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It's that time.

Winter approaches, and motorists near and far are preparing for their seasonal tire switch.

But for some of you, the changing of seasons will prompt questions about winter tires and their performance. Because questions about winter tires pop up in abundance around this time of the year, today's article is a closer look at why you should consider a set for upcoming, inclement driving conditions.

Not All Treads are Equal for Winter Performance

One of the most noticeable differences between winter tires and other tires, like all-seasons or all-weathers, is the tread pattern.

If you were to take several types of tires and line them up next to one-another, you'd notice that the winter tire has a more complex design with many deep grooves and zig zags. Patterns like this help winter tires with water, slush, ice, and packed snow. The deep grooves add grip, while the zig zags provide a biting edge. All-weather tires tend to include tread features that you see on a winter tire, but they won't reach the same level of winter performance since they also need to be a bit of a "jack of all trades" for all conditions. Simply put, winter tires are designed for one season and one season only. A dedicated winter tire is engineered from top to bottom to deliver superior traction and performance vs other tire types in severe winter driving conditions.

Winter Tire Compounds Play a Big Part in Performance, Too

A tire compound refers to the specific mixture of materials, such as rubber and additives, that are used to make the tread of a tire.

Winter tires are made with a compound that provides better traction and grip in colder temperatures and on icy or snowy road conditions. While what goes into the mixture can differ between tire manufacturers and tire models, one of the most important aspects is that the compound should remain soft when temperatures are low and below zero. Tires that aren't built for winter have compounds that harden in cold weather. This impacts their performance and safety on winter roads, because this stiffness reduces traction. As a result, the vehicle may experience reduced braking and cornering abilities, and the risk of skidding or sliding on icy or snowy surfaces increases.

Winter tires can better maintain their grip on snowy or slushy surfaces vs other options, due in part to their compound.

Try and Beat the Snow Brake Performance of Winter Tires

Winter tires shine when it comes to brake performance in cold and snowy conditions. Thanks to the tread design and specialized compound discussed above, winter tires tend to outperform other tires, offering shorter stopping distances on snow-covered roads. Winter tire tests against other tires show that a dedicated set of winters continues to make sense for drivers in many parts of the country, including ours.

Suffice to say, winter tires an ideal choice when you're dealing with braking on cold roads covered with snow, ice, and slush.

Shop Winter Tires in Bloomington, IL

Winter tires remain the champions when it comes to winter driving performance, which isn't surprising, since it's what they are made to do from the moment these tires are a concept sketch to their production. Complex tread patterns, a soft compound, and an engineering focus on snow and ice performance typically make them unrivaled when it comes to traction and braking in winter conditions. If you're in the market for winter tires in Bloomington, IL this year, we encourage you to browse our tire catalog to see what options are available.

The team at Don Owen Tire is here to assist with all your seasonal tire service needs.