If you are looking for tires for all year-round use might find yourself wondering whether to get all-season tires or all-weather tires. Both these tires are made for all year round use however one thing sets them apart. Only all-weather tires hold the “Three Peak Mountain Snowflake” emblem indicating that these tires have met the required performance criteria in snow testing and are considered severe snow service rated. This however doesn’t mean that all-season tires can’t be used all-year round in areas where there is no severe winter weather. In fact, they are a great choice if there is no severe weather where you live due to better fuel economy.
The all-weather tires however are the only choice of all year round tires if the area where you live has severe winter weather. It is because the all-weather tires hold the same severe service rating as winter tires that you can keep them on all year, even in the winter. This is a great advantage not only because you do not need to change tires but because you will be prepared for the first snow fall, not needing to time when to change into winter tires.
The reason all-season tires are a good option if the area where you live has mild weather is because as they typically have low rolling resistance and thereby offer efficient fuel economy. The reason for the lower rolling resistance is due to the less aggressive tread then all-weather tires since the performance criteria for snow testing does not have to be met. There have been many new innovations incorporated into both all-season and all-weather tires allowing both tires to handle a wide temperature range and increased protection against hydroplaning.
Whether choosing all-weather tires or all-season tires you need to respect the manufacturer’s recommended size tire for your make and model of car. Whether the choice is to invest in all-weather tires or all-season tires the dimensions need to be those recommended by the car manufacturer. This means if the recommended dimensions are 205/55R16 then you would need to equip your car with either 205/55R16 all-season tires or 205/55R16 all-weather tires. In general, as long as you install the correct dimension tires for your vehicle’s make and model then you are well equipped to handle any road conditions no matter what the forecast.
When looking for tires remember to consider the weather conditions you will be encountering in the area where you live. Which year-round tire to choose depends on the climate in the area where you live. The all-weather tires are a good choice for people looking to keep one set of tires throughout the year but yet live in an area where the winters requires adequate tires to deal with snow and ice. With winters being quite severe in many areas of the United States, having proper snow tires is important as they are apt to handle both snow and ice.
For more information regarding all-weather tires, visit: nokiantires.com