperatures below -7 ° C, from which she loses control.
According to the tread pattern, the all-season resembles a winter one, but its height is slightly lower, and the shoulder zones (edges of the working surface) are rounded, as in summer samples. The main goal is good adhesion to the road surface, and the ability to combine the qualities of two different operating conditions, with a big minus and a significant plus, is not achievable.
The advantage of winter tires manifests itself in frosty conditions, even in the absence of snow on the roads. According to the results of the braking tests carried out, the braking distance of a car equipped with high-quality winter tires was 30% lower compared to summer tires.
All season tires
Designed for operating temperatures ranging from -7 ° C to + 10 ° C. It has an average performance between winter and summer tires.
Having studied the composition of the rubber, one can understand: they have not yet come up with a tire composition that can perfectly manifest itself at any temperature. But, there is a "all-season", which is able to behave well during the off-season.
In terms of composition, such tires are softer than summer tires, but to a lesser extent compared to winter ones. Therefore, when used in summer, the rubber will melt and wear out faster.
And in winter, she begins to tan at temperatures below -7 ° C, from which she loses control.
According to the tread pattern, the all-season resembles a winter one, but its height is slightly lower, and the shoulder zones (edges of the working surface) are rounded, as in summer samples. The main goal is good adhesion to the road surface, and the ability to combine the qualities of two different operating conditions, with a big minus and a significant plus, is not achievable.