Choosing The Best Snow Tires: Advice From TIRECRAFT

Canadian winters can be tough, and safety on the road is crucial. Follow TIRECRAFT’s guidance to select the right snow tires for your vehicle.

What Are Snow Tires?

Snow tires are tires that engineers and manufacturers design to perform well in the snow. They have different tread designs, different tread depths, and siping. Tire engineers design snow tires to provide traction on slippery surfaces, such as snow and ice, and to move snow and slush away from the tire as it spins.

However, snow is not the only factor that makes winter driving hazardous. Another, and perhaps the most critical, factor is temperature. Even if there’s no snow in the sky or ice on the road, winter temperatures make summer and all-season tires less safe.

When the temperature drops below seven degrees Celsius, the rubber in all-season and summer tires becomes stiffer, leading to reduced road grip. As the temperature continues to decrease, this stiffness worsens. That’s why it’s a smart choice to switch to snow tires in the fall, before the weather gets too cold. You can visit a TIRECRAFT location near you when it’s time for a seasonal tire changeover.

What’s A Winter Tire?

Winter tires offer a combination of cold-resistant rubber compounds, specialized tread designs, and siping, making them excellent choices for navigating Canada’s winter roads. They excel in providing superior traction and safety in cold conditions. However, it’s worth noting that winter tires aren’t your only option.

What’s An All-Weather Tire?

Many drivers get confused because there are all-season tires and all-weather tires. While all-season tires can’t really handle all four Canadian seasons, all-weather tires can. The Canadian Rubber Association and the Rubber Manufacturers’ Association rate both winter and all-weather tires as safe for winter driving. That’s why tire manufacturers emboss these tires with a snowflake and mountain pictogram, telling drivers that these are proper snow tires.

TIRECRAFT’s Guide To Snow Tires

Choosing the best snow tires for your vehicle can seem like a daunting task. There are so many options out there and different factors to consider. At TIRECRAFT, our tire experts can recommend one or more snow tires based on you and your vehicle. Some criteria to keep in mind when choosing snow tires include:

• What type of vehicle you drive. Different sized vehicles require different kinds of tires.
• How often you drive in winter.
• Your tire budget.
• Where you drive in winter. Plowed and salted city roads differ significantly from rural, gravel roads.
• If you’re satisfied with the manufacturer of your all-season or summer tires.
• If your vehicle’s owner’s manual recommends a certain model of snow tire.

Snow Tires From TIRECRAFT

At TIRECRAFT, we carry all the leading tire brands. We can ensure you get the perfect snow tire for your vehicle and your winter driving preferences. Some of the more popular snow tires we sell include:

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80

Many Canadian drivers love Bridgestone’s Blizzak series for its winter performance. The WS80 model is particularly remarkable for its excellent traction in snowy and icy conditions.

Continental WinterContact SI

Continental is another reputable tire brand, and many drivers turn to the WinterContact SI for reliable performance in various winter conditions.

Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice WRT

Goodyear designs the Ultra Grip Ice WRT to handle severe winter conditions and offer good traction on ice and snow.

Michelin X-Ice Xi3

Michelin is famous for producing high-quality winter tires. The X-Ice Xi3 is designed for excellent ice and snow performance.

Come To TIRECRAFT For The Best Snow Tires For Sale.

At TIRECRAFT, we sell all the snow tires mentioned in this article and many more. We’ll install your new snow tires for you and offer tire storage options. Come spring, we’ll change your tires again and can store your snow tires. Contact a TIRECRAFT location near you for all your tire needs.

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