Winter Tire Tips

All-season tires can be used year-round but that doesn't mean that they are the best choice year-round. In regions with freezing winter weather, winter tires are one of the best ways to improve vehicle safety on snowy and icy roads.

Winter tires feature aggressive tread patterns with deep grooves that dig into packed snow. This improves both accelerating and braking ability. Even at slow speeds, winter tires can reduce stopping distance by up to 25%.

In one evaluation, stopping distance was measured for a sub-compact, minivan, and 4-wheel drive vehicle traveling at 30 mph:

Sub-Compact
-Winter:       128 feet
-All-season: 166 feet

Minivan
-Winter:       126 feet
-All-season: 168 feet

4-Wheel Drive
-Winter:       117 feet
-All-season: 140 feet

Stopping 20 to 40 feet shorter makes a big difference between a collision and a close call, and winter tires also improve overall handling and cornering on slippery surfaces.

*Ministry of Transportation, Quebec 2002

Don't Call Them Snow Tires

Winter tires are often mandatory in regions with heavy snow like Quebec and several European countries, but they don't only improve traction on snowy or icy roads. Beyond aggressive tread patterns and studs, winter tires feature a different rubber composition than all-season tires that improves handling even on dry surfaces.

Composed with advanced tread compounds including greater percentages of natural rubber and silica, winter tires retrain their flexibility in freezing temperatures unlike all-season tires that can harden and lose traction. Anybody that drives where winter temperatures are regularly below 45 degrees Fahrenheit can benefit from winter tires.