What is a Snow Tire? (How to recognize snow tires)
A snow tire is a specialized wintertime tire designed to provide enhanced traction on snow and ice. Snow tires can also be called winter tires or sometimes just winter rims. A snow tire's rubber compound is typically softer than a summer tire's.
Thus, it is more flexible at lower temperatures (usually below 45 degrees Fahrenheit). Moreover, the tread pattern of a snow tire is designed to move large amounts of water and slush away from your car's contact patch, which helps prevent hydroplaning.
While there are many benefits to using snow tires, they aren't necessarily the best choice for every driver. A set of dedicated winter wheels might not be worth the money if you do not plan to drive much during the winter months.
For part of the year, if you commute over ice, snow, or precipitation, switching to a set of purpose-built winter tires could improve safety and performance.
What is a snow tire?
These tires are called 'snow tires' because they are specifically designed to handle snow. Snow tires have a deeper tread depth, a softer rubber compound, and higher sipe density (more on this below).
Snow tire tread depth is typically much deeper than standard all-season tread depth, and this allows snow to stay in the tread grooves longer instead of being too quickly compressed at the bottom of the grooves. The deeper grooves also help with traction in deep snow and traction on ice.
Snow tires use a more flexible rubber compound that stays soft even at lower temperatures. This makes them less durable; if you use snow tires all year round, expect them to last half the time of all-season radials.
Snow Tire Sipe Density
The word "sipes" refers to tiny slits in the tread blocks that help with wet and dry traction and help tremendously with ice traction. Imagine hundreds or thousands of little razor blades in your tire's contact patch that can grab onto any small imperfections on the road surface.
Snow tire tread pattern
Snow tires have deeper tread grooves, which means more surface area to grab onto the road. This is the main difference between snow tires and regular tires.
The aggressive tread design of a snow tire is meant to give vehicles better traction on cold, slick roads-it includes large lugs, channels, and sipings (which are slits in the rubber used for gripping).
M+S, or Mud and Snow
When looking for a new set of snow tires, you'll want to ensure that the tires you purchase are labeled with the mountain or snowflake symbol. You may also see M+S or Mud and Snow written on the tire's sidewall.
Unlike true winter tires, these are not winter tires and fail to perform well under cold temperatures. These tires don't perform as well as true snow tires in snowy or icy conditions.
Is there any advantage to mud and snow tires over snow tires?
You may be wondering if mud and snow tires are a better option than snow tires. There is no advantage to mud and snow tires over snow tires. M+S, or mud and snow tires, are not intended for winter driving.
An M+S tire is suitable only if you live in an area that receives little to no snow during the winter and has very mild winters. If your area gets significant snow, you will need a dedicated set of winter/snow tires.
Mud and Snow Tires (M + S) are not as effective as Snow Tires in deep or packed snow, at temperatures below 45 degrees F or on ice. Most importantly, they do not meet the industry's severe snow service requirements to qualify as being a true Winter / Snow Tire.
Snowflake and mountain symbol
In Canada, it is mandatory to have a snowflake and mountain symbol on the sidewall of your tires to certify that they are truly snow tires.
In the United States, this marking is not a requirement, and the Rubber Association of Canada created it to help drivers differentiate between winter and all-season tires.
This symbol comprises three separate elements: a snowflake (duh), three mountain peaks, and an M&M.
The best winter tires
Studded tires are the safest option for winter driving, but not all studded tires perform equally. To maximize your vehicle's performance on snow and ice, you also need aggressive tread patterns on your studded tires.
Some of the best snow tires use elements from all-season and summer tire designs in addition to the studs. The aggressive design is especially useful if you live in an area with long winters, snow, and ice, or if you drive a vehicle with rear-wheel drive.
These vehicles may need even more traction in inclement weather because of their weight distribution.
Winter/snow tires are the only option for safe winter driving.
Winter/snow tires are the only option for safe winter driving. (All-season tires may be adequate in snowy regions but usually only if the snowfall is light and infrequent.) The tread pattern on winter/snow tires is more aggressive, which helps with grip and stability on ice and snow.
Winter/snow tires also have softer rubber compounds that allow them to remain flexible during colder weather. This flexibility allows for better traction when driving through snowy or icy conditions.
To use your winter/snow tires as effectively as possible, it is important to put them on all four wheels of your vehicle. Using two non-studded winter/snow tires on the drive axle isn't good because they will not give you enough traction to stop or turn properly.
They think they will be more stable if they lose control, accelerate in slippery conditions, or turn uphill with just two studded snow tires on their cars.
These drivers should remember that having too much traction on one end of the vehicle can make oversteering more likely.
What are the benefits of using snow tires?
Snow tires are designed to provide extra grip for driving in cold weather. They feature deeper treads and bigger grooves than regular tires, allowing them to bite into snow and ice when you drive.
This feature is vital if your region gets a lot of snow or experiences low temperatures during the winter months. Snow tires are also built with softer rubber compounds, making them more pliable in cold weather where regular tires might harden.
The downside of this construction is that these rubbery compounds can wear out faster than regular tires.
Driving on snow-covered roads is safer and more convenient with snow tires and more durable in regions with cold winters.
What is a snow sock for tires?
A snow sock is a temporary tire traction device composed of a textile material placed around a vehicle's wheel. It's typically an alternative to snow chains, the more traditional option for getting traction out of bad winter weather. In mud or areas where driving is difficult, snow socks might be worth investing in.
The purpose of snow socks is not to replace permanent winter tires but to act as a temporary measure if you're caught without them on the road and can't use your current tires.
In those cases, take off your snow socks and drive straight home without stopping again until you get there since they're not meant to be driven long distances or at high speeds.
What is a studdable snow tire?
Studded tires are a type of snow tire that features metal studs. These studs are designed to dig into the ice, enhancing traction and braking while driving on icy roads.
The use of studded tires is common in colder climates during the winter months, such as in Canada and Alaska. Most US states do not allow the use of studded tires within their borders due to damage caused by the studs to paved surfaces.
What is the tread depth of a new snow tire?
Tread depth measures the grooves in a tire's tread pattern, estimated in 32nds of an inch (1/32). New snow tires generally have a tread depth of 12-15/32".
Continued use will lead to the gradual wearing down of the tread. When your snow tires reach 3/32" tread depth, you should stop using them and buy new ones.
What is a decent snow tire?
When shopping for a snow tire, keep an eye out for these features.
First, you should check the tread depth.
This is important because if a tire has less than 5/32" of tread left, the tire is unlikely to perform well on ice and snow. These tires have been worn down to the point where they are inadequate for dealing with nasty driving conditions.
Second, make sure that your tires have a good tread pattern designed to clear the snow and ice from the tire's surface. This will help your tires grip the road better in snow and ice by preventing water from building up between the road's surface and your tires.
How can you identify whether a tire is a snow tire?
To identify whether a tire is a snow tire, you'll want to check for the following:
The snowflake and mountain symbol. This is the most obvious sign of whether or not a tire is designed for use on snow-and-ice-covered roads. Transportation Canada has approved this tire for severe winter service (i.e., it's good for snowy conditions). This symbol does not make a tire safe to drive in winter weather-it lets you know that your tires comply with Canadian safety standards.
The tread pattern. Snow tires are designed to move snow away from their surface as they rotate, so there's more rubber touching the ground. In action, you can see this in a video of our friend Jon demonstrating his Blizzaks on a snowy day (in his speedo). M+S rating and high-speed rating. A good pair of snow tires will have either an 'M+S' rating (for mud and snow) or a 'V' speed rating with 240 km/h or higher. First, the tire may be rated for use in winter, and second, there will be enough rubber on the road to prevent hydroplaning during the heavy summer rainfall.
When should you replace your regular tires with snow tires?
While snow tires can be used any time of the year, they are designed for different types of winter driving conditions.
People living in areas with a lot of rain or snow should consider installing them. Even if you live in a mild climate, harsh weather can affect the road conditions on occasion.
When should you replace your regular tires with snow tires? You should replace your regular tires with snow tires when:
When the weather gets cold
When you see snow on the ground
It is cold enough when the temperature drops below 7 degrees Celsius
When the roads are slippery
When you are driving in the mountains
And when you are driving in an area that gets a lot of winter precipitation.
Are there different types of snow tires?
Snow tires come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and types. Most commonly, you will see the following snow tire options:
All-season tires
Mud and snow tires (a.k.a. M+S)
Studdable snow tires
Snow socks for tires
Winter/snow tires
How long do snow tires last?
It depends. Snow tires don't have a built-in expiration date, but they break down over time. The way your tires are used and the conditions in which they are kept can affect tire lifespan, so there's no single answer that applies to everyone.
The rubber compound used in each snow tire is engineered for specific winter conditions and plays a big role in how long each tire should last.
The same goes for proper maintenance: if you expect your snow tires to last a long time, you'll need to care for them. The following factors can prolong the life of your snow tires:
How hard the tires are used (by driving habits)
Type of rubber compound
Tire maintenance habits
Storage conditions
Tire tread depth
Tire size (taller sidewalls wear faster)
Tire speed rating (high-speed ratings wear faster)
When to replace snow tires?
The tire's tread depth is one way to know when it's time to replace a snow tire. When your tread depth wears down to 4/32", it's time for new tires. It will be different depending on how hard you drive, but four years is a good estimate for replacing a set of snow tires.
If you live in an area with mild winters, you can probably use them longer. However, if you face tougher conditions year-round, you may want to replace them sooner.
How to store snow tires
If you're a snow tire owner, you'd likely like to keep your new toy in pristine condition. A good place to store your tires is in the dark. This is ideal if you have a garage or an attic; if not, make sure they're dry and out of the way.
You may also want to put them indoors. If so, keep them in a cool, dark spot close to where you clean them and store them flat on their sides (no air pressure).
Keeping them off the ground will also make them grip better when put back on the road with all-terrain tires (ATXs) and larger tires inflated with air.
While you aren't advised to use ATX tires for your winter run, it's still recommended that you store all of your snow tires upright since our region can get quite wet during the winter:
Conclusion
In conclusion, snow tires are a great investment for your vehicle if you live in an area that experiences cold winters.
Here's what you've learned about all-weather and winter tires, why they're important, how they differ, which type's right for your car, and how to buy them.
Now that you know all about snow tires, you're ready to hit the roads with confidence this winter.
