Not all sets of winter tires can be applied to all vehicles. Winter tires are built differently to accommodate various factors such as load weight, environment, driving habits, and wheel size.
SUVs and commercial trucks won’t use the same high-performance tires, for example. This is why it’s so important to understand the type of winter tire suited to your vehicle and purpose before purchasing a set.
4 reasons winter tires aren’t interchangeable
- Wheel size
One of the most obvious reasons high-performance tires aren’t always interchangeable is the vehicle’s wheel size, or the size of the rims, not the tires. A car won’t have nearly the same size wheels as a truck, let alone an eighteen-wheeler. It would be impossible to try and put a smaller tire on a bigger rim. And while it would be possible to get a bigger tire on a smaller rim, this doesn’t mean the vehicle will drive properly.
The best all-weather tires come in different sizes to fit various vehicles. That’s why if you have a small car for daily trips to work and a large truck for off-road adventures, their tires won’t be interchangeable. You’ll need to invest in two winter tire sets to fit both vehicles.
- Load size
Winter tires also change based on the load they’ll be expected to transport. They’re the only point of contact between literal tons of weight and the road.
In the winter, when driving conditions are more precarious, heavier loads will have a harder time stopping or driving in a controlled manner without the proper tires. Trucks carrying heavier loads will have tires with multi-lug designs, deep tread depths, and open shoulder designs. Smaller cars won’t need winter tires with as much of a rugged design if the load is lighter.
Tires for heavier loads (dump trucks, logging trucks, refuse trucks, ready mix trucks) are stiffer with a higher tire pressure reading. Using tires like this on a passenger vehicle will throw off the tire pressure monitoring system, use more gas, and create a rougher drive.
While there’s an obvious difference between load weight for cars and trucks, there are smaller differences to note within those categories. For example, a light truck tire will work for a one-ton load, but just because it’s a truck tire, that doesn’t mean it will work for larger trucks. Larger commercial trucks would need line-haul tires.
- Environment
Winter tires work differently depending on the environment. The best all-season tires work in light snow and cold temperatures, but winter tires are necessary for moderate to heavy snow as the deeper treads work to grip the road through the snow and wick it away.
Winter tires for commercial trucks will generally accommodate longer drives and be built to be just as durable as tires used for simpler winter driving. For extreme environments, some winter tires can have metal studs on the tread.
High-performance tires with studs will provide even extra traction in wet conditions or where there’s rough ice and heavy snow. Using these kinds of winter tires where it isn’t necessary, however, will only make the drive more expensive, louder, and rougher.
- Efficiency
This applies to cost and driving efficiency. The wrong winter tire will drive up the cost of fuel. Heavier high-performance tires add to the weight of the vehicle and consume more fuel to reach the same speeds as the vehicle’s ideal tire. And if a winter tire were being used on a load it isn’t equipped to transport, the vehicle would have to work a lot harder to move.
Tires are also directly related to driving efficiency. Using the right winter tire not only affects acceleration, braking, and control but also affects how smooth the drive is. Stiff, studded tires on a suburban drive will be loud and rough.
Tires to use in the winter
Certain circumstances will help you determine whether you need an actual winter tire during the winter, or simply an all-season or all-weather tire. Read the following section to determine which tires to use based on the local environment and driving type.
Winter tires
Winter tires are the top choice for control during winter. It’s only a winter tire if there’s a three-peaked mountain and snowflake on the tire’s sidewall.
Use this tire for the rougher conditions which include hard-packed snow, ice, and freezing temperatures. The rubber will remain soft in cold temperatures so it continues to create traction on the road. Winter tires aren’t necessary in areas with little to no snow; they’ll only consume more fuel.
Best all-weather tires
All-weather tires are built to drive well throughout the year in regions that don’t experience drastic weather (that’s when winter tires should be used). They do sometimes have the three-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol, signifying they’re a quality choice for the winter.
The best all-weather tires are optimal for mild winter conditions, rain, and a range of temperatures. These are good to go from winter driving to dry driving if that’s common in your region.
Best all-season tires
Of these three types of tires, all-season tires are the least effective in snowy conditions. However, the best all-season tires do accommodate light mud and snow (known as M+S on the sidewall). This is an option for milder conditions where control or stopping in wet conditions isn’t as difficult.
Here are the three tire types from least to most effective in winter conditions:
- All-season tires
- All-weather tires
- Winter tires
Winter tire shopping for commercial trucks
Where commercial trucks are concerned, tires have a huge responsibility to help such a heavy load remain controlled during extreme weather conditions and get it from point A to point B. Do the following when shopping for winter tires for commercial trucks:
- Ensure the tire has the three-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol. Don’t use all-weather tires when the load is this heavy in the winter.
- Consider whether or not studded tires are needed. They offer more traction in the snow and ice. However, they’re not permitted on every road as they can be noisy or damage roads that aren’t built to withstand them.
- Use the correct size. The wrong size will cause alignment and brake problems. The right size will be more fuel-efficient and safe.
- Buy matching tires for each wheel of the vehicle. Mixing tires, or using winter tires on only some of the wheels is dangerous. Uneven tread across the wheels reduces traction.
Sailun winter tires for different vehicles
At Sailun, tires are first categorized into either Passenger/Light Truck Tires or Commercial Truck Tires for easy shopping. Within those categories, you can shop for tires based on their purpose, from trailers to winter to high-performance tires.
As the leading tire manufacturer, Sailun has a wide selection to ensure you can purchase the right set based on the four earlier reasons that winter tires aren’t interchangeable. Shop Sailun winter tires here.