Despite the name all-season tires, these tires should be used during warm season, but they can be used during spring, summer and autumn. In areas that don’t have freezing temperatures or no snow, ice or slush they can also be used during the winter season. This can be very confusing and has surely made lots of people to make the wrong choice. To be protected and able to drive safely during the winter season, you will need to have all-weather tires that are approved for winter use or then dedicated winter tires, which are tires that should only be used during the winter and should be paired with a set of all-season tires. All-season tires can handle all warm seasons.
The rubber compound used in all-weather tires is optimized for both warm and cold temperatures, so that it can provide traction regardless of temperature. All-season tires become hard at low temperatures and lose most of its traction. This is bad news, as you really need good traction during the winter season. The tread pattern is also very different between the all-weather and the all-season tires, as the all-weather tires have a pattern that is optimized to have excellent grip on ice and snow, while still work on dry and wet tarmac during the summer. This is not always an easy to develop trade off, but these tires have made it work and therefore you can drive safely regardless of what weather you have or what will come. You don’t have to worry about changing tires before the winter season arrives.
The name might confuse people, but it is very clear that all-season tires should only be used during the warm seasons when the temperature is above freezing. Once you go below you are better off having a winter tire or an all-weather tire. It is still recommended that if you have a long and distinct winter period that you actually change to a dedicated winter tire and pair it with a summer tire. This will give you the best safety and performance throughout the year, however it does require that you change tires and that you change on time. That means that you will need to have the winter tires on your car before the winter arrives and even as soon as the temperatures drop to freezing. The worst that can happen is that you are caught without winter-approved tires once the winter has arrived as you will have very little grip and driving will not be safe.
If this would happen that you end up with all-season tires during winter conditions, it is always advisable not to drive and take alternative transportation to your destination. If it is not possible, try to get your car towed to the service station for a tire change or then do the tire change yourself before driving anywhere. The worst you can do it to head out in traffic without tires that are approved for winter.
For more information regarding all-weather tires that are approved for winter use, visit: https://www.nokiantires.com/