5 Winter Tire Myths
 | MYTH 1: WINTER TIRES ARE ONLY FOR SNOW Anyone who lives where the weather gets a little cooler can benefit from winter tires. In colder temperatures, all-season tires stiffen, reducing grip. The rubber compounds and other components that make up winter tires keep them flexible in temperatures below 45 F (7 C). Tire flexibility allows for better vehicle handling and stopping. |
 | MYTH 2: BRAKES ALONE STOP MY VEHICLE Tires greatly affect your vehicle's stopping distance. Especially when roads are slick, tires without specifically designed winter tread patterns can simply slide when the brakes are applied. Winter tires have deep grooves and small slits called sipes that cut through snow and ice, keeping more of your tire in contact with the road. |
 | MY ALL SEASON TIRES WORK FINE IN THE WINTER All-season tires are great for mild weather changes, but anyone who experiences cooler winters can get better performance with winter tires. In addition to having flexible compounds and specialized tread designs, winter tires help make your all-season tire last longer: while the winter ones are on, the all-season tires aren't wearing down. Winter roads can add premature wear to all-season tires. |
 | WINTER TIRES ARE MORE EXPENSIVE The cost of winter tires is usually comparable to any other kind of tire. Plus, switching between winter tires and all-season tires makes both sets last longer than normal. |
 | I HAVE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE SO I DON'T NEED WINTER TIRES Ever see SUV's on the side of the road when the weather is bad? They probably don't have winter tires. In the winter, All-wheel-drive or 4-wheel-drive can help you get going but won't help when you're trying to stop and steer. AWD helps you control the tires, but that doesn't mean much if the tires themselves aren't flexible enough or don't have the right tread design to push snow and ice out of the way. |
| Tires are your only point of contact with the road. The more they touch the road, the safer they are. Winter tires make all the difference in colder temperatures and in snowy, icy conditions |