Bachman Subaru Blog

At this time of year, roads are more difficult to navigate due to snow and ice. If you’re looking for ways to stay safe when driving in the snow, you may consider getting special tires to handle the weather. You have options, such as studded tires or winter tires.

We put together this comparison to help you determine what type of tires you may want to put on your vehicle this winter.

Studded vs. Regular Winter Tires

Image by Jason Thibault | Licensed with CC BY 2.0

Studded tires have studs that protrude from the tire and provide a better grip on the snow and ice. They resemble cleats you’d wear for sports and work similarly to provide more traction. Winter tires, or snow tires, have deeper grooves and jagged edges along the tread to get more traction between the vehicle and the snow.

Differences Between Studded and Regular Winter Tires

The primary difference between studded and regular winter tires is their appearance and how they give more traction between you and the road. Studded tires are better for severe winter weather conditions. They have small rubber or metal points coming out of the tire that sticks into ice and snow and helps move your vehicle through it. They have deep grooves like regular winter tires. However, some states don’t permit studded tires, so you may need to check the bureau of motor vehicles in your state before buying this type of tire.

Regular winter tires use unique tread designs and flexible rubber compounds to adapt to harsh winter conditions and provide you with a grip on snow or ice. The flexibility is important because the cold temperatures can freeze regular tires and make them stiff, but winter tires can move and adapt to the packing snow or slush you may drive through. All states allow winter tires, and they are very dependable when driving in the winter.

Benefits of Getting Winter Tires

Advances in the technology of winter tires enable them to function as well as studded tires in most weather conditions. For example, small slits in the tread called sipes give you a strong grip on snow or ice and help accelerate and decelerate on these surfaces. Sipes are especially helpful for driving through slush or water and can prevent you from sliding or hydroplaning. The deep grooves on winter tires can pack snow and make it easy to drive through it.

Winter tires are also adaptable and some are studdable, meaning you can add studs to them when necessary if studded tires aren’t prohibited in your state. Studdable winter tires act as regular winter tires but have holes where you can screw in studs if you’re expecting very severe winter weather. This option enables you to have the best of both studded and regular winter tires.

Another benefit of regular winter tires versus studded tires is that regular winter tires are quiet on the road. This is good because the noise won’t be a distraction or irritating. With studded tires, you may hear the studs on the pavement.

Winter Tires vs. All-Season Tires

Often, all-season tires come with a vehicle if you buy from a dealership. This type of tire is designed to give you good traction in a variety of conditions. They function well in dry and wet conditions. However, in winter weather all-season tires cannot provide the level of traction that winter tires do. All-season tires are better for warm weather because their rubber tread can stiffen in colder temperatures.

Winter tires often last two seasons so you don’t need to replace them as often. Their tread remains flexible in weather below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, which is suitable for most areas. While manufacturers make all-season tires for wet and dry roads, they specifically design winter tires to drive in the snow and ice.

Preparing For Driving in the Winter

To prepare for the winter weather, you may mount your winter tires at the end of November and leave them on through March. Winter weather differs based on your region, so plan to switch your tires to winter tires at least a week before you regularly expect snow or freezing temperatures. It’s helpful to check your tire tread and pressure often to ensure that they’re fully inflated and have deep tread that gives traction. The tread should be at least 4/32 of an inch. If it’s below you may need new tires.

It’s a good idea to take your vehicle to a service center to be inspected before winter weather begins. This way you can address any issues that may cause a problem when driving in the snow. If you need to replace any parts on your Subaru, you can order genuine Subaru parts online through our website. Our service center can also help prepare your vehicle for harsh weather with battery testing, wheel alignment, and tire replacement. You can schedule any of these services today.

How To Find Winter Tires

If you’re looking to upgrade your tires for the season, visit our tire center. With any purchase of our tires, you get a protection plan that covers replacements and repairs with roadside assistance for any tire trouble you may have. When shopping for winter tires, look for a snowflake symbol on the sidewall of the tire. Any tire that meets the standards for driving in severe winter weather has this symbol.

How Many Tires Do You Need?

Whether you get studded tires or regular winter tires, you need to replace all four of your regular tires. Even if your vehicle is a front-wheel drive, you need winter tires on the back as well.  Four winter tires provide the best traction and enable the tires to function properly. For example, if you only mount winter or studded tires on the front of your vehicle, this can affect the braking and handling of the vehicle. While you have good traction in the front, the back of your car may be able to slide and get stuck in the snow.

We want you to be safe this winter and drive with confidence. Contact our team today with your questions about tires for the winter.