Winter tires… a good idea?
Well it’s that time of the year again. The time of year when you are faced with making an important safety decision. Should you or shouldn’t you …get winter tires?
No doubt they are an added expense. Even if you already own them there is the hassle of getting to the shop to have your tires changed.
So are winter tires really worth it? Are they important? Do they really make that much of a difference?
The answer from all the experts seems to be a resounding YES.
According to a 2005 Ministry of Transportation study; in winter driving conditions, a proper winter tire requires a 25 per cent shorter braking distance than an all-season radial and can improve collision avoidance by about 38 per cent. Research by both Transport Canada and the Automobile Protection Association also back these findings.
Other studies have tested road adherence. The vehicles that were equipped with winter tires had no trouble staying on track, whereas those with all season radials often ended up off the track, even at speeds of only 40 to 50 kilometers per hour.
Why is this the case? Well for one thing winter tires have deeper tread grooves than all season radials so they provide much better traction on snow, ice and wet roads. Also, the tires’ compounds differ. With all season radials the handling and braking capabilities decrease in cold weather, but winter tires are specifically designed for the cold and snow.
Should you wait for the first snow fall before putting on your winter tires? No. Winter tires are designed to perform in temperatures below 7 degrees Celsius so the best thing to do is to make sure you have them on by Halloween and take them off when the warmer weather arrives, usually sometime in late April.
The answer to the question “should you get winter tires?” now seems obvious. They are an investment in safety and peace of mind.
Tell us your experiences with, or without, winter tires. Click on ‘Comment on this blog’ below and give 680News your two cents.
November 25th, 2007 at 11:12 pm
Are you serious? Put winter tires on by the end of 0ctober? I don’t think so. The rubber compound on snows is softer than summer tires so on bare pavement they wear out quicker. The tire makers sell more tires, 680News sells more spots to the tire stores. And life goes on.
Seriously I was not aware of the difference in performance summer vs. winter tires. Thanks for the interesting story.
November 28th, 2007 at 11:19 am
I found that driving with winter tires made a huge difference in how my pick-up handled. Without the winter tires I was forever fishtailing around corners, even at low speed but with the winter tires the corners were a breeze! Also, going across the ridges of ice and snow that build up between lanes on the major highways became much less of a hazard with my winter tires. I am definitely sold on them!
December 23rd, 2007 at 10:10 am
Living in Southeastern Ontario, we see extremely variable Winter weather conditions. Over the last three weeks, we’ve had two heavy snowfalls. Today, in Ottawa, it’s raining and the MOST HEAVILY TRAVELLED roads are covered with water. The snow and slush having been washed away.
Snow tires do perform better in deep snow than all-season tires. But the argument of their utility, works both ways. Tire technology is a scienece of COMPROMISE. The benefit of the rubber compounds in Winter tires becomes apparent at 7 degrees, but has anyone read how long Winter tires last under variable conditions? I’ve tried to find out, but you only read about tread depth and grip. I wonder why that is?
One snow storm last week. The main roads were covered with snow for two days, tops. Road surface crews had things cleaned up relatively quickly. Now we have black asphalt. Colder temperatures, but clear asphalt.
Also, how does the average person drive their vehicle? Aggressively? Conservatively? We never hear about performance figures AND driving styles. A person with a leadfoot will spin Winter tires on a snow covered road, regardless. Are these the people who we’re relying on for objective commentary?
February 6th, 2008 at 6:10 am
The first winter I had my SUV, driving was very stressful. With the regular, all season tires I was in constant fear of sliding into oncoming traffic or the vehicle in front of me. The distance I had to being declerating (no breaks), then breaking was unreasonable. The next year I had snow/ice tires on in November. They made a huge difference.
Last week, while driving through the snowy conditions, I was showing my young daughter the difference in the cars on the road. She was soon able to recognize the difference in the vehicle performance of those with snow tire and those without.
In my opinion, regardless of the variable weather, snow/ice tires are a must. I am doing my part to control my vehicle and keep my family as safe as is within my ability.