Winter Tires vs. All-Season Tires

Are you having an inner battle over winter tires vs. all-season tires for handling unpredictable winter roads in New Castle and West Chester, PA? That’s understandable since our region can wildly shift from mild winters to harsh ones from one year to the next. See how both types of tires handle the changes in tire pressure in winter, and what you need for winter tire storage in more temperate months with Mercedes-Benz of Wilmington. 

Whichever type of tire wins your winter tire vs. all-season tire struggle, you can choose either from the selection of tires in the Mercedes-Benz of Wilmington parts department. Using Mercedes Original tires is the best way to ensure that you’re getting the best for your vehicle when it comes to fit, traction, and safety. They’re also covered for road hazard damage, unlike most other brands. Contact our parts department for more information on Mercedes Original winter tires vs. all-season tires.

The Benefits & Drawbacks of Winter Tires vs. All-Season Tires

While winter tires are great for driving around Newark when winter hits, there are certainly some drawbacks you’ll want to consider. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of using winter tires:

Advantages

• Unique Rubber Compound: Many all-season tires are made of a rubber compound that can freeze and get brittle when temperatures drop. Winter tires utilize a special rubber compound that stays flexible during the cold to ensure you’ve got maximum grip.
• Specially-Designed Tread: You’ll often notice the grooves in a winter tire are different from an all-season tire and that’s because they’re specially designed for winter driving. The grooves reduce the amount of snow and ice build-up so you’ve got better traction when driving in inclement weather.
• Biting Edge Design: In addition to the ability to reduce snow and ice build-up, winter tires also have a biting edge design that digs into deep snow and ice to allow your vehicle to easily drive in winter conditions.

Disadvantages

• Wear: If temperatures climb back up and the roads are dry, driving with winter tires can cause significant wear on the tires, meaning a decreased lifespan.
• Swapping Out: While you can drive on a winter tire during the summer, it’s not recommended so you’ll have to have a second set of summer tires to swap to when the weather gets warmer.

Winter Tire Storage Information & Tips

As we mentioned, you don’t want to keep your winter tires on year-round because they’re not necessarily made to tackle summer roads. As a result, there are some winter tire storage tips we want to provide you so that you can keep your winter tires in excellent condition. Additionally, driving in the winter comes with some nuances you’ll want to be aware of for maximum safety. Here are some winter tire tips and driving information to keep in mind:

• Store Clean Tires: It may seem obvious, but you’ll want to clean your tires before you put them in storage. Storing tires without cleaning them could lead to corrosion and decrease the lifespan of your tires. Make sure you cover your tires after you clean them.
• Clean & Temperature-Controlled Storage: You’ll want to keep your tires in a clean and temperature-controlled space so that they don’t experience increased wear. Additionally, you’ll want to stack your tires and rotate them occasionally to avoid any spots or unusual deformities on your tires.
• Tire Pressure: Your tire pressure in the winter will almost always drop as the cold temperatures cause air to become less dense in your tires. We recommend you add the correct tire pressure to your tires when they’re still cold as you don’t want to have low tire pressure when you’re driving.
• Tread Wear: Just because you have winter tires doesn’t mean you won’t experience tread wear. It’s best to regularly inspect your tire tread wear to ensure you’ve got the proper tire tread for when roads do become hazardous.

Find Mercedes Original Tires at Mercedes-Benz of Wilmington

Whatever tires you choose in winter tires vs. all-season tires, find them at Mercedes-Benz of Wilmington. Our tire experts will ensure that you get the best tires not only for the way you drive but also for your Mercedes-Benz. See our selection today, and schedule an appointment with our service department for professional tire installation. If you’d like to learn more about tires, visit our service and parts information hub for helpful articles on how often you should rotate your tires and more.