Winter Driving Tips

I HAVE AN ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SUV. DO I STILL NEED WINTER TIRES?

All-wheel drive is a great feature, but its effectiveness can be improved by using the right tires for the right purpose. Like a front-wheel drive vehicle, it has 40-60% of the vehicle weight over the drive wheels. This weight ratio helps you keep moving, but it doesn’t help you stop or corner better. A better connection with the road, however, does help you stop and corner more efficiently. Therefore, winter and summer performance is maximized by making the proper tire choice. Remember that the difference in traction between all-season and severe winter rated tires is 25-50% – that’s the performance advantage that you can add to your all-wheel drive vehicle in winter conditions.

“It was great to have the opportunity to get on a course with adverse conditions to test and improve our skills.”