Do you need snow tires?

You can't beat winter tires for traction in snow and ice, but not everyone needs them, said Jennifer Stockburger, senior automotive engineer for Consumer Reports in Yonkers. Stockburger, who tests tires for Consumer Reports, talked to The Journal News about how winter tires have changed and who should buy them.

Q: What factors determine whether you need snow tires?

A: If you have a job or a responsibility that requires that you can't wait until roads are cleared, then you cannot beat the security of winter tires. They really are called winter tires now because of the temperature issue. You can't beat them for security in snow and ice.

Q: You mentioned that temperature is a factor.

A: This is where things have changed. You think about when we were kids. What they called snow tires were very luggy (with) open-tread patterns, and that was what gave them the ability to bite through snow. Today's winter tire is as much about the rubber compound as it is about the tread pattern. ... They have rubber compounds that are engineered so that when temperatures drop, the rubber stays pliable and provides better grip even on ice, whereas an all-season tire gets very stiff in very cold temperatures.

Q: How else are tires changing?

A: As cars are getting more and more capable (with) more horsepower ... the trend in original tires on cars is toward more performance-oriented tires. You can't have all this horsepower and no grip. (While performance tires have) more grip in wet and dry conditions, they give up winter traction. People are surprised sometimes. They'll say, 'Well, my old Accord was really good in the snow, but my new Accord all of a sudden isn't so great.'

Q: Often in winter, the roads are wet rather than snowy. In that instance, could an all-season tire be preferable to a winter tire?

A: Right. And that's where you as the driver need to make a determination. If you're typically leaving in the middle of the day when the sun comes out and you're on wet roads more than snow-covered or ice-covered, then an all-season's probably fine for you.

Q: What are the differences among winter tires?

A: Now there are performance winter tires as well. If you have a car like a BMW 5 Series, you have fairly grippy, very responsive tires to begin with. Now, you can buy ... performance winter models that help you maintain some of that while still giving you additional traction in snow and ice.

Q: How long do winter tires last?

A: Because they're more pliable, they will wear more quickly. ... It's one of the reasons why we definitely say you should take them off in the spring. If you do that, you can expect three or four seasons out of a set of winter tires.

Q: Some people get just two for the front wheels. Is that a good idea?

A: Never, and the reason is, you'll create an imbalance in handling. You never want one axle to be grippier than the other. ... Each tire has a brake on it. (If the front tires grip better than the rear) then your rear will tend to slide out - you'll spin out.

Source: Journal News, 10/7/07