The Importance of Winter Tires

Installing winter tires on your vehicle is important in our harsh Canadian climate. Winter tires are specifically designed for winter conditions. They will help increase your confidence when driving on winter roads and help keep roads safer for everyone.

Made with Special Rubber Compounds

Winter tires are made with a pliable rubber that is created to stay soft in temperatures below 7°C, which allows them to have more traction, therefore, increasing stopping distances. In comparison, all-season tires will become rigid in cold temperatures and make it harder for you to stop and to accelerate.

Have Special Sipes

Tires are designed with special slits called sipes. Winter tires have a specific sipe design that helps to extract snow from your tires and increase the amount of contact your tire makes with the road, therefore, increasing your traction.

Look for the Snowflake Symbol

Winter tires will be marked with a special snowflake and mountain symbol, meaning that they are a certified winter tires. All-season tires may sound like they are made to work in every season but only tires marked with the snowflake symbol are truly designed for winter weather.

Install All Four

Winter tires should always be installed in sets of four. Installing two all-season tires and only two winter tires could lead to uneven tire wear. This will decrease your ability to stop and accelerate in winter conditions, eliminating the benefits of having winter tires.

Where are Winter Tires Mandatory?

Winter tires are mandatory in British Columbia and Quebec. From December 1 to March 15, all motorized road vehicles registered in Québec (other than heavy vehicles, tool vehicles and farm machinery) must be equipped with winter tires. Winter tires or chains are required on most routes in British Columbia from October 1 to April 30. On BC highways not located through mountain passes and/or high snowfall areas, winter tire requirements end on March 31.

What About All-Weather Tires?

All-weather tires are designed for mild winter climates – areas where temperatures don’t drop and that don’t receive large amounts of snow. All-weather tires can be used year-round but will wear out faster than winter and all-season tires. For most Canadian cities, we recommend using all-season tires when the temperature is above 7°C and using certified winter tires when the temperature is below 7°C.

If you want to learn more about winter tires and which ones are best for your vehicle and driving habits, visit your local Tirecraft or shop online here