In the winter months, nothing provides better grip and traction on slick roads than a set of dedicated winter tires. As the inventor of the winter tire, Nokian Tyres crafts products like the Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta 10, Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta LT3 and Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta R3 to help drivers have peace of mind in all conditions.

But when it comes to driving safety in warmer months, the same attributes that help winter tires thrive in the cold make them liabilities on hot asphalt. All season and all weather tires are much better choices when temperatures consistently climb above 45 degrees Fahrenheit, or 7 degrees Celcius.

What makes winter tires so good in the cold and so much less effective in heat? First, their soft compounds are built to stay responsive to the road at extremely low temperatures. But when the weather warms, winter tires that soft compound can wear excessively or unevenly. That compromises grip, traction, comfort and ultimately safety.

All season tires like the Nokian Tyres One and Nokian Tyres One HT also stop more quickly on wet roads. The difference in braking distance between a worn-out non-studded winter tire and an all season tire in good condition on a wet road surface is approximately 40 feet from the speed of 50 miles per hour. That is more than two car lengths, and it makes a big difference when you need to stop abruptly to avoid hitting an obstacle on the road. Whereas an all season tire can endure a speed of over 50 miles per hour on a wet road before hydroplaning, a worn-out non-studded winter tire can skid out of control at 37 km/h.

If you want winter protection but want a cold weather upgrade over all season tires, all weather tires like the Nokian Tyres WR G4 are a great choice. All weather tires can be used in all road conditions – rain, snow, heat and slush. They are certified with the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake emblem that signifies they’re suitable for winter roads.

Although they may look like similar black circles, all season and winter tires are fundamentally different. If the weather is warming to above 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celcius), it’s time to change your winter tires and get ready for your spring and summer journeys.