Winter Tires Guide

1 What Are Winter Tires And Are They Worth It?

Once the mercury drops below 7℃ (45℉), all-season tires and especially summer tires stiffen up and harden. This hardening affects the traction negatively and reduces vehicle control when driving over rain, slush, ice, and snow. This reduction in traction causes most mishaps and impacts the driveability of the vehicle in the winter months. Winter tires, on the other hand, are made with specially formulated compounds able to sustain extreme temperatures below freezing point and maintain flexibility using a soft tread. This increases the traction and overall control of the vehicle. These tires have deeper tread depths and special tread designs which reduces snow buildup and provides better traction on snowy surfaces and helps expel water and snow. Winter tires also have an increased amount of biting edges and high sipe densities which help grip the snowy terrain for increased traction at the wheels. 

Considerable research went into creating the modern winter tires we are familiar with today and this reflects in their durability and performance in extremely cold temperatures. Modern winter tires reduce stopping distances by about 33% as compared to all-season tires when stopping on or icy roads and winter tires also offer up to 50% or more traction. Any driver who’s driven over black ice will tell you that the grip on such roads is so bad, there is almost no chance of stopping in time to avert potentially lethal accidents. Having winter tires can drastically reduce these stopping distances and also give you enough control and steer over the vehicle to make an emergency stop and be the difference between life and death. 

The latest Canadian Consumer Winter Tire Study 2019 survey conducted by TRAC (Tire and Rubber Association of Canada) suggests that 80% of winter tire owners believe driving a vehicle equipped with winter tires has saved them from being involved in a potentially hazardous driving situation such as loss of control or a collision. The study also shows that 75% of Canadians now equip their cars with winter tires as of 2019. These numbers speak in abundance about the effectiveness of winter tires and their impact on safety and why more and more Canadians are turning towards seasonal tire change. 

For an in-depth analysis, understanding, and advantages of modern winter tires, you can read this winter tire report (pdf) by The Traffic Injury Research Foundation and this report (pdf) from TRAC.

1.1. How To Recognize Winter Tires?

With so many types of tires available, the consumer must know what they are buying and if they meet the right standards. Winter or Snow tires can be identified using the 3PMSF – 3 peak mountain snowflake symbol (also referred to as the ‘Alpine’ symbol) which is prescribed by the manufacturer if the tire meets or exceeds minimum industry snow traction requirements and winter tire standards set by Transport Canada. This pictogram is marked on the tire sidewalls. 

All-season and all-weather tires come with the “M+S” symbol on the sidewall, which means “Mud & Snow”. Some winter and all-weather tires come with both 3PMSF pictogram and “M+S” symbols. All-weather tires with the alpine symbol are versatile tires for light snow driving as well as all-year performance.

2 Winter Tires Versus Other Tire Types

Most cars come factory equipped with all-season tires and people assume that these are sufficient for winter driving. While all-season tires can tackle light snow conditions, they pose an extreme safety hazard when driving on ice and heavy snow-covered roads. Winter tires come to the rescue in such road conditions and are the ideal choice for heavy snow, ice, slush and cold dry road driving. Find out how winter tires hold against other tires types. 

2.1. Are Winter Tires The Same As Snow Tires?

Winter tires differ from “Snow” tires and there are many reasons for it. Snow tires were able to drive in one condition, and that’s snow. Anything else and they would fail miserably and lose tread faster than a dragster. Snow tires work only over snow, so that would mean stopping in the dry even for a little might ruin them completely. They are also bad during wet settings and so are not the ideal solution for winter driving since water, ice, and snow are all factors in the winter. Winter tires do away with most of these drawbacks as they can perform well in snow and rain and even offer exceptional grip over icy black roads or black ice. This means once you equip winter tires, you can have the pairs on until before spring hits.

2.2. Can Winter Tires Be Used In The Summer?

While there is no legal restriction on using winter tires in summers, technically it won’t be a viable option. This is because winter tires will wear faster in warmer conditions, and thus summer tires will perform better than them.  

Winter tires are also less safe in summer conditions, as they provide lower gripping and traction than summer tires. Thus, it is best to switch to summer tires in warm climates and store the winter tires for the following winter season.

2.2.1. Why Switch From Summer Tires To Winter Tires in Winters?

The reason why you should use winter tires instead of summer is explained through the following points:

• The tread pattern of winter tires has more cuts, spikes, or grooves, which help the tire better displace water and bite more into snow and ice.
• The winter tire compound has more silica that keeps it supple and pliable, even in freezing cold temperatures. Summer tire rubber becomes hard and rigid with cold temperatures, making it slippery, decreasing traction.
• Winter tire rubber blocks vibrate in motion and do not allow the snow or ice to deposit on them. Summer tires can clog up with snow and ice, making the surface smooth and slippery, thus, useless.

2.3. Are Winter Tires Good For All Seasons?

It is always advised to use the right tool for the right job. Similarly, winter tires work the best in winters and may have some downsides if used in other weather and all year round. For this, many car manufacturers offer all-season tires as they leave the factory. This is because all-season tires take the best attributes of summer and winter tires and provide a good quality ride, control, and performance year-round.

All-season tires replicate the performance of winter tires but can’t handle extreme winter conditions. Thus, they are suitable for wet roads but may prove of no use when driving over snow or ice.

• Thread Rubber–The thread rubber of all-season tires becomes stiffer and provides less traction in extreme cold. Winter tires have special rubber compounds that are more flexible and can easily increase traction and handling. Thus, all-season tires can handle average temperatures and driving conditions throughout the year.
• Tread Depth & Pattern–All-season tires are designed to work in both summer and winter and thus don’t have the same depth and pattern in tire tread as winter tires. This means increased snow build-up and decreased traction. Also, they cannot channel snow, slush and water as effectively as winter tires.
• Biting Edges–Winter tires have more sipes and biting edges that provide increased traction and cornering control over all-season tires. All-season tires can handle light snow.

2.3.1. Problems When Using Winter Tires All Year

• Winter tires don’t offer precision handling under normal conditions
• Winter tires with metal studs dig harshly into asphalt, causing road damage
• Winter tires will wear quickly as they have a softer rubber compound
• Winter tires are more expensive than all-season tires

3 Can You Install Studs On Any Winter Tire?

Studs can only be installed on stud-able winter tires. Such tires have preset positions or holes where the studs can be installed. This is important because the position of studs is strategically chosen to provide the best traction and control on snow and ice and should not be installed randomly. 

Attempting to install studs in a studless tire can hamper the integrity of the tire and can compromise performance and handling.

Studded Versus Studless Winter Tires

The two most common types of winter tires are studded and studless tires. Studded tires were a primary choice for a long time, but with advancements in rubber compounds, studless tires gained popularity.

Studded Winter Tires

Studded tires contain small, but strong metal studs which can easily dig into ice and provide added traction. But studded tires work only on ice and snow and generate a lot of noise on non-icy and non-snowy roads, potentially damaging the road. Studded tires can only be used within specified time periods in most Canadian provinces. Refer to this to learn more about when studded tires are allowed in Canada. 

Studless Winter Tires

With improvements in material, construction, and tread pattern, the use of studless tires has gained momentum. Modern winter tires are made of specialized rubber compounds that provide additional flexibility to maintain proper traction and control on snowy, icy, wet, and dry conditions.

Studless tires also have deeper threads that can easily handle snow and mud and provide increased snow-on-snow traction by packing it between thread blocks. These tires also have increased sipes quantities that aid in acceleration, cornering and braking capabilities. 

4 Winter Tires And Drive Type Combinations

4.1. How Do Winter Tires Perform On Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles?

A 4WD or Four-Wheel-Drive system is usually present on trucks and SUVs, that traverse through off-road terrains and heavy snow and ice. When accelerating in cold conditions, winter tires prove to provide faster acceleration than summer tires.

While braking, winter tires have been proved to provide a much shorter stopping distance than summer tires on wet and cold surfaces, which can be the difference between life and death in winters.

When cornering, a four-wheel-drive vehicle with winter tires produces more lateral acceleration than a similar vehicle with summer tires on wet, snowy, or icy surfaces.

Thus, winter tires prove to be a better option for four-wheel-drive vehicles in colder conditions than summer tires under the same weather.

See our comprehensive guide to Winter Tires on 4WD Vehicles and choose the right winter tires for your ride.

4.2. Can You Use Winter Tires On A Rear-Wheel-Drive Car?

Since rear-wheel-drive vehicles are compromised by nature in low-grip conditions, winter tires will be a welcome addition on such vehicles. Winter tires will provide a better grip, traction, and control in poor weather conditions and thus make them more efficient. Although beneficial, it is always recommended to use all four tires to avoid losing control while braking or cornering.

4.3. Can You Use Winter Tires On A Front-Wheel-Drive Car?

Most vehicles that run on the road are front-wheel drive (FWD) and are among better options to run on ice and snow due to the vehicle weight being on the forward axle that aids in increased traction. Because of the FWD system, the vehicle is pulled forward and is likely to have better control and stability on cornering and braking. This coupled with a good set of winter tires will further enhance the performance. 

5 Winter Tire Care

5.1. Where Should I Put My Winter Tires When Not Being Used?

Perhaps the inability to store an extra set of tires is a prime reason that withholds the vehicle owners from buying a new set of winter tires. There is either no space to absorb a new set of tires in the already packed garage or no place to store at all for the apartment dwellers. There are companies that offer off-season tire storage services at very reasonable rates and you can swap your tires by just booking an appointment with the concerned company. This is an increasingly popular service and the best one available. With it becoming more common nowadays, many other retailers and car dealerships have stepped into this with similar business models.

5.2. When To Install And Remove Winter Tires? When To Change To Winter Tires?

Winter tires cannot be used throughout the year and so it is necessary to swap them for summer or all-season tires when the time comes. Read all about when to change to winter tires here. 

5.3. How Long Do Winter Tires Last?

With an average drive of 20,000 to 25,000 kilometres per year, in a region that faces extreme winters for about 4 months every season, your winter tires can last for 4 or 5 seasons easily.

Check out our Tire Buying Guide for the ultimate solution to all the queries.

5.4. How To Change To Winter Tires?

Changing to winter tires involves the same procedure as replacing any other tire. However, you should be careful of the position of the tire, as this will directly affect tire wear and performance. Also, install the tire in such a way that there is equal wear on the tire. 

• Choose a flat, safe, and dry workplace and make sure the vehicle doesn’t roll.
• Prepare the four winter tires next to you and remove the hub-cap of all tires.
• Loosen the nuts by turning counterclockwise using a spanner. Use the key to loosen the nuts but do not completely remove them.
• Place the jack under the car and position it in front of the mark specially made for this operation. Turn the jack’s crank to raise the tire from the ground, enough to pull it to you after.
• Remove the nuts completely and remove the wheel. Place the winter tire on the hub.
• Tighten the nuts by turning them clockwise by hand until they are all tight and lower the car to the ground using the jack. Tighten the nuts as much as possible with a spanner that fits and remove the jack. Repeat the steps for the other tires.

6 FAQs

6.1. How Much Do Winter Tires Cost?

While it may seem to be an additional cost at the first glance, a set of winter tires can save you money in the long run. Wondering how? The tires, like anything else in the world, only last for a certain amount of time based on the miles you’ve put on them. By running winter tires, you are extending the life of the tires you run the rest of the year. This prolongs the duration between pricey tire replacements. 

The average cost of a tire is about $150 to $190 with installation. Considering any winter tire is far superior to the best of all-season tires on snow, this price you are paying isn’t much. Learning that the tires hold far more importance than the drive type, you could save a premium of $1500 and use that to spend on the right tires to have a car that stops and turns properly on snow. 

Most auto workshops will bill you at least $60-$70 + taxes on assembly, balancing, and installation.

6.2. What Are Tire Chains?

Tire chains consist of metal chains that are wrapped around the wheel. As the vehicle traverses through snow-filled lands, the chains dig into the snow and provide better traction, which ultimately increases the vehicle handling, crucial in any winter driving scenario. Tire chains can be notoriously hard to install, but with a little practice and persistence, the job can get much easier. When driving on many roads in Canada it is recommended to use tire chains especially on light and heavy-duty trucks and trailers for superior performance and reduced risk of accidents. 

Properly installing tire chains is necessary for the best results and also to avoid damage to other vehicle components like suspension and brake lines. It is important to note that tire chains should not be driven on dry pavements as it can damage the roads.

6.3. Can You Fit Winter Tires to Steel Wheels?

Steel wheels are much cheaper than alloy wheels and weigh practicality over appearance. That is why many base model variants come with steel wheels and not alloys. Steel wheels can definitely be used with winter tires and in fact, many drivers prefer steel wheels in combination with winter tires and keep them mounted year round, to decrease their hassle and to avoid damaging their alloy wheel in winters.