Winter tires and snow tires are built with a singular focus, to perform in severe winter weather – including low-to-freezing temperatures, snow, ice and slush; while all-season tires are built with a much broader focus.

1. Don’t Let Your Tires’ Performance Drop with the Temperature; Good Reasons for Winter Tires July 27th, 2010

2. Snow Tires Winter tires and snow tires are built with a singular focus, to perform in severe winter weather – including low-to-freezing temperatures, snow, ice and slush; while all-season tires are built with a much broader focus. the braking and handling of all-season tires doesn’t match that of dedicated winter tires

3. Snow Tires cont. Tire manufacturers can optimize a tires’ performance for specific weather conditions and temperatures, so winter and snow tires are built with different compounds, and specially designed features, so they perform better during winter months.

4. Flexibility It starts with the actual rubber compound used to make the tire. For winter tires that compound is softer so it maintains its flexibility when the temperature drops (all-season tires lose elasticity as temperatures decrease). Why is flexibility important? It gives the tire more grip on the road and that improves acceleration and braking.

5. Siping On winter tires the tread pattern is also significantly different. Winter and snow tires feature a significant amount of siping more than their all-season counterparts, plus they are much deeper on winter tires. Siping is the process of cutting thin slits, or grooves, on the tread

6. Siping cont. It pushes water away from the tread and the second is more traction because of all the biting edges. One way to make sure that the winter tire you’re interested gets the best traction and performance in severe weather conditions is to make sure it’s branded with a pictograph of a peaked mountain with a snow flake The symbol means that the snow tire meets the high standards of winter performance set forth by the organization.

7. A couple things to note about winter tires… Almost all winter tires should be installed in sets of four only There are studded snow tires, tires that can have metal studs installed in them for added traction; however, in many states this type of winter tire is illegal because, as they cut through ice and snow they also significantly damage the road The best time to install winter tires is when the temperature gets below 50 degrees and stays below 50 degrees on a consistent basis Lastly, winter tires are only put into production once a year

8. Belle Tire People have trusted Belle Tire for the best value since 1922. Because at Belle Tire we challenge ourselves every day to make sure that you always get the lowest tire price, period. Prove it to yourself. Take the Belle Tire Price Challenge. Challenge us online, over the phone or even challenge us right in the store. Come in to any Belle Tire, and we’ll check other stores’ prices with you, right at the counter, and prove to you that Belle Tire has the lowest tire prices, PERIOD! Plus, at Belle Tire, you’ll always get out the door with more value, services and protection with every tire installation than the competition can offer, at any price! For the Lowest Tire Price, Period and great low prices on Custom Wheels, Alignments, Brakes, Batteries, Oil and Lube, Shocks & Struts, Windshield Repair and Replacement, and more. Visit http://www.belletire.com and also join our online communities: BELLE TIRE CARES * BLOG * FACEBOOK * TWITTER * ABOUT BELLE TIRE