Tire manufacturers like to give car owners lots of different tire options. Just like you wear different clothing according to what’s happening with the weather, your car should wear different tires. Whether you own a fast sports car or a practical minivan, your vehicle will operate at its best and safest when you equip it with the right tires. Here’s what you need to know about different tires for different climates.
Summer Tires for Warmer Climates
Summer tires include features that allow them to operate well in dry and wet warm conditions. They aren’t geared for the icy conditions of colder months. Instead, summer tires provide responsive handling and a secure grip whether you’re driving down a dry road in the hot months of July or along a wet street in September. Keep in mind that these tires are best at handling wet conditions of the light and occasional variety. They are not designed for monsoon-like moisture or a spring sleet storm.
To give you driving security in the summer, these tires have dense contact sections as well as ample circumferential grooves that help prevent hydroplaning. Also, they are less likely to slip. If you live in an area with a warm year-round climate with temperatures that don’t typically drop lower than 45 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll want to keep summer tires on your car.
Performance Tires for Hot and Cold Climates
Performance tires are unique because they feature sideways grooves with a greater circumference. This element increases their ability to handle roadways when they become wet. It also makes them ideal for spring and fall. Furthermore, performance tires include tread features that are enhanced with silica and dense siping. These performance features give them a better overall grip on the road despite what Mother Nature is throwing at you.
If you like to drive fast, then choose performance tires over touring options because they have a higher speed rating. You’ll also want to consider performance tires if you own a sports vehicle or a sedan because these types of vehicles operate at their peak with tires that have enhanced handling features.
Performance tires provide tighter cornering and better handling. Regardless of the type of vehicle that you own and drive, you’ll get the feeling of driving faster. There are different tire options available depending on what kind of driving experience you want. For instance, you can get regular performance, high-performance, competition, and ultra-high-performance tires.
Tires for Cold Climates and Chilly Winter Months
If the climate in your area frequently dips lower than 45 degrees Fahrenheit or the ice and snow from winter storms tend to remain on the roads for several months at a time, then you’ll want to get snow tires. These tires are designed specifically for winter weather conditions. This means that they have better traction and enhancement grip features. With winter tires on your car, you’ll have the control you need on the road during a cold, snowy day.
Winter tires are made from rubber compounds that are manufactured to remain soft and more flexible than summer tires when they’re on the road in chilly weather conditions. These features give you a better grip and exceptional braking.
Cold-climate tires also come with a different physical design. If you were to take a close look at your winter tires, you’ll notice that they include several hundred small cuts within the rubber. In the tire industry, these are referred to as sipes. They form small edges and give you better traction with enhanced grab and grip on wet surfaces.
For even more traction and grip, cold-climate tires have extra-deep channels in their treads. This feature works to drive away water, snow, and slush. When the cold weather arrives in your area, winter tires give you the best traction for added peace of mind on slippery roads.
Tires for Mild Winters
All-season tires may seem like the perfect option for areas that experience the four seasons. However, they are better for places that enjoy mild winters. Keep in mind that the four seasons that happen in Nevada and Florida are very different from those experienced by New York and Michigan residents. All-season tires are manufactured to manage wet and dry road conditions throughout the year. This includes a small amount of snow.
If you need the best possible traction and grip during major winter storms featuring snow and ice, then winter tires are the way to go; however, all-season tires are ideal for the occasional Nevada snowstorm or Florida’s wet season. These mild climate tires come in two different types, which are touring tires and passenger tires. If you get the touring type, then you’ll enjoy better overall handling and a quiet ride. The passenger tires provide durability and a smooth ride. All-season tires are likely to come with an asymmetrical tread pattern and have a higher speed rating.
This type of tire can save you time and money because you don’t have to go through the effort of changing them from one season to the next. Keep in mind that winter and summer tires include specific design elements that make them ideal for their respective seasons.
The Benefits of Run-Flat Tires
Using self-supporting zero-pressure technology, manufacturers have designed tires that allow you to keep going even if they’re flat. They are a wonderful invention that lets you drive up to 50 miles per hour even if they’re punctured. These tires include reinforced sidewalls that protect your rims.
The only downside to this type of tire is that you can’t repair them. If a run-flat tire is punctured, then you must replace it as soon as you can. Run-flat tires are great for all climates.
What You Need to Know About Truck and SUV Tires
Tires for trucks and SUVs are categorized according to vehicle use. For instance, you may need tires that are on the aggressive side if you like, or need, to take your vehicle off-road. There are also truck and SUV tires that are better for taking the vehicle down the highway. Regardless of the type of truck or SUV driving that you do, you’ll find the perfect tires.
Highway Tires for Trucks and SUVs
Highway tires are developed with the same type of tread patterns as all-season tires. They’re also manufactured to manage the heavier loads that you may transport with the vehicle. Highway tires are designed to ride comfortably on the pavement. They also come with sturdy tread and an overall development that helps them hold up against uneven wear. Highway tires usually include siping technology for better traction in all types of weather.
All-Terrain Tires for Trucks and SUVs
All-terrain tires typically feature a more aggressive tread pattern than what you’ll see on highway or trail tires. They include bigger blocks of tread and more voids to give your vehicle better traction when you take it off the main road. This type of tire is manufactured to handle sand, a bit of mud and gravel. In most cases, you can take your truck or SUV off the road in all-terrain tires without sacrificing road comfort.
All-terrain tires even offer stability and ride comfort when you drive down the highway. Many truck and SUV drivers like the way they look and their general longevity.
All-Purpose Tires for Trucks and SUVs
You’ll want to consider all-purpose tires when you intend to take your vehicle off-roading a bit more often. This type of tire is slightly more rugged than a regular highway tire. All-purpose tires generally feature overlapping blocks to give you better grip off the beaten path or when you’re driving down a road with loose gravel or more mud. They are usually considered a mild type of all-terrain tire.
Sport Truck Tires
Performance tires designed for trucks come with similarities to all-season highway tires. They include the same tread patterns, which make them ideal for various weather conditions. In some cases, they have an asymmetrical tread pattern. Sport truck tires often come with sipes to give drivers better traction, but they may not have quite as many as you’ll see on highway tires. These tires are also likely to include higher speed ratings than other varieties.
Understanding the Differences
For most people, the biggest challenge to purchasing tires is knowing what kind they need and determining which ones will work the best. Consider the type of vehicle that you have and your area’s climate when choosing tires. Also, don’t be afraid to change tires from season to season if you live in an area with diverse weather. Today’s tire technology is designed to keep you safe and secure on the road while offering durability.
