I need to know if it is normal that the winter tire is wider than the summer tire?

Question by Pongy: I need to know if it is normal that the winter tire is wider than the summer tire?

Hi there,

I purchased a Nissan Sunny 1988 yesterday (17th of October). Recently the roads have started to freeze and get covered by snow here in Northern Scandinavia so I thought “Hey Pongy, time to change tires”.

Now, I haven’t done this before since I was a city boy and relied on public transport and such. I was slightly surprised to notice that the diameter of the winter tire was noticeably wider than that of the summer tire. I need to know if this is normal/to be expected.

Kind regards

Pongy
I guess what you’re saying is that the diameter of winter tires compared to summer tires may differ and as long as the winter tires aren’t humongously wide I needn’t worry.

But that’s just how I interpret your reply. If anyone could confirm or object that would be appreciated.
thebax2006,

I don’t think it’s got ABS brakes, it’s a fairly old car and I didn’t read anything about it in the service manual.

Gee, I really hope I’m not in trouble here if I change to wider winter tires. They came with the purchase and I’m still not sure if wider tires are ok or not.

Perhaps I could check the tire dimensions tomorrow.

Best answer:

Answer by Pat
The with of a snow tire allow it not to float and maintain traction with the
road, so too wide is no good as well as too narrow..

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Please read other answers to this question at the very bottom of this page, below you will find a video and related articles that will try to answer the question, if you have a proper answer please post it at the bottom.

Introduction – Transport Canada, the Automobile Protection Agency (APA) and the Rubber Association of Canada (RAC), teamed up to create a series of videos that clearly demonstrate how winter tires drastically improve driver safety.

Top Brands Of Winter Tires You Should Buy

Some of us who have cars know how important it is to ensure that they remain in working condition. In order to make a point that this comes about we need to take it in for standard oil changes, tune ups, and of course change out the tires every so often. People who live in the north must do this every time the winter season arrives in preparation for snow and icy roads.

Winter tires are utilized to help offer them the handling and protection they need to drive on icy roads without driving off of them. Because of their importance they must make sure that they buy the proper type of tires and also the proper brand. There are numerous manufacturers to choose from – but only you can decide which one to use.

Goodyear

These are in all probability the more common producers on the market. The company began around the 1800’s by Charles Goodyear – the man who invented inventor of rubber. Since then they have sold tires for bikes and also for cars. They offer a wide range of winter tires that are used in distinct regions and for distinct purposes.

Dunlop

This is another well known manufacturer that has been around for quite some time. Thanks to John Dunlop the first tire design was made better and he made them easier to utilize. This new design is something that we still utilize to this day. Dunlop is well-known for giving their customers the very best products.

Bridgestone

This company is a little younger than the other manufacturers and was in reality started in Japan around the 1930’s. Bridgestone tires are some of the more ordinary and largest manufacturers in the world today. They have the ability to supply their clients with the latest products that offer them a dependable ride.

All About Winter Tires

Some of us who have cars know how important it is to ensure that they remain in working condition. In order to make a point that this comes about we need to take it in for standard oil changes, tune ups, and of course change out the tires every so often. People who live in the north must do this every time the winter season arrives in preparation for snow and icy roads.

Winter tires are utilized to help offer them the handling and protection they need to drive on icy roads without driving off of them. Because of their importance they must make sure that they buy the proper type of tires and also the proper brand. There are numerous manufacturers to choose from – but only you can decide which one to use.

Goodyear

These are in all probability the more common producers on the market. The company began around the 1800’s by Charles Goodyear – the man who invented inventor of rubber. Since then they have sold tires for bikes and also for cars. They offer a wide range of winter tires that are used in distinct regions and for distinct purposes.

Dunlop

This is another well known manufacturer that has been around for quite some time. Thanks to John Dunlop the first tire design was made better and he made them easier to utilize. This new design is something that we still utilize to this day. Dunlop is well-known for giving their customers the very best products.

Bridgestone

This company is a little younger than the other manufacturers and was in reality started in Japan around the 1930’s. Bridgestone tires are some of the more ordinary and largest manufacturers in the world today. They have the ability to supply their clients with the latest products that offer them a dependable ride.

Winter tires are essential to prepare for the ice, snow and slipper sleet that seem to accumulate on the roads throughout the winter months. Winter tires keep your vehicle from harm as they can create additional traction on the slippery roads. Although winter tires protect the vehicle against the elements of the slippery roads, they are actually built for the cold weather!

When should winter tires be put on the vehicle? In late November, once the temperatures reach a lower number, it is safe for winter tires to be placed on vehicles. When the temperature reaches about seven degrees, winter tires should be placed on the vehicle – to deal with the cold weather temperatures. Many customers wait for the first snowfall, it is important to place tires on the vehicle before the first snowfall falls to the ground!

Although winter tires can wear quickly if they are placed on the vehicle too early, it is important to ensure the tires are placed on the vehicle before the actual snowfall. Many customers are concerned about the wear, as winter tires are often more expensive than all-weather or summer tires. Experts recommend that it is better to have the tires on early, and face the wear than to risk chancing the vehicle in the winter.

Winter tires can provide up to forty percent traction in the snow and ice of the cold days and nights of winter. What provides this traction? Winter tires and the grooves and bumps provided by the tires can be accountable for the increased traction, compared to all wheel or summer tires. Although with black ice, the traction may be decreased – the winter tires will still continue to provide up to ten percent more traction than traditional summer, or all weather tires.

Studs are an addition to winter tires that can increase the traction. They are small metal pieces which are embedded into the tires and can increase the traction created by adhering to the road, regardless of the snow that exists under the wheel. Slits are the small cuts that exist on the tires assist in providing traction, as the small cuts assist in gripping the surface of the road, and prevent water from entering the space in between the tire and the road. Both of these factors contribute to the fact that tires have a difficult time gripping the road in the winter, and can greatly influence the handling capability of the vehicle throughout the cold winter months.

There are many changes occurring in the winter tire market, so how are customers supposed to know which tires available on the market are the best? Experts recommend that the best tires available are the newest, as the technology is rapid changing and therefore, the best tires will encompass the newest successful combined with traditional winter tire creating techniques.

When choosing winter tires, be sure to speak with your auto professional to determine the best tires which will range for the best fit of the vehicle. This will help customers to be safe on the road throughout the winter months.