Winter Driving: Why Good Tires Matter More Than AWD Capability

When shopping for a winter-ready vehicle, many drivers prioritize cars, trucks, or SUVs equipped with all-wheel drive. Unlike front-wheel or rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive sends power to all four wheels, making it ideal for gaining traction on the snowy streets of Cape Cod. 

However, this focus on all-wheel drive often leads to drivers overlooking an essential part of their vehicle: their tires. As the main point of contact between your car and the road, your tires play a crucial role in how your vehicle performs in the snow and ice. Learn more about the importance of winter tires with this guide from Ira Toyota of Orleans so you can better prepare for the cold months ahead.

If you've been driving on the wintery roads of Eastham in all-season tires, you're not alone. Although the name implies year-round usage, all-season tires lose their effectiveness below 40 or 45 degrees. The rubber begins to harden due to the cold and, as a result, doesn't conform to the texture of the pavement, reducing your overall traction and grip. That's why, even with all-wheel drive, you'll find yourself slipping and sliding during inclement winter weather.

The best way to improve your vehicle's performance in snow and ice isn't all-wheel drive—it's winter tires. By replacing your all-season or summer tires with winter tires, you'll enjoy extra grip and capability even as the temperatures drop. Some of the many advantages of winter tires include:

• Superior Cold-Weather Performance: Winter tires use a unique rubber compound that retains its flexibility below 45 degrees, ensuring your vehicle can conform to the pavement as you travel through Dennis. 
• Better Tread: When comparing all-season to winter tires, drivers will notice that winter tires often have deeper, slanted grooves. These extra-deep grooves give your tires more traction on difficult surfaces like snow, slush, and ice. 
• Longer Tire Life: Switching tires for the season extends the life of both your all-season and winter tires. Since both are only used for part of the year instead of year-round, your two tire sets will last for several seasons.

No. Winter tires will wear out quickly in warmer temperatures. Switch your winter tires out for all-season or summer tires once the weather is consistently above 45 degrees.

Drivers should switch to winter tires once the average temperature drops below 45 degrees.

Winter tires should have deeper tread than all-season sets, and will typically have a symbol that depicts a three-peak mountain and a snowflake.

If you're in the market for a new set of winter tires, reach out to Ira Toyota of Orleans's tire center. Our Orleans team will help you find the right set of tires for your Toyota so you can travel safely throughout the season.