Winter Tires vs. All-Season Tires

When it comes to staying safe on Atlanta streets, few parts of your vehicle are more important than your tires. Keeping you on the road and driving with the correct kind of tires is paramount to being a safe driver. That includes making sure you have the right tires for the climate and making sure they’re in good condition. Maybe you haven’t compared winter tires vs. all-season tires because you don’t think Snellville gets enough snow and ice to merit winter tires. Find out why winter tires might still be a good choice for GA drivers, along with how to manage your tire pressure in winter, proper winter tire storage, and more with the service department at Five Star Ford Stone Mountain.

The Benefits & Drawbacks of Winter Tires

Take a look at the big picture when it comes to winter tires. While it might seem like something you can just pop on in October and remove in March, there’s more to winter tires than that. Here are some of the primary pros and cons of driving with winter tires:

Advantages

• Many all-season tires are made of a rubber compound that can freeze and get brittle when temperatures drop. Winter tires utilize a special rubber compound that stays flexible during the cold to ensure you’ve got maximum grip. Even if Loganville streets don’t need winter tires for traction, this winterproof material helps prolong the life of your tires when temperatures drop. 

• The grooves in a winter tire are different from an all-season tire, and that’s because they’re specially designed to reduce the amount of snow and ice build-up, so you’ve got better traction when driving in inclement weather.

• In addition to the ability to reduce snow and ice build-up, winter tires also have a biting edge design that digs into deep snow and ice to allow your vehicle to easily drive in winter conditions.

Disadvantages

• While the special cold-proof material used in winter tires is great for cold temperatures, it can speed up deterioration during hot weather. You want to remove your winter tires in Snellville and find proper winter tire storage. 

• While you can drive on a winter tire during the summer, it’s not recommended, so you’ll have to have a second set of summer tires to swap to when the weather gets warmer.

Winter Tire Storage Information & Tips

Since you can’t just leave your winter tires in your GA garage or storage shed during the hot summer months, you’ll need to practice proper winter tire storage by following these directions:

• Store Clean Tires: Clean your tires before you put them in storage. Storing tires without cleaning them could lead to corrosion and decrease the lifespan of your tires, especially if they have ice-melting substances on them. Make sure you cover your tires after you clean them.

• Clean & Temperature-Controlled Storage: You’ll want to keep your tires in a clean and temperature-controlled space so they don’t experience increased wear. Additionally, you’ll want to stack your tires and rotate them occasionally to avoid any spots or unusual deformities on your tires.

• Tire Pressure: Your tire pressure in winter will almost always drop as the cold temperatures cause air to become less dense in your tires. Add the correct tire pressure to your tires when they’re still cold so you don’t want to have low tire pressure when you’re driving.

• Tread Wear: It’s best to regularly inspect your tire tread wear before putting your tires in winter storage to ensure you’ve got the proper tire tread for when roads do become hazardous.

Learn More About Ford Maintenance and Parts with Five Star Ford Stone Mountain

No matter which tires you want for your Ford, the pros at Five Star Ford Stone Mountain can help you find the right ones for less and maintain them for the long haul! Shop our service and parts specials for great prices on tires for your Ford, or if it’s time for a tire rotation, schedule an appointment with our service department.