Reasons to put winter tires on your car
In order to protect yourself, your family, car and all road users, you must have winter tires. The number of traffic accidents is six times higher in winter than in the summer. Here are a few reasons why you should think about putting a set of winter tires on your car!
Winter tires have specially designed tread patterns and rubber compounds, that allow better grip and improved performance in snow. The rubber compound on winter tires is designed to stay soft in freezing temperatures. Winter tires are designed to efficiently move the water, so when the tire presses down on snow or ice, it melts the top layer and creates a thin film of water. In this way, winter tires carry away the water to the sides, allowing the tire to stay in contact with the surface.
Winter tires provide the best traction for a large number of winter conditions such as snow, slush, ice and freezing rain. Winter tires also perform better than basic models. Their performance has been significantly improved over the past few years by advanced rubber compounds that are designed to perform in cold conditions.
Unlike summer tires, winter tires do not harden at lower temperatures, which means that they give you a much better grip on the road and an ability to stop in a shorter distance. This means that winter tires increase your safety on the road during winter.
According to a recent study, drivers are six times more likely to have a car accident during the winter months. Winter tires offer you greater safety and that is the reason why they are a legal requirement in many countries in the world.
How to choose the proper winter tires?
Winter tires are not intended only for the snow but for different conditions on the road, such as:
- For driving on snow
- For driving on ice
- For driving in slushy conditions
- For driving in wet conditions
Choose your winter tires in accordance with the driving conditions you face most often. Ask the seller and do your own research before buying winter tires.
Today’s winter tires have highly siped tread compounds that stay pliable in cold weather conditions. This provides high-quality traction without the need for studs, and because of this traction, only sets of four winter tires should be used.
If winter tires are applied to the front axle of any vehicle, they must also be installed on the rear. Installing winter tires only on your drive wheels may save you a bit of money, but will cause your vehicle to handle poorly and unpredictably, so purchasing all four of the same winter tires is a must.