Comparing Winter Vs. All-Season Tires
It is important to have the right tires on your vehicle for the right season, but how exactly can you compare the attributes of winter vs. all-season tires?
What Are Winter Tires?
Tire engineers design winter tires specifically for winter driving. Winters in North York can be harsh; it is hard on us, and it is hard on our vehicles. Because we experience such seasonal variance in Ontario, it makes sense to have different tires throughout the year. You probably don’t wear the same shoes throughout the year, so why use the same tires?
Winter tires can handle cold weather, snow, and ice. Tire engineers design winter tires with special tread patterns that can grip cold asphalt. They make winter tires out of different compounds and use siping to give you the traction you need even in extreme cold.
What Are All-Season Tires?
Tire manufacturers make all-season tires that can handle numerous weather conditions. You can drive on winter tires in winter and summer tires and summer, but not everybody wants to change their tires multiple times a year. Furthermore, autumn and spring offer different weather conditions that might not be ideal for either winter or summer tires.
All-season tires can provide suitable traction on hot asphalt and give you the stopping power you need on wet roads. All-seasons are good in all seasons, but they may not be the best option for any specific weather condition.
Do You Really Need Winter Tires?
In the Greater Toronto Area, yes, you really should use winter tires in the coldest months. While as many as 49% of Canadian drivers try to use all-seasons throughout winter, it is dangerous to do so. At R&S Auto, we strongly advise switching to winter tires in November for winter conditions.
All-season tires are remarkable products, and in many parts of the world, they really can handle all seasons. But not in Canada. Even if you work from home and don’t have to drive that much, and even if it doesn’t snow that much in the GTA compared to the rest of Canada, yes, winter tires are still necessary.
We may call them “snow tires”, but winter tires aren’t just snow tires. Temperatures as mild as seven degrees Celsius can stiffen the rubber compounds in all-season tires. This hampers their ability to grip the surface of the road.
The Caveat To Winter Tires
You don’t have to use winter tires in winter. You can drive on all-weather tires. All-weather tires are not all-season tires. Despite their similar names, only all-weathers meet the winter safety requirements of the Rubber Association of Canada. You can tell the difference because all-weather tires bear the snowflake pictogram.
Buy All-Season Tires And Winter Tires At R&S Auto.
Now you know the differences between winter vs. all-season tires, you can buy either of them near you in North York at R&S Auto. We offer a wide range of all-season tires, all-weather tires, summer tires, and winter tires. Our tire experts can recommend tires based on your vehicle and driving habits.
To book an appointment for tire service, please click here. To learn more about all-season vs. winter tires, or about our other services and products, please contact us via our website or call 416-748-9300.