Last winter definitely started out slowly, but eventually January came round and winter got serious. Are you living in the snowbelt and wondering how bad the winter of 2017 is going to be? Nobody really knows, but we do know it's coming.
Do you need to run winter / snow tires? If you're in a region that normally averages over a foot of snow, you should strongly consider installing winter tires. Dedicated snow tires will enhance an all-wheel drive vehicle's winter capability, make an intrinsically "bad-in-snow" car better and improve safety in that family sedan, SUV or minivan.
All-wheel drive, ABS (Anti-Lock Brakes) and traction control help, but no car maker can manufacture traction. All-wheel drive will help get you going, however you'll need proper snow grip to stop and turn. Since innate snow prowess and overall performance will vary by vehicle, select a tire from the performance category that works best for your vehicle, your driving temperament and local weather. The three major performance categories are: Studless Ice & Snow, Studdable Winter / Snow and Performance Winter / Snow.
Studless Ice & Snow tires give you optimum ice and packed snow grip, but are less responsive on dry roads. Theses tires trade a little clear road handling precision for their high level of snow and ice traction.
Studless Ice & Snow tires tend to be available in higher profile sizes and include the following:
table.tableizer-table { font-size: 12px; border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; } .tableizer-table td { padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #CCC; } .tableizer-table th { background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold; } Passenger Light Truck/SUV BF Goodrich Winter Slalom KSIBridgestone Blizzak DM-V1Bridgestone Blizzak WS70Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2Bridgestone Blizzak WS80Bridgestone Blizzak W965Continental WinterContact SIGoodyear Ultra Grip Ice WRT SUVDunlop Winter MaxxMichelin LTX WinterGoodyear Ultra Grip Ice WRTMichelin Latitude X-Ice Xi2Michelin X-Ice Xi3Yokahma Geolandar I/T G072Pirelli Ice Zero FRYokohama iceGUARD iG51vYokohama iceGUARD iG20 Yokohama iceGUARD iG52c
If you go with a Studless Ice & Snow tire, you should consider going with a narrower tire as it cuts through deeper snow better. This is especially true for a lighter car like the MINI Cooper, but there are exceptions to the rule as discussed in detail here.
Studdable Winter / Snow tires can run studded or unstudded. When studded, they provide good ice and packed snow grip but are less responsive on dry roads. When unstudded, these tires perform well in moderate and deep snow, yet do not match the ice traction of tires in the Studless Ice & Snow category. It's important to note that the use of studded tires may be prohibited or restricted in your area, so be sure to check with local authorities to confirm legality.
Looking for the traditional security of winter tire studs for enhanced traction on ice? Consider the following Studdable Winter / Snow options:
table.tableizer-table { font-size: 12px; border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; } .tableizer-table td { padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #CCC; } .tableizer-table th { background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold; } Passenger Light Truck/SUV General AltiMAX ArcticFirestone Winterforce LTGoodyear Utra Grip WinterFirestone Winterforce UVFirestone WinterforceGeneral Grabber Arctic General Grabber Arctic LT
Performance Winter / Snow tires exhibit dry-road deficiencies to a much lesser degree. If your vehicle came with summer performance tires, the Performance Winter / Snow tires will be more comparable in steering response, acceleration, grip, braking and cornering grip. They give up some ice and packed snow grip to achieve it. Tires in this category wear slightly better compared to Studless Ice & Snow tires, especially during the early and late winter days when temperatures are a little warmer.
Available in lower profile sizes, the following Performance Winter / Snow tires are worth a look:
table.tableizer-table { font-size: 12px; border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; } .tableizer-table td { padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #CCC; } .tableizer-table th { background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold; } Passenger Light Truck/SUV Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25 RFTPirelli Scorpion Ice & SnowBridgestone Blizzak LM-32Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow Run FlatBridgestone Blizzak LM-60 RFTPirelli Scorpion WinterBridgestone Blizzak LM001Pirelli Scorpion Winter Run FlatDunlop Winter Sport 3D Dunlop Winter Sport 4D Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 Pirelli Winter Snowcontrol Serie 3 (W190) Pirelli Winter Sottozero (W210/240) Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 Run Flat Pirelli Winter Sottozero Serie II (W210/240/270) Pirelli Winter Sottozero Serie II Run Flat (W210/240/270)Create a Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package now and you'll be ready for whatever Mother Nature throws your way.