Do Snow Tires Need Breaking-In?

No, and don't try to "break them in". Snow tires have a special soft compound and it'll wear down faster when you drive on pavement. Once that soft compound is worn down the rubber is not as soft, but I think that's when you're down below 50% treadlife.

I wait until the first snow and put the tires on in my garage (yes I have them mounted on extra steel wheels). Actually, I put my summer tires back on in February of this year because of a long road trip, and I left them on until just a couple weeks ago.

 

Mine are on now before the snow. The advantage isn't just the snow, but the cold. It's around freezing here now and the Integreties traction on wet was already bad. I've heard the recommendation to put them on when the temp is likely to mostly stay below 10C. In Quebec I think the requirement is that they're on by 1 Dec.

 

My factory studded Nokian winter tires have a claimed "break in" period. There is a cross-hatch wear area around each stud, and you are supposed to drive "gently" until this cross-hatch is gone

Something to do with the factory studding process, the studs being in correct position, etc

 

Rokeby: Don't mount your Blizzak's until you absolutely have to. They are made of very soft compound and wear fast on dry pavement. I believe they have pieces of walnut shell impeded in the rubber. Keep them at max. cold setting and they may last longer? Very best tire for snow and ice.People in the far north use these almost exclusively. H

 

Hi Rokeby:

I have never used them myself I'm only passing on what my friend told me and he swears by them. You should get many years at that mileage?

Air pressure. I run 40 and 36 aft. I was just thinking that higher air pressure may slow down the wear?

What State is Merlin in?

Cheers:
Hal

 

Thanks Rokeby:

By the way that friend live's pretty high up on a mountain so his tires are very well tested for about 5 months a year. H

 

Hi Rokeby, the tread surface of new tires is relatively smooth as a result of the molding process. After a couple hundred miles of normal driving, the tread surface becomes rougher, which improves traction in icy conditions.

Once, about fifteen years ago, I had a brand new set of Goodyear Vectors mounted just coincidentally at the very same time that freezing rain set in. On the way home, although I had to drive up a hill where other cars were sliding around, I had no problems. Just an anecdote, but goes to show you.

So the answer to your question is yes and no. Yes, snow tires need breaking in to reach their maximum potential, and no, they don't need breaking in before it snows, because they will also do just fine without.

I suggest mounting snow tires when it's most convenient for you. As already mentioned by BAllanJ, when the temperatures approach freezing, the softer winter tires also have better grip on bare pavement, because the summer tires get too hard at low temperatures.