Tire Rack Tire Test - All-Season vs. Winter Tires

http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=HP5&url=/index.jsp
Many of today's vehicles leave the factory with all-season tires. While all-season tires are intended to provide traction in a wide variety of weather conditions, we've found they can behave like a Jack-of-all-trades, master of none. Watch as we compare the difference between all-season tires and winter tires by evaluating acceleration, stopping and cornering capabilities on our snowy test track.

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Autos & Vehicles

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[soccerpeve]

Moral of the story? Black BMW's stop faster than Silver ones!!!

[informant007]

I've lived in the NY metropolitan area (CT/NJ/NY) for many years with just all-season tires. Yes, when a major snow storm hits, I am out of luck in that I have to drive like a granny to be safe. But that's about one day out of each storm, because shortly thereafter the roads have been plowed. Now if I were driving up to the north on a regular basis during the winter, e.g. skiing in Vermont, I'd definitely get a set of snow tires. Otherwise, all-season can do just fine.

[LapinPete]

Studded winter tires are the only ones I use during winter. Reading the comments here i doubt i would ever feel safe driving in winter in US. Laws of physics dont change no matter how HC-driver you are especially if there is an unexpected situation like moose/deer on the road, only thing that matters is your tires and maybe abs. Its also nice not to have to wait ten minutes to get out of traffic lights. ;)

[mfitz1969]

@fartman10284 I have driven the DWS against the Altimax Arctic and Extreme Winter Contact on the same day, in the same conditions (about 2" snow with ice underneath) on very similar FWD compact cars. The Extreme Winter was dramatically better than the DWS but only minimally better than the General. But it was an informal test. Same route, same conditions, similar roads but 1 drivers subjective seat-of-the-pants conclusions. The DWS ain't all that, just better than other UHP-AS

[mfitz1969]

@abdaim As someone who lives in the flatlands of Minnesota I can assure you that you are quite wrong. Winter tires help even when it is cold and the roads are dry - and flat!

[mies1888]

@Jimpank90 Finland has same thing =)

[Jimpank90]

Try a winter in sweden with tyres like the silver BMW and you will get stuck and you will slide into the ditches quite often. All season tyres in sweden are worthless.

[bmwrocks325]

@benoitcaron ya i throw my truck into Neutral for best stopping

[benoitcaron]

@bmwrocks325 tell you what, traction on all-season vs. winter tires on my Grand Cherokee = not much of a difference...but AWD does not help you stop....

[MrTTqUaTtRo]

@soccerpeve LOL wow

[bmwrocks325]

now lets get an AWD or 4x4 and do the same text in 4wheel drive

[nationaltyre]

Interesting take on winter tyres