Winter weather is around the corner, so many people are switching to winter tires. Why? Winter tires will give you the best performance in ice, wind and snow. Tests conducted on ice show that even at 25 km/h, vehicles using winter tires had a stopping distance nearly a full car length shorter than the same vehicles using all-season tires. Without winter tires, you are more prone to slippage on corners, spinouts and trouble on icy hills.
But what makes gives winter tires that extra traction? They have specialized rubber compounds and tread designs to handle the cold temperatures. The tread remains flexible to prevent snow buildup and help with traction on ice.
A study conducted by the Canadian Press and Leger Marketing (1) showed winter tire usage across Canada: Québec has the highest usage at 84%, with the lowest usage in the Prairie provinces (only 10%). Surprisingly, only 29% of Ontario drivers make use of winter tires. While still only 42% of Canadians use winter tires, the trend is unmistakable: more and more people are switching to winter tires.
All Season Tires: Good enough?
All-season tires are designed to be adequate in just that – all seasons. As a result, they are not designed for optimal performance in any one season. This may be satisfactory in parts of North America where the season changes are not as drastic as Canada, but in the “Great White North,” all-season tires are likely not going to give you the control and traction you need.
The tread design of an all-season tire is not as aggressive as that of a winter tire and is also not as flexible in the cold. An all-season tire’s tread will quickly get packed with snow and you may lose traction.
How to tell if your tires are optimal for Canadian Winter conditions
Winter Tire Rating
On February 1, 1999 the Rubber Manufacturer’s Association (RMA) and the Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) introduced a winter tire grading.
These tires are specifically designed for severe snow conditions and meet snow traction performance requirements. Tires meeting this standard are marked with a pictograph of a peaked mountain Snow Tires Grading. This standard helps drivers choose a tire that will help make their winter driving safer.
Storing Winter Tires
The best place to store winter tires is in a cool, dry location. (Basement, or possibly a garage). You can lay them down flat, stacked on top of each other, but no taller than 4 high. This offers the most support and should eliminate any fitting problems the following fall. We also recommend that you return to the store/dealer from where you purchased your tires, and ask for storage bags. This will protect the tires from natural ozone in the air which can cause tire rubber to dry and crack. Wrap each tire individually and stack them. Stored tires should be kept away from electric motors or welders as these produce ozone which will damage the rubber over time.
Winter Driving Tips
- If you install winter tires, switch all four tires, not just two. Using just 2 winter tires can cause the car to spin unexpectedly because of greater traction on only two wheels.
- When driving in rough winter conditions, be prepared and bring the following: jumper cables, tire chains, flares, blankets, food, gloves, boots, a flashlight, a cell phone, a first aid kit, an ice scraper, and a towing cable.
- Slow down, especially before corners and before going down hills.
- When you first get on the roads, test your brakes and steering.
- Watch out for black ice, as well as extra ice on bridges, overpasses, and intersections.
- Don’t use cruise control in the winter.
- Don’t follow other cars too closely and give yourself extra room to stop safely.
- Check your local weather forecast before driving to prevent getting caught in undesirable conditions.
(1) http://www.betiresmart.ca/pdf/2005_1204.pdf
