Many vehicles are fitted with all season tires when they leave the factory. Since they are built to provide a relatively quiet ride, good tread life and year-round performance, its no wonder why they are so popular. All season tires offer versatile performance and are designed to perform in a variety of conditions including wet roads and light winter driving. All season tires are designed to offer a combination of benefits from summer and winter tires.
In order to provide good performance in a variety of driving conditions, all-season tires inevitably have to compromise some max summer and winter performance capabilities.That means all-season tires won’t provide the same amount of extreme grip and sharp handling of a summer tire. Likewise, an all-season tire is not designed to handle extreme winter conditions like trekking through snow or driving on ice.
Think of all-season tires like tennis shoes. You can wear tennis shoes all year, but they aren’t ideal for all situations. It’d be much better to have flip flops on the beach in the summer and boots for the snow.
All-season tire technology offers great year-round performance for drivers who live in moderate climates and do not frequently encounter extreme cold, ice, and snow in the winter months.
When it comes to driving in winter weather, having the right tire matters. From heavy snowfall to black ice, winter roads are extremely unpredictable. These conditions challenge tires to provide traction like no other season of the year. The combination of cold temperatures, ice, and snow can be best met by winter tires, which are specially designed to perform in winter conditions.
When it comes to driving in winter weather, having the right tire matters.
From heavy snowfall to black ice, winter roads are extremely unpredictable. These conditions challenge tires to provide traction like no other season of the year. The combination of cold temperatures, ice, and snow can be best met by winter tires, which are specially designed to perform in winter conditions.
There are specific features of winter tires that make them unique: tread rubber, tread depth and patterns, and biting edges.
The Tread Rubber - In extreme cold temperatures, the tread rubber of an all season or summer tire stiffens and becomes less able to provide sufficient traction. To combat this, tread rubber compounds of winter tires are designed to remain flexible, allowing the tire to grip the road better.
The Tread Depth and Patterns - A unique feature of winter tires is deeper tread depths and unique tread patterns. Deeper tread depths reduce snow buildup and provide better traction on the snow. Winter tire tread patterns are designed to channel snow and slush and expel water.
Biting Edges - Winter tires also feature an increased number of biting edges and high sipe densities, or in other words, thousands of tiny slits in the tread that provide traction on ice.
Bridgestone Blizzak tires also feature a proprietary multi-cell compound that acts as a sponge to help remove the thin layer of water that resides on ice and cause slippage. This helps to improve traction in icy conditions so you can maintain control of your vehicle. Check out our Blizzak DM-V2 winter tire for a closer look at how this tire provides confident driving in snow and icy conditions.
The solution to the winter or snow tires vs. all-season tires question will depend on where you live and the conditions in which you drive.
If you only see a few snow flurries each year and slick, icy roads are more of a fluke than an annual ordeal, all-season tires are probably the way to go. But if you know there’s a period when icy roads are always an issue, mounting winter tires isn’t an over-the-top precaution – it’s an essential safety measure that could save your life.
When mounting winter tires for the season, always install a full set. Just changing out the front tires increases the likelihood that the rear tires will skid. Likewise, just putting snow tires on the rear wheels could cause the front tires to lose traction and make it impossible to steer your vehicle.
And remember to re-mount those all-season tires when spring rolls around. While winter tires are undeniably superior in extreme winter conditions, they’ll wear down faster on warm, dry pavement.
Shop Snow or All-Season tires and view product level tire technology details that are compatible with your driving needs.
When it comes to driving in winter weather, having the right snow tires matters. Watch the video to see how Bridgestone Blizzak premium winter tires are designed to deliver optimal snow and ice performance.
FIND YOUR WINTER TIRE
There’s never a good time for a flat.
That’s why Bridgestone DriveGuard tires are masterfully engineered to keep you moving for up to 50 miles at speeds up to 50 MPH without disruption.
See Details Find Your Fit
If you wonder whether your “all-season” tires perform just as well in snow as the best snow tires, we have the answer. They don’t, and it’s really not even close. Most snow tires, or “winter tires” as they are sometimes known, outperform all-season tires in snow, rain and even on ice. Here is a look at the benefits of snow tires, the technology that makes them work, and some of the pros and cons of putting them on your vehicle.
Silvio Verrecchia / EyeEm
On This Page
Thanks to a couple of advances in tire technology, winter tires perform much better than the traditional “snow” tires you may remember (if you’re old enough).
They work better in snow, ice, slush and mud and on cold, dry pavement. The rubber compounds are entirely new. Most manufacturers now use rubber compounds that include silica, and some spruce up the formula even formula with traction bits and hollow “cells” that squeegee and suction water off the road. Tread designs are also far more aggressive to provide better acceleration and shorter stopping distances. Winter tires have more sipes (cuts in the tread) than all-season tires so that they can squeegee more water off the road. Saw-tooth sipes provide more surface area and cut into snow and slush better than straight sipes. The “micro pump” holes in the tread act like plungers to suck water off the road and then spit it out as the tire rolls.
All-season rubber compounds literally skate on ice. But winter tires are made with softer rubber compounds and added silica to give them more flexibility and grip on ice. And the special tread removes more water from the ice.
The test results show that winter tires outperform all-season tires on ice, too.
Tirerack.com used an indoor ice rink and timed the acceleration from a dead stop and measured stopping distances from 10 mph (Figure B). Winter tires accelerated faster. When taking a 90-degree turn at 10 mph, the car with winter tires stayed within the marked driving lane, while the car with all-season tires skidded out. That kind of cornering performance can mean the difference between avoiding an accident and causing one.
digi_guru/Getty Images
A set of four winter tires costs $600 or more, depending on your wheel size. If you have the tires mounted on your existing wheels, you’ll have to pay a shop to swap them each spring and fall. Most shops charge about $18 apiece to demount your all-season tires, mount the winter tires, balance and install them. However, if you buy an extra set of wheels and tire pressure sensors ($480 per set), you’ll save at least $50 on each changeover.
Don’t think you can skip the tire pressure sensors—the shop can’t legally install wheels without tire pressure sensors if your vehicle was already equipped with them.
Sure, winter tires cost a lot. But keep in mind that you’re getting a lot for your money. When you factor in the better stopping distance and handling in turns, it’s easy to see how winter tires could prevent an “at-fault” accident. If your collision deductible is in the $500 to $1,000 range, winter tires could actually pay for themselves in a single season if they keep you out of an accident.
Here’s another way to analyze the costs. Winter tires last about five years or 35,000 miles. Those are miles you won’t be putting on your all-season tires. So if buy a full set of new wheels, the true cost of winter tires comes out to about $150 per year for the first five years. Then if you buy a second set for those same wheels, the cost drops to just $65 per year. It’s worth the relatively small annual cost involved to get the extra stopping power and better handling that can help you avoid an accident.
Tire manufacturers make multiple winter tire models for specific winter conditions. So get expert advice from your local tire dealer to match the tire to your vehicle, your climate and your driving habits.
Mounting winter tires on the second set of wheels saves money over swapping tires on a single set of wheels. But you can save even more if you negotiate a package deal with the tire shop. Get a price for the tires, wheels, sensors and free seasonal mounting. If your shop offers a “Tire Hotel” service to store your off-season tires, ask them to throw that into the package as well. That way you won’t have to haul the off-season tires back and forth or store them in your garage.
Up next, check out if snow chains are worth it for the Winter season and learn more about the ideal tire pressure in Winter.
Moscow and Moscow Region 8 (495) 215-20-68
Regions of the Russian Federation 8 (800) 555-20-68
Tire Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
Brand
Bridgestone nine0005
Model name
Blizzak Ice
Season Tire replacement: above +7°С - summer, below +7°С - winter.
">
Winter
spikes Helps to get under way and shorten the braking distance on slippery surfaces.">
No
Vehicle type
Car / SUV
Tread pattern Responsible for drainage, grip, braking.">
Non-directional asymmetric
Diameter
13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20
Speed index
H (up to 210 km/h) / S (up to 180 km/h) / T (up to 190 km/h)
Buy Bridgestone Blizzak Ice tires
Rating 4.
9
30 customer reviews
Kanafiev Artur Rafikovich
SKODA Karoq 2021 1.4TSI NU
User experience: more than a year
Advantages: Surprisingly, not noisy and not hard rubber at all, as many say.
It does not slip on ice, it holds the road well, it handles well and the braking distance is minimal. nine0005
Flaws: Skidding in the snow
December 05, 2022
nine0003 5.0
Victor
INFINITI EX35 2010 3.
5 J50 nine0005
User experience: over a year
Advantages: Good road holding Soft and quiet
Disadvantages: no
Comment: Winter tires I always buy Bridgestone, not the first set of winter ones. Summer Bridgestones are harsh and noisy, I prefer softer ones. Many friends also chose Bridgestone
June 04, 2022
nine0003 5.
0
Vasilyeva Xenia
MAZDA 3 2008 1.6 BK Hatchback nine0005
User experience: several months
Advantages: Quiet, soft. Holds the road well
Disadvantages: no
May 21, 2022
nine0113 5.
0 nine0005
Palagin Alexander
OPEL Astra J 2012 1.6 Turbo Ecotec P10 Hatchback 5d
User experience: several months
Advantages: They showed themselves well in winter, no complaints!
Disadvantages: no
Comment: I read reviews and reviews on tires for a long time, I was looking for a suitable option for price-quality for myself. The breeches showed themselves on the good side, when in winter some slipped when entering the yard, I drove through without problems. "Dig out" and "ordered" perfectly!
May 19, 2022
nine01134.0 nine0005
Yaroshuk Alexey
TOYOTA Camry 2021 2.0 XV70 Sedan
User experience: several months
Advantages: Not noisy, good grip, good behavior when braking, cornering.
nine0005
Comment: My purely subjective opinion, in comparison with the tires of other manufacturers that I have ridden, it could be better.
May 14, 2022
nine0003 5.0
Margushina Irina Alexandrovna nine0005
MAZDA 6 2010 2.
0R (2010-2012) GH Sedan
User experience: less than a month
Advantages: excellent on snow
Disadvantages: not very good on ice
Comment: Wonderful tires, we drive around the area and there was a lot of snow, Blizzak took it out perfectly!! But on the ice, unfortunately, it skidded a couple of times, it was not pleasant! In general, I am very satisfied, I still drive and at the moment the Bridge can withstand positive temperatures!
May 14, 2022
5.
0 nine0005
Semenova Elena Viktorovna
NISSAN Qashqai 2021 2.0 J11
User experience: several months
Advantages: quiet wheels
Disadvantages: it is problematic to leave uncleaned yards
Comment: good tires, I go and go!
05 April 2022
nine0003 5.
0
Iskenderov Roman Ruslanovich nine0005
SKODA Yeti Outdoor 2016 1.4TSI 5L
User experience: several months
Advantages: Soft, good grip, good ride on snow and ice.
Disadvantages: I did not find any disadvantages.
04 April 2022
nine0003 5.
0
Denisov Dmitry Alexandrovich
nine0003 VOLVO XC60 2013 T5 2.0 D1 SUV
User experience: a few months
Advantages: hold the road well and do not make noise
Comment: sat on non-studded tires for the first time, I really liked it, better than Velcro
03 April 2022
nine0003 5.
0
Prilepov Grigory Anatolievich
KIA Ceed 2015 1.6 JD Hatchback nine0005
User experience: several months
Advantages: Good handling. Tires are quiet and comfortable.
Flaws: Not noticed yet.
Comment: Tires satisfied, already recommended to friends.
nine0002 03 April 2022 Real reviews of car owners about tires Bridgestone Blizzak Ice.
Opinions of owners on operation - advantages and disadvantages. Bridgestone Blizzak Ice tires - the pros and cons of using.
BlackTyres is an online car tire store with a huge selection of brands and models. In order not to get lost among the many commodity items, as well as to get detailed information on each model, there is a section on our website with real reviews from the owners of such tires. Reviews provide an opportunity to get acquainted not only with the characteristics declared by the manufacturer, but also with the real experience of their use by buyers. nine0005
If you have also used Bridgestone Blizzak Ice tires, we offer you the opportunity to share your impressions with other car owners. Specify the most complete information, both positive and negative, if any. We would appreciate the following information:
Your feedback will be very useful for visitors to our site. It will help buyers make the right choice, especially if this review is detailed and detailed. You yourself can take the opportunity to read the reviews of other motorists when choosing the necessary set of car tires for yourself. nine0005
Reviews about us
Moscow and Moscow Region 8 (495) 215-20-68
Regions of the Russian Federation 8 (800) 555-20-68
Tire Yokohama Ice Guard IG60
Brand
Yokohama nine0005
Model name
Ice Guard IG60
Season Tire replacement: above +7°С - summer, below +7°С - winter.
">
Winter
spikes Helps to get under way and shorten the braking distance on slippery surfaces.">
No
Vehicle type
Car / SUV
Tread pattern Responsible for drainage, grip, braking.">
Non-directional asymmetric
Diameter
14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19
Speed index
Q (up to 160 km/h)
Buy tires Yokohama Ice Guard IG60
Rating 4.
8
38 customer reviews
nine0003 5.0
Sobenevsky Andrey
nine0002 User experience: less than a month Advantages: I took winter tires on Honda Jazz for my daughter.
Tires are new, less than a year old. The daughter has been driving all November, she does not complain. Rubber is not noisy, although we do not have special requirements for noise, because. trips are usually short. It brakes well, but with a calm driving style, this is not surprising. We haven’t driven on ice yet, but we don’t expect miracles, we need to slow down in time and correctly. nine0005
Faults: Not identified yet.
November 19, 2022
nine0003 5.
0
Dernov Daniil Nikolaevich
SUBARU XV 2018 2.0i-S AWD G5 SUV
User experience: less than a month
Advantages: Good handling, quiet
Disadvantages: No braking felt
nine0002 November 17, 2022 nine0003 5.
0
Afonin Sergey Vyacheslavovich
MAZDA 6 2022 2.0 Skyactiv-G GJ Sedan
nine0002 User experience: less than a monthAdvantages: Good tires, not too noisy. Thanks for the service, they did everything quickly and efficiently.
October 23, 2022
5.
0 nine0005
Alexander
TOYOTA Isis 2012 1.8 (2009-2017) XM10
User experience: less than a month
nine0002 September 14, 2022 nine0003 5.
0
Michael
LADA Priora 2008 1.6 16V 21703 Sedan
nine0002 User experience: several monthsAdvantages: Decent tires for a nice price. I skated the entire winter season on Yoka - I was satisfied. Rubber soft, rulitsya well, sticks well. Driving on the highway is as comfortable as possible, without surprises. It pulls on ice no worse than spikes.
Faults: Did not reveal.
nine0002 24 May 2022nine0003 5.0
Filatova Olga Vladimirovna
HONDA Jazz 2012 1.3 i-DSI i-VTEC IMA Hybrid GP1
nine0002 User experience: several months Advantages: Not noisy, they keep the road well, I drive around the city, I very rarely leave the city.
They are definitely quieter than my summer tires.
Disadvantages: I liked the tires, I didn’t notice anything wrong with them
nine0002 May 20, 2022nine0003 5.0
Shitikov Evgeniy Yurievich
HYUNDAI Creta 2020 2.
0 I
Advantages: Sticks to ice, behaves well at speed
Disadvantages: Noisy
Comment: Good tire. Will recommend with pleasure to friends
May 17, 2022
nine0003 5.
0
Kondratov Alexander
TOYOTA Camry 2020 2.5 XV70 Sedan
User experience: over a year
Advantages: Quite for the city! holds the road well and does not make noise, although noise is not important to me
Disadvantages: no
Comment: I knew what I was buying. The emphasis was on Japanese tires, I have been using this brand for more than 15 years and I think that the price / quality ratio corresponds. Before that there were Dunlop, a sad experience, I will not take
againMay 15, 2022
nine0003 4.0
Mashkovsky Georgy Georgievich
SUZUKI Swift 2016 1.2 NZ 5d
User experience: several months
Advantages: The rubber is soft, good to use, well preserved over the season, rides well on snow and ice, does not slip.
Disadvantages: Not very good outside the city.
Comment: I bought it on the recommendation of a colleague. Thank you.
April 07, 2022
5.0 nine0005
Gushchina Natalia
KIA Rio 2011 1.
4 (2009-2011) JB Hatchback
User experience: several months
Advantages: soft, not bad in turns
Disadvantages: no complaints
Comment: very good impressions
04 April 2022
Real reviews of car owners about tires Yokohama Ice Guard IG60. Opinions of owners on operation - advantages and disadvantages. Tires Yokohama Ice Guard IG60 - the pros and cons of using. nine0005
BlackTyres is an online car tire store with a huge selection of brands and models. In order not to get lost among the many commodity items, as well as to get detailed information on each model, there is a section on our website with real reviews from the owners of such tires.
Reviews provide an opportunity to get acquainted not only with the characteristics declared by the manufacturer, but also with the real experience of their use by buyers.
If you have also used Yokohama Ice Guard IG60 tires, we offer you the opportunity to share your impressions with other car owners. Specify the most complete information, both positive and negative, if any. We would appreciate the following information: nine0005
Your feedback will be very useful for visitors to our site. It will help buyers make the right choice, especially if this review is detailed and detailed.
