A lot of times we talk about tires, and even more so when the weather is really cold in the winter, with snow and icy roads. We recently spoke with an expert, Iris Ocasio, from Bridgestone Tires, maker of the incredible Blizzak winter tire.

Ocasio explains the difference between regular winter tires and why they are critical for your safety. There are some facts about winter tires that you probably need to know before you consider a winter tire and why the Bridgestone Blizzak is the best winter tire.

“We are really proud of the Blizzak,” Ocasio says. “It is leading in the stud-less winter tire market. Our rule of thumb is, as soon as you can start seeing your breath you need to start thinking about a dedicated winter tire.”

Drivers need to be aware of the “40-degree rule.” When the temperature dips below 40 degrees, that’s when you need to consider installing winter tires. This is crucial for those of you who reside in the northern states who see a lot of snow and ice each winter. Winter snow tires are designed to start performing at temperatures 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower when other types of tires begin to lose their flexibility.

It is a common misconception that all-season tires will deliver the same performance results as winter tires or snow tires. This is false, as winter tires are drastically different from all-season tires in both construction and functionality. The temperature range and road conditions that they operate at are different.

“There are so many different winter tires out there, the Bridgestone DMV2 is our flagship winter tire and is great for SUVs, CUVs, and trucks,” Ocasio says. “We also have the LM005, which I refer to as our sporty winter tire. What's really awesome about the Blizzak DMV2 is Bridgestone’s patented multi-cell technology; it’s like pores in the compound right and in the tread.”

The tire wicks away water from the surface to reduce the dangers of snow-on-snow traction, she says. These tires excel because of the technology to give drivers improved traction, handling, braking and control, Ocasio adds.

Bridgestone tires have a unique 3D zig-zag sides on the tire tread. You can see the tread blocks on the tire that are cut up and it's sticky to the touch. This tread is softer than your traditional all-season tire because you want to maintain that pliability in these cold conditions. “With a summer or all-season tire, when it drops below 40 it'll start getting stiffer and that ride isn't going to be as comfortable and you're not going to have the traction you need,” Ocasio says.

If you are driving a sedan or sports car through the winter, winter tires are a great benefit. Having proper snow tires in winter conditions will keep you safer on the road. The key is to get the best traction and contact patch no matter what you drive. The contact patch is the portion of a vehicle's tire that is in actual contact with the road surface. The goal is to have stellar traction in harsh snow and ice driving.

Once the weather changes and the temperatures rise, that is the time to switch back to to your all-season or summer tires. Checking your tire pressure once a month will give you the best traction, fuel economy, braking and handling year round,

A little fun fact on tires, is that the only company in the world that sells more tires than Bridgestone is Lego. Make sure to check out Bridgestone’s website and do some research there to find the right tire for your vehicle and needs.

Video Link: https://youtu.be/qC-aZTeCi7s

There is so much more to discuss on this, put your comments below and let’s start the conversation.

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Lauren Fix, The Car Coach is a nationally recognized automotive expert, media guest, journalist, author, keynote speaker and television host. A trusted car expert, Lauren provides an insider’s perspective on a wide range of automotive topics and safety issues for both the auto industry and consumers. Her analysis is honest and straightforward.