As summer comes to an end and we start moving into fall, many have to start thinking of changing tires their SUV all-season tires to SUV winter tires to ensure that you can drive safely with your heavier SUV. However, if you belong to those who have decided to go with a set of SUV all-weather tires, you don’t have to worry about changing tires between the seasons. This is true if you select a set that is approved for winter conditions and has the severe service emblem or the 3PMSF (3 Peak Mountain Snow Flake) -symbol on the sidewall of the tires.
This symbol guarantees that the tires have been tested and certified to handle winter conditions with snow and ice. This is different from the S+M rating, which shows that the tires have good traction for conditions with mud or snow, but not necessarily in winter conditions. If you drive in areas where you have to have winter tires during the winter season, you might be required to have the severe service emblem / 3PMSF-symbol to be legal.
The all-weather tires have a rubber compound that has the right softness for the full temperature range that is present during both summers and winters. This is important as both for the grip and the wear of the tires will depend on it. All-season tires have very little grip during the winter due to the fact that they become very hard at low temperatures, and winter tires wear out faster if used during warm temperatures.
You will always be better off having dedicated tires for the seasons. Still, depending on where you live, you might have more blurred lines between the seasons, and you want to ensure that you have safe and reliable tires that you can drive with regardless of the weather conditions. That combined with the convenience of not having to worry about when to change tires and having two sets of tires. You do, however, need to rotate the tires between the rear and front tire position to ensure that the wear will be even so that all the four tires will wear out at the same rate and you therefore will be able to replace all the tires at the same time. Check the tread depth level regularly so that you know when you reach the 5/32-inch tread depth level.
Having the correct tires is not the only safety measure you have to take; you also always have to adjust your driving speed to the surround and the prevailing weather conditions. When driving on very wet roads during the summer, you need to slow down to prevent hydroplaning and when you drive on icy roads you also need to exercise caution as even with winter approved tires, ice can be difficult to get excellent grip on. For icy conditions the studded tires are your best option, so if you are using all-weather tires or non-studded winter tires, you need to respect icy roads.
For more information regarding all-weather tires, visit: https://www.nokiantires.com/