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Summer tires are ideal for high-performance vehicles, and are built for speed and agility. They offer increased responsiveness, cornering, and braking capabilities. This is typically attributed to specialized tread patterns and rubber compounds that allow for improved precision on the road. The tread patterns of summer tires have less grooving and put more rubber in contact with the road. They are design­ed to provide maximum road-holding grip. The tread compounds of summer tires are designed to remain more flexible, allowing for better traction and grip. Summer tires may have shallower tread depths that allow for more stability when pushed closer to their limits. an answer to this item.Dimensional characteristics (such as the tire’s width, aspect ratio, and rim diameter), speed capability, and other design features make summer tires more suitable and capable for increased performance in wet and dry conditions on high-performance, sports-oriented vehicles. Surprising to some, summer tires such as our Potenza S-04 Pole Position provide better performance in wet driving conditions, thanks to unique tread patterns that help evacuate water and resist hydroplaning.

When it comes to winter driving, all-season tires may be more suitable than summer tires, given their blend of summer and winter performance capabilities, but we recommend considering making the switch to winter tires to get optimal traction and performance in extreme winter conditions.

An all-season tire offers a balance of capabilities, providing acceptable performance in wet and dry conditions, as well as traction in snow.

Built for the average driver, all-season tires have moderate tread depths and rubber compounds that are engineered to provide longer tread life than summer tires, which have shallower tread depths. All-season tires are offered in many types/models, sizes, load capacities, and speed ratings for use on a wide variety of vehicles from economy cars to sedans to minivans to pickup trucks. They tend to provide ride comfort, handling, and other performance attributes suitable for most drivers.All-season tires perform well in warm weather, but they may offer less grip than summer tires, sacrificing some steering, braking, and cornering capabilities. This trade off is necessary for all-season tires to be able to provide acceptable performance in light winter conditions and provide longer tread life.

All-season tires are capable of providing traction in winter, but are not the best tire to use in extreme winter driving conditions. Drivers who encounter extreme winter weather may want to consider switching to snow tires in the winter.

Because all-season tires offer a blend of summer and winter performance, they are often a good option for drivers in moderate climates and driving conditions.

 Are All-Terrain (A/T) and Mud Tires (M/T) Good in the Snow?

The answer to that question is, it depends. All-terrain (A/T) tires offer decent performance in light snow thanks to an aggressive tread pattern, while mud-terrain (M/T) tires give you added grip in some winter conditions due to large tread blocks designed for added traction in the mud. Here’s why A/T and M/T tires might not perform as well as a dedicated set of snow tires.

Can I Use All-Terrain Tires in the Snow?

         Yes, A/T tires offer year-round usability and some traction in light snow. When choosing a set of A/T tires that will face snow-covered roads, be sure they feature the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol on the sidewall. This indicates the tire has met specific criteria for winter performance and safety. However, while the 3PMSF designation does qualify as a winter traction device on mountain passes, a dedicated set of winter tires can offer the best traction and control on the worst winter roads.

Can I Use Mud Terrain Tires in the Snow?

• Yes, M/T tires can be used in light snow. However, the rugged tread on mud-terrain tires are primarily designed for off-road use on rocks, dirt, and mud. Their usefulness in the snow and ice is limited. While the tread design may work well in unpacked snow, the lack of siping, larger surface area, and biting edges can limit traction in packed snow, ice, and slippery conditions. Yet another reason to get a set of snow tires for severe winter driving conditions.

What Are All-Terrain (A/T) Tires?

 All-terrain tires are a nice mix of highway tires (H/T) and mud-terrain (M/T) tires. They’re great for daily driving to work, camping on the weekend, and occasional trips over the mountains thanks to more space between tread lugs and an open shoulder tread design. Some A/T tires are severe snow-rated, qualifying as traction tires or devices. This means they can be used over mountain passes and/or anywhere these devices are required. To qualify as a traction tire or device, these tires must have a three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol on the sidewall.

What Are Mud-Terrain (M/T) Tires?

  Mud-terrain tires are designed for off-road conditions. The tread pattern on M/T tires has huge spaces between the lugs and a very large open-shoulder design. They look rugged because they are. They can perform in light snow and rain, but are purpose built for mud, dirt, gravel, rock, and other extreme conditions. However, they are not ideal in packed snow and ice. That's because the aggressive tread on M/T tires generally lacks siping (the small slits in the tread that provide gripping edges). This, combined with the larger lug shape and wider voids between lugs as well as less flexibility in colder temperatures, reduces traction on adverse road surfaces.

Dedicated winter or snow tires are specifically designed to remain pliable at or below 40º F. This flexibility, along with specialized sipes to move away slush at higher speeds, helps you stay in control in colder temperatures and offers better braking, cornering, and control on snow and ice.

These tires, along with some A/T and all-weather options, feature the 3PMSF (three-peak mountain snowflake) symbol or icon. You’ll find this symbol on the tire’s sidewall. If you find the 3PMSF icon, you can be sure those tires have met strict U.S. safety tests, allowing them to be classified as traction tires or devices.

When you put a set of snow tires on your car or truck, you’re adding safety to every commute and winter adventure. That’s because winter or snow tires are crafted with specialized rubber that allows them to remain softer in cold temperatures, providing enhanced traction in harsh winter conditions. Larger grooves, specialized sipes, biting edges, studs, and varied tread block shapes help improve grip on snow and ice.

A/T, M/T, as well as all-season tires are designed for other types of conditions. That includes a different rubber compound that helps grip the road in warmer temperatures. If you live in a region that faces frequent snowfall, icy roads, or if you travel nearby mountain passes often, buying a set of snow tires can be a smart, safer choice for you and your family.

Despite their name, all-season tires are really for three seasons, and winter is not one of them. They overlap the difference between winter and summer tires, which means they are a compromise.The rubber compound in summer tires is formulated so it doesn’t get too soft in hot weather, while the rubber mix in winter tires doesn’t get hard in the cold. All-season compound stays firm but flexible over a wider range of temperatures, but it isn’t as effective at the extremes. When the thermometer drops below 7°C, winter tires provide better grip, including on dry pavement.

The benefit is that all-seasons stay on all year. You don’t have to buy and install a second set, and then store the ones you’re not using. Their major downfall is that they simply aren’t as good as winter tires when the weather turns sour. In addition to that cold-weather grip, winter tires have a more aggressive tread for biting into snow, and they can channel away large quantities of slush and water.

Unless you live in a moderate-and-dry-winter part of Canada – which doesn’t include very much of it – we recommend you consider all-seasons to be “three-season” tires. They just don’t have the same handling and braking ability in the cold. Throw in slush and snow, early darkness, bundled-up pedestrians, and other drivers who aren’t good at handling winter, and you want every advantage you can get – that means winter tires or all-weathers.

Relatively new to the market, all-weather tires are basically all-seasons with better winter performance. They can handle warmer weather, but their compound and tread move farther over to the winter side than those of an all-season tire. They carry the mountain-and-snowflake logo that indicates a winter tire, which qualifies them under Quebec and BC requirements, and for insurance discounts.

Just as with all-seasons, one set of tires does you all year, without the need to buy, swap, and store. While their availability and vehicle fitment were limited at first, their growing popularity means more tire manufacturers are offering them, and in a wider range of sizes. Most of them do a very good job of getting through snow, and channeling away water to help prevent hydroplaning.However, because they’re still a compromise between the seasons, they’re still not as effective as dedicated winter tires, especially for braking distance. And because their rubber compound is softer than an all-season, they tend not to last as long, and their tread-wear warranty is usually shorter than that of an all-season (winter tires seldom, if ever, come with tread-wear warranty).

All-weather tires are mostly suited for drivers in areas that don’t get a lot of snow and ice, or very cold winters – think Toronto or BC’s Lower Mainland, not Whitehorse (or, for that matter, frequent trips to skiing or cottage country). Winter tires are still better, but if you’re dead-set against buying and installing them, then we suggest using all-weather.

As the name sounds, they’re meant for that specific season. They’re not “snow” tires anymore; instead, they’re designed for cold weather that can be dry, snowy, or rainy. Their grooves channel away slush and snow, and they have lots of sipes – the tiny slits in the tread – which improve grip and help prevent hydroplaning (when the tire “floats” on top of a puddle instead of pushing through and contacting the asphalt).

That said, there are different levels of winter tires, so choose the one that’s most appropriate for your conditions. Some have very aggressive tread for deep snow, while others may have mounting holes to insert studs, if your jurisdiction permits them.

The biggest benefit is their performance. Even if you have all-wheel drive, winter tires improve handling and reduce braking distances compared to all-seasons. If you’re in Quebec or specific areas of British Columbia, you’re required to use them. In other locations, you may be eligible for an insurance discount if you have winter tires, and in Manitoba, you may qualify for a low-interest loan through Manitoba Public Insurance to buy them.

The disadvantage, of course, is that you’re buying, installing, and storing two sets of tires (and it’s a good idea to buy a second set of rims, too, to reduce the wear-and-tear of breaking each tire off its rim twice a year). If you have a “direct” tire pressure monitoring system, which uses sensors mounted inside the tires, you’ll have to buy four new sensors or your TPMS won’t work when your winter tires are on.

We say, “Yes, you should!” But many drivers find that the dual-set disadvantages are too much for them. If that’s the case, consider SEASONAL TIRE STORAGE with B'n'R Tires Inc

The main difference between LT and P tires is that LT tires are designed for heavier loads and rougher driving conditions, while P tires are designed for lighter vehicles and smoother rides: 

• Intended useLT tires are designed for SUVs, pickups, and vans that carry heavy loads and travel off-road. P tires are designed for sedans, crossovers, coupes, and other lighter vehicles, and perform well on wet and dry roads. 
• ConstructionLT tires are more robust than P tires, with heavier sidewalls, shoulders, and treads. LT tires also have more tread plies and larger bead bundles, which allows them to be inflated to higher pressures and carry more load. 
• Ride qualityP tires offer a smoother, quieter, and more comfortable ride than LT tires. 
• Load capacityLT tires have higher load ratings than P tires. For example, a P245/75R16 tire has a max load of 2,271 lbs at 35 PSI, while an LT245/75R16 tire needs to be inflated to 50 PSI to carry the same load. 
• Tire mixingYou should not mix P-metric and LT tires on the same vehicle, except for temporary use of a spare tire. 

You can find your tire size in a few places:

• On the tireThe size is usually printed on the sidewall of the tire. 
• In the owner's manualThe owner's manual for your vehicle should include the recommended tire size. 
• On the driver's side doorThere is usually a sticker with the tire size information on the inside of the driver's side door jamb. 
• In the glove boxYou can also check the driver's side door jamb, inside the glove box, or in the gas tank hatch for a tire fit guide. 

Tire size information includes:

• Width: The distance in millimeters from one sidewall of the tire to the other 
• Aspect ratio: The height of the tire as a percentage of its width 
• Rim diameter: The diameter of the rim the tire can fit on in inches 
• Speed rating: The maximum speed at which the tire can carry a load 

Before installing new tires, you should check the manufacturer's requirements to make sure they meet your vehicle's load and speed needs.

Even if your tires have lots of tread, you should consider replacing them if they are old:

• Rubber compounds break downOver time, rubber compounds deteriorate and become weaker, making tires more prone to failure. This process is called rubber oxidation, which dries out the compound and makes it stiff and brittle.
• Tires can show signs of agingAfter about 5 to 6 years, tires can start to show signs of aging, such as dry rot, cracks, and compromised performance.
• Manufacturers recommend replacing tiresMost auto manufacturers recommend replacing tires over six years old, regardless of tread depth. Some tire manufacturers, like Michelin and Continental, give a 10-year limit. 

You can check the age of your tires by looking for the date code on the sidewall. The last four digits in the sequence represent the week in the year it was manufactured. You can also check for other signs of aging, such as: pitting, discoloration, and splintering. To ensure a long tire life, you can: maintain proper air pressure, rotate tires regularly, and get routine inspections. 

We can thank Germany’s famous Autobahn for tire speed ratings. Tire speed ratings range from A (the lowest) to Y (the highest). But the chart is not completely in alphabetical order. For example, H is between U and V, with the common perception that H stood for “high performance” at one time. As manufacturers continue to add speed to their vehicles, tire speed ratings evolve to match the speeds. For example, Z was the highest rated speed at 149+ until W & Y were used to match the higher speeds of exotic sports cars.

Contrary to the name, speed ratings aren’t just about speed. They’re also about ride comfort, wear and cornering ability. Typically, the higher the speed rating, the better the grip and stopping power, but the lower the tread life. You can always increase the speed rating of the tires on your vehicle for improved performance, but can never decrease it without reducing the vehicle top speed to that of the lower speed rating selected.

We certainly don’t recommend it, but if tires of different speed ratings are mounted on a vehicle, the lower speed-rated tires should be placed on the front axle regardless of which axle is driven. This is to prevent a potential oversteer condition. Vehicle handling may be affected, and the vehicle’s speed capacity is now limited to the lowest speed-rated tire. For best performance, it is recommended that the same size and type of tire be used on all four wheel positions.

SPEED RATING CHART (PIRELLI)

https://www.pirelli.com/tires/en-us/car/driving-and-tire-tips/how-to-read/tire-speed-rating

235/55R17 99H- The load index (99) is the tire size's assigned numerical value used to compare relative load carrying capabilities. The higher the tire's load index number, the greater its load carrying capacity.

97 = 1,609 pounds
98 = 1,653 pounds
99 = 1,709 pounds

A tire with a higher load index than that of the Original Equipment tire indicates an increase in load capacity. A tire with a load index equal to that of the Original Equipment tire indicates an equivalent load capacity. A tire with a lower load index than the Original Equipment tire indicates the tire does not equal the load capacity of the original.

Typically, the load indexes of the tires used on passenger cars and light trucks range from 70 to 110.

LOAD INDEX CHART (PIRELLI)

https://www.pirelli.com/tires/en-us/car/driving-and-tire-tips/how-to-read/tire-load-index