Winter tires (often called “snow” tires) are a must for regions that receive severe winter conditions, including rain, snow, ice and very low temperatures.
Discount Tire recommends outfitting your vehicle with winter tires if your region experiences temperatures consistently below 45F, even if there is no snow, rain, or ice.
Winter tires are specifically designed to perform well in extreme low temps (under 45F) and difficult terrain in ways that regular tires simply cannot. Deep snow, thick ice and frigid rain puddles are just another day for a set of winter tires.
Winter tires perform so well in inclement weather that we inevitably get the question: why can’t I just keep my snow tires on year-round? Let’s find out.
CAN I USE SNOW TIRES ALL YEAR?
Short answer: You shouldn’t use snow tires year-round (unless you live in a year-long winter region).
Winter tires are designed with an aggressive tread and deep tread depths that bite into snow, slush and ice. Accelerating, braking, and maintaining traction is its key function. But this high performing tread goes to waste in warmer conditions.
A winter tire’s tread is softer and more flexible than your typical all-season or summer tire so that it can traverse snow. This floppier tread makes handling in non-winter conditions less controlled with decreased performance and agility. Lowered performance–aside from being frustrating–means lowered safety.
And if you use studded winter tires (or tire chains for that matter), it may not be legal for you to keep them on your vehicle year-round.
Looking for a spirited drive in the dead of winter? We recommend looking into high-performance winter tires!
Or, if you need a new set of all-season or summer tires, check out our catalog!
CAN YOU USE SNOW TIRES IN THE SUMMER?
Answer: Yes, but you shouldn’t.
We compare winter, summer and all-season tires elsewhere but essentially: even though winter tires offer excellent wet weather handling, they just can’t cope with higher temps. If your region experiences weather consistently above 45F, then you shouldn’t keep your winter tires on during warmer seasons.
Winter tires wear faster on warm, dry pavement as they are not built to withstand heat. Faster wear means more frequent replacement, increasing the cost to you—even more than the twice yearly install/removal.
We get it: putting on your winter tires is just one more thing to think about as the cold season approaches. It’s a reality for many drivers in the United States who live in severe winter regions, however.
We recommend changing to your winter tires early to avoid the scramble that follows the first major snow of the season.
But don’t worry: Discount Tire offers winter tire changeover services! And, some of our locations even offer winter tire storage! Proper tire storage is the key to maxing out your tire’s lifespan. Just give us a call to see if your local store participates in this program.
FIND MY STOREReady to roll?
Do you know the best tires for winter? Check out our blog and be prepared!
Keep your warm weather wheels in fantastic shape; use winter wheels with your winter tires to max out the lifespan of both sets!
Are tire chains or studded tires a good option for you? Check out our blog about studded tires vs tire chains to find out!
If you’re still not sure, give us a ring or drop in and we’ll help you get the best option possible for you and your vehicle.
Walk-ins are always welcome but we encourage you to buy and make your appointment online first. Customers who buy and book online wait less time in-store!
MAKE AN APPOINTMENTFor more information on this and other tire and wheel services, check out our YouTube Channel or reach out to us on X, Facebook and Instagram.