What are the benefits of having two sets of tires?
Having two sets of tires also allows you to not have to replace them as often. You use one set of tires half the year and the other set of tires the other half. This helps split the mileage between both sets of tires and means you won’t have to replace your tires as much as you would if you only had one set of all-season tires.
How should summer tires be stored during the winter?
According to the following Tirerack article, summer tires should not be stored in temperatures below 20 degrees F. If summer tires are stored in temperatures below 20 degrees F, they should be warmed gradually before use. This also means that you should not inflate summer tires or mount them on wheels if the tread surface is colder than freezing.
Most people won’t store their summer tires outside over the winter, so this shouldn’t be much of a problem for most people who have summer tires. I store my summer tires in my insulated garage during the winter, where it never gets below freezing.
Should you use all-season tires in the winter?
I live in the midwest and use all season tires to a minimum in the winter months. Some snow falls in my area but it is not excessive. Living in a metropolitan area also helps because snow crews will preemptively salt and rush to remove snow when it falls.
One disadvantage of snow tires is that they are designed for use in cold temperatures ranging from below zero to 40 degrees F. If winter tires are used in warmer temperatures, tire wear will increase.
Another downside to winter tires is the level of grip in warmer temperatures. As outside temperatures increase, the level of grip that winter tires will provide will decrease.
However, if you live in an area that receives a lot of snowfall and icy conditions during the winter months, you may want to use dedicated winter or snow tires instead of all-season tires. Winter tires will provide better traction and grip on ice and snow than all-season tires.
So, are winter or snow tires right for you? If you want to learn more about snow tires and the differences between all-season tires, click that link to my other article.
If I had to go for a set of winter tires, I would probably go with a set of all-season tires for the summer months. It doesn’t make sense for me to have winter, summer and all-season tires.
Typically, temperatures between winter and summer do not change rapidly. This means there will be a gap in the spring and fall where temperatures can fluctuate throughout the day and it makes more sense to have an all-season tire that can handle that wide range of temperatures.
Summer tires vs. all-season tires: in conclusion
By now you know the differences between summer tires and all-season tires and understand why people might want to use one type of tire over the other. In the summer vs. all-season tire debate, it all comes down to personal preference and where you live.
If you own a sports car, you may want to use summer tires to help with grip during the summer months. If you own a commuter car and don’t really plan on pushing the limits of your tires, then you’d be better off with all-season tires.
