All-Season Tires vs. Summer Tires

We survived another tough winter in Canada, but now spring is in the air, the trees are blooming and the birds are singing!

That means it’s a perfect time to talk about switching from your winter tires to summer or all-season tires at The Tire Terminal in Mississauga, Ontario.

Winter tires are purpose-built for harsh winter conditions; even though they’re a far cry from the heavy, clunky “snow tires” of a generation ago, they’re still designed to be used in temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter tires feature deep tread patterns to enhance grip on snow and slush, and are designed to stay flexible at low temperatures. The sipes in winter tires provide extra grip in difficult conditions, and the combination of porous rubber compounds and tread design help move the layer of water away from snow and slush for traction.

All-season tires are designed with rubber formulations that provide long, uniform tread life, moderate tread depths and tread patterns that deliver acceptable performance in light snow and winter conditions. They do provide handling, ride comfort and noise levels that most drivers will find suitable.

With all-season tires, though, the trade off comes in the form of less grip and cornering ability than summer tires. That’s largely due to the stiffer rubber formulation that’s designed for longer service life and a pattern of grooves and sipes that’s designed for light wintry conditions.

Summer tires, on the other hand, provide better steering response and agility, due to the stickier rubber formulation and a less-dense network of grooves that provide a better contact surface with the pavement. While it may seem counter-intuitive, that simpler groove pattern actually provides better resistance to hydroplaning by channeling water away from the tire’s contact patch in wet weather. The chief drawback to summer tires, however, is that the sticky, softer rubber compound means a shorter tread life; summer tires will also become stiffer in colder weather and shouldn’t be used at temperatures below 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Spring and summer are on the way, and you should get out and enjoy them! While you’re at it, consider getting more enjoyment out of driving with a set of summer tires in Mississauga, Ontario. You’ll find the best prices and installation packages on premium-brand summer tires at The Tire Terminal– come on down and talk to one of our expert service advisors and see what we can do for you by scheduling an appointment! Whether you are looking for quality tires or unbeatable auto repair, The Tire Terminal looks forward to servicing customers in Mississauga, Ontario.