Some people might think that since winter tires have more tread, it can’t hurt to use them in the summer. However, it can actually be dangerous to use winter tires in the summer. It’s very important to swap tires at the right time.
Winter tires are made with softer rubber than summer or all-season tires, which is designed to work best in cold weather temperatures. This rubber is more flexible so that it can grip onto bumpy, cold winter roads, and maintain proper handling in these conditions.
In the summer, the roads are smoother and warmer, which makes the tires warmer and wobblier. The flexible rubber can’t grip onto warm roads and inhibits the car’s ability to stop on time, giving the driverless control over their vehicle. It can also lead to issues such as flat tires or loss of tread, which can only be resolved by replacing the tires.
In addition, when the tires aren’t right for the conditions, the vehicle has to work harder than it would with proper tires, so it requires more gas to operate. This decreased fuel efficiency means your gas bill will be higher! Because of the warmth, winter tires also wear more quickly and the rubber they are made of breaks down. Winter tires are expensive, so get the most out of them by taking them off as soon as you can.