At Steve Schmitt Auto Group, we are sometimes asked whether winter tires are worth their cost. If you plan to drive in snow and ice, we highly recommend winter tires. Their usefulness rests in the differences between winter tires and all-season tires.
First, all-season tires are, frankly, named incorrectly. They have features that make them useful for three seasons of the year, but they are insufficient for driving on snow or ice. An all-season tire rolls quietly on dry pavement, and it neatly disperses water on rainy days. Even in winter, all-season tires vanquish light slush.
Meanwhile, winter tires are constructed with features that dominate snow and ice. Like other products, winter tires inhabit a spectrum of costs and product tiers, but even a low-cost winter tire is safer in winter conditions than a high-priced all-season model. If you want to confidently navigate slick, cold Troy, IL roads, you need winter tires, even if you own an all-wheel-drive vehicle. After all, AWD technology helps your vehicle go, but you need proper tires to safely stop.