Winter Tires In Summer (2023)

FAQs

Winter Tires In Summer? ›

Driving on winter tires in the summer can affect your safety and wallet. The special rubber compound that makes them flexible in freezing temperatures also makes them wear out much faster in warmer weather. Plus, the higher rolling resistance of the deeper tread means you'll reduce your MPG, spending more on gas.

Using winter tires in summer can cause the rubber and tread to wear down quickly. The heat can increase the risk of a blowout. The risk of hydroplaning also increases because winter tires don't grip as effectively compared to summer or all-season tires in warm, wet weather.

When the seasonal temperature falls below 7 °C (46 °F), it's time to switch to winter tires. Winter tires perform well in all cold weather conditions, ranging from snow and ice to wet and cold dry roads. When seasonal temperatures climb above 7 °C (46 °F), fit your wheels with summer tires.

Poor Handling – Winter tires offer better braking and grip, but they don't handle as well as all-season tires. When you're driving in icy and snowy conditions, you need to drive more carefully since you won't have as much control and handling when compared to what you're used to in better road conditions.

Since winter tires are designed to be more pliable and change shape, they create more rolling resistance as they warm up during the summer. This creates additional drag during the rotation of each tire, thus requiring more fuel consumption in order to maintain cruising speed.

Driving on winter tires in the summer can affect your safety and wallet. The special rubber compound that makes them flexible in freezing temperatures also makes them wear out much faster in warmer weather. Plus, the higher rolling resistance of the deeper tread means you'll reduce your MPG, spending more on gas.

The same deep treads, flexible rubber, and studs that give winter tires traction in the colder months can cause them to wear quicker when the temperature warms up. They won't perform the way you want them to. Using winter tires in summer conditions is like wearing ski boots to play soccer — it just doesn't work!

What Temperature is Too Hot for Winter Tires? Snow tires above 50 degrees start to experience unpleasant side effects of warmer temperatures. Generally speaking, the ideal winter tire temperature range is from 45°F and lower.

Since the rubber compound is softer, the tread changes shape more. This creates more rolling resistance and uses more gas. When you drive on winter tires in summer, you reduce their lifespan by close to 60 per cent, as opposed to if they were only used in winter conditions.

A typical tire inflated to 100 psi, undergoing normal use at 68 degrees Fahrenheit, tends to build up enough heat to increase 10 to 15 psi as it reaches thermal equilibrium. A general rule of thumb is that for every 10 degree increase in tire temperature, the tire's pressure will increase by 2 psi.

Why not always use snow tires? ›

Decreased performance - In warm weather, winter tires won't provide the same handling capabilities as summer or all-season tires. Imagine if you needed to make a quick maneuver and your tires were soft and squishy. You won't get the crisp response from a winter tire in warm weather.

The very compounds crafted to make tires safe in winter conditions aren't built to withstand heat or consistently wet roads. Simply put, winter tires do not have the necessary characteristics for safe summer driving, even if they have sufficient tread depth.

But on average, your winter tires should easily last 4 to 6 seasons no matter what the situation or circumstance is. A general rule of thumb is to check the tread depth. Once you have a tread depth of 5/32-inch or lower, it's probably a sign that you should replace your winter tires.

It is also fair to mention a winter tire replacement is when a the tire reaches 4/32 remaining tread.” Therefore, a winter tire with a warranty of up to 6 years and 40,000 miles tread life projection could theoretically survive for about nine winter seasons.

Winter tires don't like warm roads

But if you run a set of winter tires throughout the year, that same flexible tread will wear down more quickly in warmer temperatures. It reduces the service life by as much as 60 percent.

Reducing air pressure will not give you more traction and your tires could become seriously underinflated, affecting steering. Keep in mind that every time the outside temperature drops 10 degrees, the tire air pressure goes down about one pound per square inch.

You should never mix all-season, winter or summer tires. These tires were engineered with dramatically different types of traction and handling in mind. Mixing the type of tire on your vehicle can cause a loss of handling, increasing your risk of accidents.

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.

As ambient temperatures get colder, typically in the 40-45° Fahrenheit range, summer performance tires lose a noticeable percentage of traction as their tread compound rubber properties change from a pliable elastic to inflexible plastic.

Winter tires, also known as snow tires, are designed to enhance winter performance in wet and icy conditions. However, these tires aren't just for winter; they're also suitable for all winter weather conditions, including rain.