All Season Tires vs. Tires for All Seasons
Vehicle tires are one of the most important parts of a vehicle. The quality of tires you use can be the vital difference between safe driving and getting involved in road accidents. In regard to this, experts always advise that care should be taken to select the right set of tires and maintain them regularly. In deciding the right tire to buy and use, you may have to consider between seasonal tires and all season tires.
As snow starts to melt and leaves begin to change color to announce the coming of a new season, many vehicle owners begin their yearly ritual of changing their tires to suit the new season. Seasonal tires are vehicle tires made for a particular season. There are thus summer tires and winter tires.
Winter tires come with extra traction and features to improve grip on snow and ice. Winter tires will also have studs, unique treading and are made from a special rubber that can withstand very low temperatures and still remain flexible. Due to the special soft rubber used to produce them, these tires wear down faster and so should be installed just around the first freeze and removed with the first signs of early spring. Using summer tires (kesärenkaat in Finnish) that do not have these unique features can be quite dangerous as the tires would lack traction and grip on snow and would thus be difficult to control. Tires made for summer on the other hand are designed for dry and wet road conditions. By this time of the year when snow is gone, this set of tires is what is needed for optimal performance. However, the treads of summer tires wear off at a fast rate and would need to be checked and replaced regularly to remain roadworthy.
All season tires are great alternatives to seasonal tires. These tires are specially designed to provide optimal performance levels no matter the season, all year round. A lot of drivers thus prefer tires meant for all seasons, because of the attached benefits. The traction and tread design of these tires makes them suitable for use in both wet, dry and snow weather conditions. The tires are of better quality and are also known to have longer resistance and lifespan when compared to either summer or winter seasonal tires. You may thus not need to change your tires when winter comes unless the snow conditions are exceptionally severe where you live.
In conclusion, what kind of tire is most ideal? The answer may be based on your budget, preference and the weather conditions where you live. Seasonal tires offer premium performance for the corresponding seasons that they are designed for. However, if you want a tire option that delivers great traction and control all year round, tires that are durable and versatile with longer tread life and rubber quality, then you should consider all season tires. No, matter the tires you end up choosing be sure that they are of optimum quality and ensure you check and replace them regularly.