How to Evaluate Winter Tires for Sale: 3 Critical Considerations

Today’s post outlines 3 simple steps to find winter tires suited to your unique driving conditions, vehicle, and performance needs. Read on or Find a TIRECRAFT to speak directly with a winter tire expert.

Step 1: Determine the Type of Tire you Need for Winter 2020-2021

Winter’s just around the corner, but what does that mean for you?

If you’re reading from Vancouver, BC, a city internationally renowned for its milder climate, you can expect daily highs of 7.1°C through the winter and as little as 35cm of snow all season. Given these mild conditions, most Vancouverites can get by with all-season or all-weather tires.

On the other hand, if you’re reading from Winnipeg, Manitoba, the coldest city in Canada come winter, with frigid daily highs of -9.3°C, you can expect plenty of snow and ice. All-seasons tires are not suitable for these conditions. When the temperature falls below 7°C, rubber stiffens up, making traction and braking more difficult.

In these conditions, winter tires are non-negotiable. They’re the safest option, made from a special rubber compound that improves traction, stopping, and handling when temperatures dip. Winter tires are also covered with grooves and small channels that move water and slush away, and tiny slits called sipes, which create extra biting edges on snow and ice, helping tires maintain contact with the road.

If your winter experience falls somewhere in between, consider all-weather tires, which offer a good balance of winter traction and warm-weather handling.

Need help? Find a local TIRECRAFT winter tire specialist. With more than 220 locations around the country, we’ve got experts standing by in all climates, ready to help you identify your unique winter driving needs, and find the best fit for your budget.

Step 2: Determine the Size of Winter Tire you Need

Your new winter tires should be the same size as the ones that came with your vehicle, unless you’re angling for a sportier look and feel. To determine the standard tire size for your vehicle, you can consult the owner’s manual, check the door jam or sidewall of your current tires, or ask your local TIRECRAFT expert.

Step 3: Review Winter Tire Ratings

Before you buy winter tires or all-weather tires, you can take a look at how they’ve been rated in various tire tests.

Here, winter tire buyers are spoiled for choice, as there are dozens of authoritative tire tests being done each year, making it easy for consumers to separate the wheat from the chaff. Some popular winter tire ratings include:

• Team Chrysler’s winter tire ratings
• Automobile Protection Association’s winter tire ratings
• Cansumer winter tire ratings

Browse Premium Winter Tires for Sale at TIRECRAFT

Whether you need additional winter tire advice, or you want to compare all the top brands under one roof, TIRECRAFT can help. We carry all the most popular winter, all-weather, and all-season tires, and our certified winter tire experts are standing by to assist you in any way you need.

Visit our website and use the Find a TIRECRAFT tool to start your free winter tire consultation today.

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