What is the difference between winter tires and snow tires? If I use only two snow tires on the front wheels, during snow, in my front wheel driven car (Brand of the car - Chevrolet), then safety wise shall it make much difference then if I had used snow tires on all the four wheels? Also, If I want to use only two snow tires in my another old seldom used rear wheel driven car, then should I use them on rear wheels or on front wheels (Brand of the car - Ambassador)? Do snow socks works same like snow tires? Thanks for your reply help in advance. Negi
Don't worry about silly thing like that. More worry about boom from partying lol.
Winter tyres are constructed using a different rubber compound to summer tyres, so maintain better grip in lower temperatures. They may have a similar tread pattern to summer tyres. Snow tyres use winter compound, and in addition have a more aggressive tread pattern for better traction in snow.
I have a small pickup truck which is very light in the back end. I use studded snow tires on the rear in the winter time. And if I have to drive when the roads will be slick, I add about 200 pounds of sand over the rear axle. Works great!
Here in Norway, we have two types tyres; what we call stud tyres (snow tyres) and winter tyres. The latter are exactly like the usual tyres but they have deeper pattern and the rubber is of a softer type. The stud tyres are, like explained above, with metal spikes embedded in the rubber. According to the Norwegian law, we are not allowed to drive with summer (normal) tyres during the winter. But the law doesn't specify what is a winter tyre. It only says that the pattern must be deeper than 8 mm. Stud tyres are best but they destroy the road and fill the air with asphalt dust as the studs erode the surface. In cities like Oslo, you need to pay an extra tax if you want to drive with stud tyres. Unless you are driving a lot in the countryside, simple soft rubber winter tyres are good enough and this is what most Norwegians use. But no one - I repeat - no one would dare to drive with only two winter tyres - either studs or soft rubber. I am not a car technician, I only repeat what I hear but I understand it would be very dangerous to drive with only two of those tyres. If you are in doubt, please ask your local tyres retailer, they usually know what they are doing.
