I am heading to the mountains in the morning with all-season tires. Will I be all right?

Question

I have all wheel drive. The front two tires have great tread, but the rear two are very low on tread. The drive shaft is FWD. The restrictions call for snow tires on all vehicles without 4x4 and snow tires. My tires are rated for the snow with an M-S designation. Will I be okay??

Answer 1

Winter tires are not like All-Season tires. Winter tires have special rubber compounds designed to improve traction, handling and braking in all cold weather conditions, not just ice and snow.

Winter Tires are designed to deliver safety and control in snow, ice, and cold weather conditions. Many people think that all-season tires can deliver this same performance, but this is not true. The superior traction that winter tires deliver, as much as a 25 to 50 percent increase over all-season tires, can very well be the margin you need to stop in time or turn to avoid trouble.

Answer 2

The "very low" treads would have me concerned.

Answer 3

No. You should get proper winter/snow tires. And a pack of tire chains. Even with a 4WD car, having "summer" or all-season tires in snow and ice means that you will not have traction not just on two but on all four wheels.

I'm using winter tires from November till February - I live in the area where we have anything from -20 to + 10  (-4 to 50 F) in these months. Summer tires loose much of their mechanical grip on tarmac in temperatures bellow 7 degrees Celsius (44 F). I just want to be on the safe side.

Answer 4

All-season tires do not have the same depth or width of tread that actual winter or snow tires do for use in deep snow.  Better pack some tire chains and shovel just in case...better than being stranded. Warm blankets, food, flashlight, extra gloves, hat, socks, boots and a large candle/matches for heat as well as a cell phone.

  I had a customer stuck in a blizzard that locked herself out trying to read a road sign and nearly froze to death...not good.

Answer 5

No ,...........There was a big expose' on tv about how the companies were trying to dupe the public into all season tires but they had a professional driver try the tires and found that they didn't work in winter weather. It was a W-5 report or a Fifth Estate Program. Next they went to car rental places and tried to rent a car with snow tires on it and they couldn't get one.        AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU READ THE QUESTION BUT NOT THE DETAILS. Mud and Snow are not all seasons usually and should be allright

Answer 6

You should be fine, but pack a shovel and a bag of sand or rock salt, just in case.

Just take your time, don't get in a big rush, and pay attention to the road. But, with that restriction regarding snow tires for cars without 4WD, they may hit you up on the low tread tires. If they're too low, I would definatly get them replaced before going.

Also, check with the Secretary of State or Department of Motor Vehicles to see if tire chains are legal where you are. For example, here in Michigan, tire chains are illegal on road surfaces.

Answer 7

Depends on which mountains you are heading into.  The highways over the Sierras are clear today with just light snow fall predicted until Thursday.  Other mountain ranges may have other forecasts.  If you are heading into heavy snow conditions, then NO... I wouldn't go with the tires you have described.

Answer 8

If I can make it through a South Dakota winter in a Trans Am with racing tires, you can make it with four wheel drive and snow tires...lol.  Just drive carefully and you'll be fine, same as anyone else who drives carefully.

Answer 9

if you drive carefully, maybe but it would be nice to have some tire chains just in case.....