The first time I tested winter tires was on an ice rink five years ago. I compared winter tires to all-season tires on the exact same vehicles -- I was convinced.
I use winter tires on both my car and SUV now. It's true most of us want to save money so many people don't see the logic in buying winter tires. You have to pay between $600 and $1,200 for them depending on the tire size, you may need extra rims costing another $200 to $300 and you have to pay someone an average of $40 to change them every spring and fall if you have them mounted on an extra set of rims, and as much as $80 if you don't.
So if winter tires are more expensive, why are more Canadians buying them? The simple reason is that over time, winter tires designed for our Canadian winters could save you money. You'll have added traction, feel safer, avoid accidents, which can avoid insurance premium increases. While you have a larger outlay of cash upfront, you will have two sets of tires so you are not wearing out one pair while you are using the other.
The newest innovation which may be the future of winter tires in Canada for people who want winter tires but don't want two sets, extra rims and changing them every fall and spring are All-Weather Tires.
The first company to come out with them four years ago was Nokian. Now the Nokian All Weather Tire (WR) is a popular seller. Simply put, half the tread of the tire is made for winter driving and the other half for the other three seasons. Some other All Weather Tires out there but not as widely used yet include Goodyear TripleTred, Yokohama W.drive, and Continental ExtremeContact DWS. These tires may not have the same ability as a truly dedicated winter tire, but they will give you added traction in ice and snow and you won't have the extra hassles. They are also about the same price as winter tires and come with tread warranties of in the area of 100,000 km.
In Quebec, winter tires are now mandatory which caused a shortage last year. But the tire supply for this year seems to be plentiful, although if you are looking for popular tire sizes you may want to shop early.
Many people have been upset in the past that car rental companies don't offer winter tires, but more of them now do. You need to phone and ahead and they may only be on certain vehicles.
Winter Tires: What You Should Know
- Winter tires stop 30 % quicker
- Look for snowflake symbol
- Specialized tread compounds
- Don't mix & match
Source: Goodyear Tires
The following Q and A is from FountainTire.com
What is the difference between all-season tires and winter tires?
All-season tires continue to provide safe all-weather performance, but may not always be suitable for severe snow conditions. All-season tires do not have cold weather rubber compounds, channelling tread patterns, the large number of tread sipes (tiny slits in the tread blocks) for wet surface control, and the open tread block pattern for deep snow traction that winter tires feature. The lack of a formal "snow" designation on the tire has further fuelled the misconception that "all-season" tires also means "winter" tires.
It's winter, but I don't see snow on the ground yet. Is there still a benefit to use winter tires when there is no snow?
On dry pavement, the overall performance of an all-season tire steadily declines as the temperature gets colder. The crossover point is about 5 degrees Celsius. Colder than that, a winter tire outperforms an all-season tire. The winter tire performance sharply improves as temperatures fall from 5 degrees to -30 degrees Celsius, while the all-season tire approaches the "not recommended" status.
How does the tread design of winter tires affect its performance over all-season tires?
Winter tires typically feature a unidirectional tread design. The unidirectional, V-groove tires move slush and water out of the way better than any other tread design. The more open the tread design, the better the tire will perform against accumulated snow. The larger the tread blocks, the better the handling, steering response, and transient response. The more sipes (tiny slits in the tread blocks), the better the tire will work on wet pavement, which is different than anti-hydroplaning. New advances, such as Goodyear's patented 3D-BIS - which stands for three dimensional block interlocking system - causes tread blocks to actually interlock during cornering, stopping, and at increased speeds.
Only two of my tires need replacing at this time. Should I replace just the two?
To help maintain control and stability of your vehicle in slippery conditions, Transport Canada recommends that snow tires should be installed in sets of four. Vehicle handling will be improved when identical tires are installed on all four wheels. Also, mixing tires with different tread patterns, internal construction, and size degrades the stability of the vehicle and should be avoided. For these safety reasons, it is Fountain Tire policy to install winter tires in sets of 4.
What kind of materials and designs are used in winter tires to make them work better in winter compared to all-season tires?
High quality winter tires, such as the Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice, use specialized ice compounds that perform best at colder temperatures. The high silica tread compounds assist with traction on ice and hard-packed snow.
How will I know which tires are winter tires?
Start by speaking to one of the experts at Fountain Tire. Winter tires bear the "mountain snowflake" symbol on the sidewall of the tire, which tells you that this tire has been tested and passes the winter safety standards. To qualify for the severe snow usage symbol, winter tires must perform a minimum of 110% better than a standard tire in a mandated snow traction test; however, many winter tires are 130-150% better, which translates to shorter stopping distance and better handling.
Will winter tires help me stop in slippery conditions?
A study conducted by the Quebec Ministry of Transport showed a proper winter tire can improve braking up to 25 per cent over an all-season radial tire, and can improve collision avoidance by approximately 38 per cent.
Why shouldn't I keep winter tires on my car all year long?
Winter tires are designed with softer tread compounds so they can dig into snow and stick to ice at low temperatures. To get the optimal performance from the tires on your vehicle you should use the products as they are intended. While you could keep winter tires on all year, they typically have softer tread rubber and will wear out quicker than an all-season tire.
