Here's a question...
By BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (51750)
St. Catharines, Ontario
May 6, 2026 7:53am CST
I don't drive, so I don't kow if it's true or not...
Does driving on snow tires in the summer use more gas than driving on summer tires in the summer? I do know that the snow tires make more noise when there's no snow (or maybe I'm imagining things again).
10 people like this
11 responses
@BarBaraPrz (51750)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
6 May
Have you had to drive through heavy snow with them? How did they do?
1 person likes this
@porwest (112195)
• United States
6 May
@BarBaraPrz Yes. All the time. Used to live in Wisconsin. Never had any issues with them.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (173667)
• United States
6 May
Yes, winter tires are made of softer rubber so they get a better grip (more friction) on the snow. They also have a deeper tread (that's what causes the noise) to help grip the road better. It takes more gas to push the tires through snow.
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (51750)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
6 May
I knew they have a deeper tread but didn't know that's what causes the noise. And I realise that it would take more gas to push through snow, but if there isn't any snow?
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (173667)
• United States
6 May
@BarBaraPrz If there is no snow, the deeper treads and the mostly rubber in the winter tires are the reason you get more friction so waste more gas using them.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (51750)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
6 May
But I see that you're in Italy now, so you don't have the same need for snow tires.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (500455)
• Italy
6 May
@BarBaraPrz - We are in the north of Italy, only 12 Km from where we lived in Switzerland. As my husband drives very little now and we do not go up on the mountains in winter, we bought "all seasons" tires. They are good if there is very little snow.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (90497)
• United States
6 May
I haven't switched tires for different season in many, many years but I do remember we never used our snow tires during the summer. I would imagine that it would affect the amount of gas used. Now we have all season tires so I haven't thought about this in ages.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (51750)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
6 May
How much snow do you get and how well do the all season tires work in it?
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (90497)
• United States
6 May
@BarBaraPrz our roads are cleared pretty quickly so driving isn't too much if an issue. Its rare to be driving in deep snow covered roads.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (51750)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
6 May
It would be a rare day indeed if you got snow. 
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (168928)
• United States
6 May
I have never had snow tires, we do not get snow that often to change them back and forth. It is interesting to read the other answers.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97031)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
6 May
No car so cannot tell you and I am in Florida.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (220670)
• United States
7 May
I think so; but I don't know for sure. I will ask my smartphone. Yes 3% to 7% and possibly up to 15% more gas.
