Are Summer Tires Necessary?
Always use the right tires to get the best performance out of your car so it stays in good condition. The right tires for your car depend on several factors, including the climate where you live.
If you live in a place where summers are mostly dry and hot, you should probably use summer tires on your car instead of all-season tires. Switching tires in the winter and summer can be a hassle, but getting the best performance out of your car is worth it.
Types Of Tires
When it comes to tires for the cars that most people drive daily, there are three common types:
- Performance Tires or Summer Tires
Performance or summer tires are designed to be driven in high temperatures on hot pavement. Performance tires are treated with a special compound that helps protect the rubber from the hot temperatures in the air and on the pavement. They have shallow grooves and continuous ribs, allowing them to grip the road better than other tires. That extra grip makes the cars easier to handle, improves their performance when cornering, and prevents hydroplaning during summer rain storms. Summer tires may not last as long as all-season tires, but they perform better in summer weather conditions and hot, dry climates.
- Winter Tires
Winter tires are durable and safe when driving on snow and ice. Snow or winter tires have jagged grooves and deep treads so that snow doesn’t get packed onto the tire. You can tell if a tire is a winter tire by the tread and by the snowflake symbol on the side of the tire. Winter tires shouldn’t be used unless the temperature is below 40 degrees. If you live in an area where the winters are cold and snowy after the first snowfall, you should have winter tires on your vehicle.
- All-Season Tires
All-season tires can be used in any climate, but they aren’t the best choice for most cars. It can be easier for a car owner to put all-season tires on their vehicle so that they don’t have to switch between summer and winter tires, but all-season tires can’t prevent hydroplaning that performance tires have. If you live in a warmer climate where it doesn’t snow, all-season tires are a good choice for budget-conscious drivers willing to trade upgraded performance for affordability.
Who Needs Summer Tires
Are summer tires necessary? Summer tires are not required for most drivers, but drivers who have luxury or high-end cars and want to get the best performance possible out of their vehicles should invest in summer tires.
Professional Tire Installation
Talk to one of the tire experts at Boston Motor Werks today to find out what the best tires are for your car and your lifestyle and to get those tires professionally installed.
