Snow Tires

Richard Romando
March 13, 2006

Snow tires are tires with a deep tread or studs to give extra traction on ice- and snow-covered surfaces. Snow tires are particularly designed to perform well in the slush, snow, and ice.

Due to their size, rubber compound, and tread design, standard tires provide improper grip for low-temperature snow driving. This is due to the fact that they are not explicitly designed for snow driving. By fitting snow tires during winter, car owners can improve the traction of any vehicle. The design changes in the snow tires have a significant effect on a vehicle’s performance when driven on snow and ice.

The advantages of fitting a vehicle with snow tires are diverse and varied. Snow tires give excellent grip in the rain and snow. By fitting their vehicles with a set of snow tires during winter, car owners will make it safer as these tires offer a magnificent ice and snow performance in addition to enhancing a vehicle's braking, handling, and cornering behavior. Contrary to popular perception, whether the vehicle has antilock brakes, traction control, a vehicle stability system, or all-wheel drive, snow tires optimize the vehicle’s behavior in cold temperatures, slush, snow, and ice. All-wheel drive vehicles may have the power to accelerate on ice or slush, but it does not offer any improvement when the vehicle has to stop or turn. Since all-wheel drive vehicles weigh more than two-wheel drive vehicles, bringing them to a stop requires more traction; hence the importance of snow tires.

Snow tires are marked with an insignia i.e. the logo of a peaked mountain with a snowflake. The symbol indicates that the tires meet the specific snow traction required performance standard of the Department of Transportation in the U.S. and Canada.

Discount Tires provides detailed information on Tires, Discount Tires, Snow Tires, Wheels and Tires and more. Discount Tires is affiliated with Tractor Tire Chains.