Aren't my "all-season" tires made for use in all seasons?
The answer may suprise you.
First, are all-season tires really made to operate in all seasons? Yes and no. All-season tires are designed to operate in a variety of conditions, wet, damp, dry and in most cases light snow. However, the issue is not the tread. The issue is the compound of the rubber. And herein lies the biggest difference in winter tires and all-season tires.
A winter tire is designed to operate in temperatures below 45° F. By "operate" I mean that even in the very cold temperatures, the rubber of a winter tire will stay malleable. It can still flex and move to grip the surface as best possible. As well as discharge packed snow. An all-season tire, when in temperatures that are regularly below 45°F, will become very hard. The rubber compound is not meant for these cold temps. So when exposed to them, it does as most things do in the cold, it gets hard. And what does hard rubber do very well on ice and snow? Well, how does a rubber hockey puck perform on ice? Exactly.
So this brings into question, Should we run winter tires here in the south. The answer would be, it depends on where in the south. If you live in Asheville or up in higher elevations, yes, you should invest in a set of winter tires. If you live in a climate like Greenville, Spartanbug, Charlotte etc. then no, it's not necessary. However, what I would recommend is to make sure that your tires, at a minimum, have the M+S marking on the sidewall. This means that the tire has been approved for use in mud and snow by the RMA (rubber manufacturers association). This means the tires should perform well in light snow. However, I wouldn't want to be out driving on them in a big snowstorm.
Another thing you can look for, and a lot of times you'll find this on light truck and SUV tires, is a symbol of mountains with a snowflake in it.
This symbol means that the tire has been approved for severe snow by the RMA.
If you live in an area like Charleston thenI would say no, not necessary.
Another thing to consider. If you have a performance vehicle, or a vehicle with performance tires on it. I would definitely recommend you do not attempt to drive it in the snow.
I regularly hear people complain about how terrible their Mustang or Camaro or other sports type vehicle drives in the snow. The majority of the problem is not the vehicle, but rather the tires.
When your feet leave Mother Earth and you sit in your vehicle, the only thing that keeps you connected with the road are your tires. THEY ARE IMPORTANT! I don't care how much horsepower your car makes. Or how great of an upgraded brake system you've installed or whether you have a front - rear - or all wheel drive. If your tires aren't making good contact with the surface they are riding on.......all of the above is pointless.
If you're not sure if you have the right tires on your vehicle, stop in and see us. It won't cost you a thing for us to let you know whether or not you're riding on what you should be.
