A lot of folks don’t give their tires much thought unless they go flat, and some people think there’s only one kind. There are many, many different types of tires, and they’re all made with a set of specific purposes in mind.
For instance, all-season tires are designed to handle well in most weather conditions, but the drawback is that they don’t perform particularly great at anything. If you live in a warmer climate like South Florida, you may want to consider running a set of summer tires.
What is the point of summer tires? Read on to find out.
Summer Tires: The Basics
As the name implies, summer tires do best in warm weather. They tend to perform very well in both wet and dry conditions, so long as the temperature stays above a certain threshold—it’s recommended that you don’t use summer tires under 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
The main reason that summer tires don’t do so well in cold weather is largely due to the rubber they’re made from. The compound is softer than other tires, which allows the tire to maintain a better grip on the road and stops it from hydroplaning in the rain. It also lets the tire disperse heat more efficiently.
Summer tires feature a unique tread as well. The grooves are shallower, and there are less voids in the rubber. The tread pattern tends to be directional, which means that the tread is oriented toward the direction the tires rotate. The upshot of all this is that summer usually has more of their surface area in direct contact with the road, and the tread is designed so that water can move through the grooves without affecting drivability.
Summer Tires vs. All-Season Tires
Since all seasons are by far the most common type of tire on passenger cars and SUVs, we’ll use them as a point of contrast.
Compared to summer tires, all-season tires are made of thicker, denser rubber that’s meant to withstand colder temperatures, but they don’t grip the tarmac quite as well. All seasons have deeper grooves that allow them to drive in light snow, and many have a symmetrical tread.
All-season tires are a good jack-of-all-trades middle ground for moderate weather conditions that fluctuate throughout the year. Summer tires are optimized for warm weather conditions, making them the best option for drivers who spend most of their time in a hot climate (for instance, if you live near our car dealership near Hialeah).
Many summer tires overlap with performance tires because of their softer rubber and increased ground contact—in fact, some people even use the terms “summer tires” and “performance tires” interchangeably. Since they tend to provide precision cornering and braking, lots of people use summer tires for their thrill factor, especially in souped-up models and electric vehicles with lightning-quick acceleration.
How Long Do Summer Tires Last?
It’s hard to pin down an exact figure for how long a summer tire lasts because there are so many different subtypes, and it depends largely on driving style. However, most rough estimates give a range of about 20,000 to 40,000 miles.
If you know anything about tires, you’ll notice that this is significantly less than a typical all-season tire, which can easily go over 60,000 miles. Having a relatively short lifespan is one of the major tradeoffs of using summer tires.
Summer tires don’t last quite as long because of the softer rubber formulation, which is less durable than the rubber other types of tires are made of. They also have less tread depth, which translates to less time before the tread is worn down to the point that it needs to be replaced. Then, there’s also the fact that people tend to drive a little harder on summer tires because of their above-average performance.
Should You Buy Summer Tires in Miami?
Summer tires aren’t right for everyone, but if you’re lucky enough to live in a place where the average temperature stays above the 40s year-round, they may be perfect for you. The blend of superior dry road performance and excellent handling in the rain make them ideal for luxury cars in South Florida.
If you’re looking to upgrade to summer tires for your Genesis G70, Braman has the goods. Our tire center stocks only the best to guarantee you get superb comfort and handling out of your luxury car, and our parts specials and coupons can save you tons of cash on your next tire rotation. Give our service department a call at (786) 574-3099 or contact us online to find tires for sale near Coral Gables.
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