Should I get snowtires or better all weather radials for my car and van?

Question

I live in a city which is very hilly and doesn't have the best snow plow service. However, we rarely get more than 1"-2" of snow at a time. Both my van and my car (both FWD) have Goodyear Regatta 2s, and I've noticed that traction on snow and ice isn't that good. Should I replace all four tires on both cars with good snowtires during the winter, or should I invest in better all weather radials?

If it is the latter, what brands of all weather radials do you recommend that are better than the Regatta 2s? These are regular tires, not high performance tires.

Thanks.

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.

The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) has set a new standard for winter traction.

Answer 2

I live in the snow belt south of lake erie. we get on average 10 feet of snow a season. all I have used for years are all season tires and I have never had any trouble. A lot depends on your driving skills. for the very best traction use studded winter tread.