The winter season is upon us, and with winter comes snow, ice, sleet, slush and all that cold wet stuff that makes driving a real challenge. While many people may believe that all season tires are okay for all weather driving, they don't provide great traction or handling in snow or icy conditions. In order to be safe this season, it's highly recommended that vehicle owners purchase a set of winter tires for their vehicles, whether it's a car, truck or van.
All-season Tires Versus Winter Tires
All-season tires start to lose their grip on the road at temperatures of -10 degree Celsius and below, which means the vehicle will begin to lose traction and control. Winter tires are made for winter conditions and remain more flexible in colder temperatures. They are specially designed with deeper tread to give the vehicle better control in snowy, icy and slushy weather conditions, as well as wet and dry roads. Furthermore, they are not like the clunky winter tires of the past. They offer a smooth ride on dry pavement.
It's recommended that drivers put four winter tires on their vehicles even if it is front-wheel drive to ensure maximum control. And yes, sport utility and four-wheel drive vehicles should get them as well. Just because it's 4-wheel drive doesn't make it invincible. Winter tires provide better grip on any vehicle.
How to Choose the Right Winter Tires
- Make sure to buy winter tires that they are the right size for the vehicle. Tires that are too big or too small can cause damage to the car. So don't buy a smaller size just because they are on sale. Choose ones with the right fit. Also avoid mixing tires with different tread patterns.
- Choose a winter tire that has a symbol of a snowflake inside a mountain peak, which will be on the outside of the tire. This symbol means that the tires meet the standards and requirements for excellent traction performance in snowy and icy conditions.
- Some of the best brands of winter tires include the Bridgestone Blizzak, Goodyear UltraGrip, Yokohama Guardex, BF Goodrich Winter Slaloms, Canadian Tire's Nordic WinterTrac and Toyo Observe. Pirelli even makes a winter versions of performance tires to suit everyone's needs.
- For those looking for a super-duty winter tire, surf the Transport Canada website for a list of brands that meet the severe-duty specifications.
