Winter Tires vs. All-Season Tires

Milledgeville isn’t known for its snow and ice in winter, but sometimes they do hit. And we do get lower temperatures. These are great reasons to consider winter tires vs. all-season tires for your Mazda. Your tires aren’t an area where you want to skimp or buy the wrong type for the way you drive. If you’ve never compared winter tires vs. all-season tires, join the Five Star Mazda service department for help in deciding if winter tires are for you, tire pressure in winter, winter tire storage and more. 

The Benefits & Drawbacks of Winter Tires

There are benefits beyond traction on ice and snow that make winter tires an option for McDonough and Byron. Are they worth the disadvantages? Take a look at some of the pros and cons: 

Advantages

• Materials: Many all-season tires are made of a rubber compound that can freeze and get brittle when temperatures drop. Winter tires are made with a compound that stays flexible during the cold, so the cold doesn’t cause the tires to break down. Even if the streets don’t need winter tires for traction, this winterproof material is helpful in prolonging the life of your tires when temperatures drop. 
• Traction: The grooves in a winter tire are different from an all-season tire. They’re specially designed to reduce the amount of snow and ice build-up, so you’ve got better traction when driving in inclement weather.
• And more traction: In addition to the ability to reduce snow and ice build-up, winter tires also have a biting edge design that digs into deep snow and ice to allow your vehicle to easily drive in winter conditions.

Disadvantages

• Degrades in heat: While the special cold-proof material used in winter tires is great for cold temperatures, it can speed up deterioration during hot weather. You definitely want to remove your winter tires and find proper winter tire storage. 
• Multiple sets: While you can drive on a winter tire during the summer, it’s not recommended, so you’ll have to have a second set of summer tires to swap to when the weather gets warmer.

Winter Tire Storage Information & Tips

If you drive in cold and inclement weather often enough to merit winter tires, winter tire storage in the off-season requires more than just putting your winter tires in the garage or shed. Here are some things you’ll need to do to preserve the integrity of your winter tires when they’re not in use:

• Store Clean Tires: Storing tires without cleaning them could lead to corrosion and decrease the lifespan of your tires, especially if they have ice-melting substances on them. Make sure you cover your tires after you clean them.
• Clean & Temperature-Controlled Storage: You’ll want to keep your tires in a clean and temperature-controlled space so that they don’t experience increased wear. Additionally, you’ll want to stack your tires and rotate them occasionally to avoid any spots or unusual deformities on your tires.
• Tire Pressure: Your tire pressure in winter will almost always drop as the cold temperatures cause air to become less dense in your tires. Add the correct tire pressure to your tires when they’re still cold, so you don’t want to have low tire pressure when you’re driving.
• Tread Wear: It’s best to regularly inspect your tire tread wear before putting your tires in winter storage to ensure you’ve got the proper tire tread for when roads do become hazardous.

Learn More About MAZDA Maintenance and Parts with Five Star Mazda

There are so many tire options for your Mazda that deciding the best ones can be overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be when you turn to the service department at Five Star Mazda. If you’d like a tire consultation, schedule an appointment with our tire center, and we’ll help you determine what tires best suit the way you drive.