How Do Snow Tires Work?

If you live in a winter wonderland, you probably know what snow tires are, but do you know how they work?

Some of the confusion might come from the term “snow tires.” At America's Tire, we prefer to use “winter tires” for this category because they do more than just offer snow traction. Through the use of cutting-edge engineering, snow tires work to provide you with glue-like grip, even in the heart of winter’s harshest weather. To learn more about winter tires, check out our winter/snow tire FAQ page!

Winter tires are the most important safety factor for keeping you and your vehicle safe in the coldest months of the year.

Okay, so you know winter tires are important. But how do they work?

HOW DO WINTER TIRES WORK?

What makes winter (or snow tires, if you prefer) different from other tires?

It all boils down to a two-punch combo: rubber composition and tread pattern.

Winter tire rubber compound

Things can get pretty frigid in winter months, and this temperature drop affects the rubber in your tires.

You may already be aware (or not) that tire air pressure is affected by temperature changes. This is why your tires are a little low on cool fall mornings but perk up later as the day warms up or you use your vehicle.

Likewise, the rubber compounds in your tires are affected by cold air. Cold makes rubber stiffen up and lose flexibility. When your tires stiffen up, the tread elements that help you brake, steer and maintain traction can’t perform at their best.

This is why all-season tires don’t perform as well as winter tires–their tread stiffens up. Even if they have tread elements that add grip in water or light snow, they won’t function as well because of the cold temps. Unfortunately, all-terrain and mud terrain tires don’t work as well as winter tires, either, for this same reason.

If you’ve heard of all-weather tires, then we’d like to point out that “all-weather” is a tiny bit misleading. All-weather tires are meant to handle a larger range of temps and weather conditions than all-season tires, but still don’t come close to the performance of a real winter tire.

Winter tires work by utilizing rubber compounds that stay flexible and adhesive even when the mercury dips well below freezing. Many also include “bite particles” or silica-based micro pore compounds to boost traction in wet or icy conditions.

Winter tire pattern

Tire tread patterns are designed to offer specific benefits, which is why you can look at any tread and make a good guess of the tire type without seeing the model name!

Winter tires work well on slush, snow, ice and water because they come with deeper grooves, increased siping, and voids. These winter tire features grip the driving surface (whether it be ice, slush, snow or water) and offer consistent traction.

Winter tires used to come with very aggressive tread patterns to essentially paw through snow. They worked well but were loud and not that stable while braking, cornering and accelerating. Modern winter tires don’t have this issue because engineering advancements allow for closely spaced cuts, voids and grooves to provide enhanced winter traction without compromising ride comfort.

All winter tires will have a three-peak mountain snowflake severe weather designation symbol on their sidewall. This certifies that they meet or exceed the traction standard set by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA).

ARE WINTER TIRES NECESSARY?

The answer is, it depends. If your area experiences serious winter weather, including frigid temperatures, rain, slush, snow and ice, then winter tires are an absolute must.

In an area like this, many drivers think that because they have 4WD or AWD, they don’t need winter tires. This is incorrect! AWD and 4WD assist in acceleration, not braking! Traction in winter is entirely up to your tires, not your drivetrain. AWD and 4WD may help you get out of a snow drift or escape a patch of ice while parked, but it won’t help you come to a stop.

You can learn more about this from our blog on what wheel drive is best in snow?

If your area has mild winters with few storms and temps that consistently at or above 45 degrees, then you may be able to get by without winter tires.

In fact, some all-terrain tires (and also all-weather tires) also feature the 3PMS designation, meaning they may be suitable for areas that see inclement winter weather but no true blizzard-like conditions.

If you live in an area with mild, occasional winter conditions, or no winter conditions at all, a dedicated snow tire may be unnecessary (or perhaps overkill). In that case, an all-terrain tire for your truck or SUV may be the solution. Check out our blog on the best all-terrain tires for snow!

ARE FATTER OR THINNER TIRES BETTER IN SNOW?

This misunderstanding probably comes from the belief that fat all-terrain or mud terrain tires are sufficient for winter weather. But as we’ve mentioned above, these tire types can’t compete with dedicated winter tire options. Also: off-road grip is not the same kind of traction required for smooth, slick surfaces like ice, water and snow.

In fact, your winter tires may be noticeably narrower than even a summer tire. This is because slimmer tires increase surface pressure beneath your tire, slicing through winter debris and reducing the risk of hydroplaning.

When your tire touches snow (or ice), it melts the top layer and moves it aside. This is important in creating friction (read: traction) and staying in contact with the driving surface.

Want more winter driving tips? Read up on how to drive in snow!

Ready to roll?

If your interest in winter tires is piqued, feel free to check out our huge inventory of the best winter tires in the industry!

Or, you can get started by checking out our picks of the best snow tires and the best snow tires for trucks!

If you’re still not sure, give us a ring or drop in and we’ll help you get the best option possible for you and your vehicle.

Walk-ins are always welcome but we encourage you to buy and make your appointment online first. Buy and book online to save time in-store!

For more information on this and other tire and wheel services, check out our YouTube Channel or reach out to us on X, Facebook and Instagram.