The reason all-season tires are a great choice for SUVs is because they allow for excellent handling throughout the year. The reason SUV all-season tiresare a good choice for your SUV is because they hold an advantage over all-weather tires as they in that their tread is less aggressive and therefore offers both better gas mileage and driving comfort. The drawback however is that they do not hold the “Three Peak Mountain Snowflake” symbol which means they are not adapted for severe winter weather so not recommended for the use in areas with severe winter weather.
On the other hand, this tire can safely be used year-round in areas with mild weather. There are many states in the United States where the weather stays mild year-round so in these areas the all-season tires hold an advantage. The advantage being that they outperform all-weather tires in all seasons but winter. This is because they allow for a smoother ride and longer tread life while providing optimal handling on both dry and wet roads. If living in an area with severe winters, you would be better off investing in all-weather tires or dedicated SUV winter tires in the winter.
If the decision is to invest in SUV all-season tires you need to also make sure that in addition to getting dedicated SUV tires you keep in mind the manufacturer’s recommended tire dimensions. The tire dimensions and load index are two important considerations especially for SUVs. If for an example your manufacturer recommends the dimensions 265/70R17 then you would need to get 265/70R17 all-season tires for your SUV. These dimensions describe the width in millimeters (265 mm) with the number 70, in this case, signifying that the tire’s section height is 70% of the tire’s section width. The last number is the diameter of the rim in inches. The load index is the number following the tire dimensions and these two-digit or three-digit number specifies the load index. The load index symbol indicates how much weight a tire can support.
Tires like the Nokian eNTYRE C/S is an example of an all-season tire especially designed for SUVs. They feature the latest technologies ensuring uncompromising performance, durability, comfort and safety on snowy, wet and dry surfaces alike. It also provides the best hydroplaning protection. This is a very important feature as hydroplaning can be very serious and quite frightening.
With the above-mentioned advantages over the all-weathertires there is always the option, if residing in an area with severe winter weather, to place dedicated winter tires on your vehicle during the winter months. This actually remains the best option for both safety and handling on snow and ice. If the area where you live does not have severe winter conditions than the all-season tires can be used year-round offering a durable, safe, comfortable and silent driving experience.
For more information regarding SUV all-season tires, visit: nokiantires.com