What are the Differences Between Winter Tires & All-Season Tires?

Thelen Subaru Wants to Educate You on Tire Choices to Consider

Tires are the catalyst to ensuring both a smooth and reliable ride when traversing mid-Michigan. As such, you should know the benefits and situations that different tire styles are geared towards. This includes both winter tires and all-season tires. Thelen Subaru in Bay City, MI, would like to help you understand the difference between the two different tire types so that you can make sure your Subaru is equipped with the style it needs to handle the current conditions it is facing. 

All-Season Tires vs. Winter Tires

All-Season Tires – Much like their name implies, all-season tires are designed to provide substantial grip on virtually any driving surface. They feature normalized tread depth and patterns. The go-to style for everyday cruising in mid-Michigan and beyond, you will most likely be going to all-season tires when you purchase a new set after your current ones have become old and worn. While they can be used to navigate snow-covered roads if they are newer and have proper tread depth, the amount of grip one gets with all-season tires can be noticeably lacking compared to special winter tires. 

Winter Tires – If you are looking to make sure your handling capabilities are fully enhanced while navigating the snow-covered driving surfaces we face in winter, considering a dedicated set of winter tires is advised. What separates winter tires from conventional all-season options comes down to a selection of factors. The rubber used to make winter tires will not become stiff due to the cold, providing optimal grip to the road at all times. Additionally, the tread depth and pattern are significantly different compared to all-season tire options. The deeper tread depth prevents snow from clogging them up, while the special pattern diverts more snow out from underneath the tires to maximize grip. Also, there are dedicated slits found throughout the tires that are designed to make sure a grip on ice is optimal. 

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Tags: Bay City, Michigan, Mid-Michigan, Thelen Subaru, Tires, Winter Driving, Winter Tires
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