TIRECRAFT Tips – When to Change Summer Tires

When to Change to Summer Tires

Mother Nature and the spring season can be known to play tricks on us Canadians. We will get a taste of sunny and warmer weather to then have it disappear and be cold again. The spring season always has customers wondering:

When Should I Change My Seasonal Tires?

For spring change over it may be better to rely on the thermometer opposed to the calendar to help you decide when the right time to make the switch is. TIRECRAFT recommends switching out your winter tires when your local area is experiencing a steady temperature of around 5-7 degrees Celsius. The consistent warmer temperatures is usually a good indicator for consumers to think about booking an appointment to get their tires changed over.

*Bonus Tip: Do you get a discount from your insurance company for having winter tires? If yes, always remember to check your guidelines. Insurance companies will have set dates for tires to be on/off to qualify for insurance.

So once we finally get that steady warm weather in Canada, the next question we hear from our customers is:

Do You Have to Change Winter Tires in Summer?

The short answer is yes. Driving on winter tires during the summer months can pose a lot of risks for your tires and vehicle but also for yourself – the driver. Winter tires instantly lose effectiveness when driven in warm and dry weather. Manufacturers create winter and summer tires differently to help optimize your driving experience in each season.

Winter tires are designed to perform at their best in cold and wet conditions. When driven during the summer your snow tires will:

• Wear down over 50% faster when driven on warm, dry roads. This happens because the rubber compound of the tire is softer in a winter tire. When exposed to summer conditions the tire will handle unevenly, over grip the road and wear down the tread more quickly than a summer tire.*
• Increased risk of blowing a tire: the ingredients used to create a winter tire are not effective enough at handling heat, so the potential for over inflating your tire or having it blowout are increased.
• Decreased traction and handling: with the softer rubber compound a winter tire will not deliver a good driving experience in the summer. With the tire wearing in warm weather acceleration, braking and overall handling will be effected.
• Make noise! Snow tires are nowhere near as smooth and quiet as summer tires.

Opposite to above, summer tires, also known as performance tires are designed to perform best in dry and warm conditions. Here are some benefits to choosing performance summer tires:

• Better traction provided by the tire making more contact with the road. Summer tires have fewer and shallower grooves which means more rubber touching the road at all times.
• Better grip during the summer caused by the tire being made with a special rubber formula that softens as the temperature rises.
• Reinforced sidewalls for increased tire durability
• Improved cornering and braking capabilities thanks to a special tread pattern that ensures better contact with the road.
• Added performance when driving on wet road conditions from sipes in the tire that help evacuate water to keep your tires in direct contact with the road.

In summary it is always recommended by TIRECRAFT to replace your winter tires with all season or summer tires for the appropriate seasons. It will not only keep you safer but will also save you money in the long run. Seasonally switching your tires will prolong the life of both sets for years to come.

How Do You Change Winter Tires to Summer Tires?

Now that you have an understanding of when you should change over your tires, the next questions is how? If both sets of tires are on rims it is possible to swap out your tires on your own, if you have the proper equipment and know-how. However, many Canadians don’t have the required equipment to install tires on their own. If this is your situation contact your local TIRECRAFT to help! The experts at TIRECRAFT will make sure your car is ready for each upcoming season by completing your tire change for you. Worried about lugging your off season tires back home to the basement or garage? Leave that to us too! Select TIRECRAFT locations also offer seasonal tire storage to better serve our customers.

I Have Winter Tires but not Summer Tires. What Should I Do?

If you have a reliable set of winter tires on your vehicle right now, it is important that you switch them off for warmer weather to preserve the life of those winter tires. Contact your local TIRECRAFT or search our tirefinder tool to browse what summer tire options there is for your vehicle. At TIRECRAFT, we carry a large assortment of summer and performance tires from some of the biggest brands including:

• Michelin
• Continental
• BFGoodrich
• Firestone
• Goodyear
• And more!

Are you a frequent highway driver looking for something to last? Or are you trying to find tires on a budget? Or are you packing up the car and going on road trips every weekend? Stop in the shop today or call to speak with one of our experts to find the best summer tires for your driving habits, with any budget!

If you are shopping for new summer or all season tires it may also be a good time to look at a matching set of wheels! Having two sets of tires and rims not only makes the changeover process easier but also helps extend the life of your tires.

We hope this blog article helps you determine when you should change to summer tires in Canada. If you have any questions contact your Local TIRECRAFT today!

 

*https://www.bridgestonetire.com/tread-and-trend/drivers-ed/driving-winter-tires-year-round

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