Winter tires are a safety featureThe summer season has come and gone. Fall is in full bloom and that means that Old Man Winter is just around the corner. Winter tires are a very important safety feature that will not only help you avoid getting into trouble this winter, they will also help get out of slippery situations.
How does one choose a winter tire?
Like summer tires, there are many different types of tires that are appropriate for the cold season. The type of driving you do and the type of car you drive have a serious influence on the tire that will be purchased. The environment in which you find yourself driving is also an important factor for tire selection. Basically, it breaks down between passenger cars, compact SUVs and minivans, performance winter tires and truck winter tires. Then, we move on to whether more grip is needed in snow and ice
or on a dry surface.
Let us begin by passenger car tires.
The following tires are in order of recommendation. They will apply to most passenger cars, compact and mid-size SUVs and minivans.
The Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 has been for a while and is still the best winter tire for overall traction. This means ice, snow and slush. It has a 13/32 tread depth
and a very soft compound to give traction in the cold temperatures but that may wear out faster than other tires. It is also one of the more expensive tires but you always get what you pay for. Bridgestone is introducing a new tire called REVO 1 which will share the spotlight with the Blizzak. The REVO 1 itself is not as deep as the Blizzak. It will, however afford better stability on dry surfaces and will retain very good ice traction.
Not everyone will be willing to shell out mucho dinero for the Blizzaks. Thankfully, there is a less expensive compromise.
The Yokohama IG-10 is this exact tire. It also has a very soft compound and has a similar pattern to the Blizzak. Its tread depth is of 12/32 and it is much less expensive than the Bridgestone. This tire represents one of the best winter tire compromises as far as durability, performance and price are concerned. Its ice and snow traction are very good and will leave very few drivers needing more adherence. If the Blizzak is a 10/10, then the Ice Guard 10 is a 9/10.
