Are Winter Tires Worth the Expense?

Canadians are possibly the most winter-savvy people on the planet. Think about it, when many European countries grind to a halt in a snow storm, snow-ploughs and other measures keep Canadian roads clear in wintry conditions, sometimes even for months at a time.





But the excellence of our winter snow-plough know-how hides another problem: not all Canadians are sufficiently knowledgeable about winter tires. Anyone who drives around a large Canadian city in the snowy months will understand: they count the cars stranded by the side of the road, in utter amazement, along with the frequent fender-benders at intersections, and realize that many people either don’t drive to the conditions, or lack winter tires. Or sometimes both.





Do winter tires make a difference? The short answer is yes, they make a big difference. Not only are all-season radials inadequate on snow and ice, but like the more modern "all-weather" alternative, year-round tires are just too hard for sub-zero weather.

Tires are made of rubber (or a manufactured equivalent) for good reason: they need to have a precise degree of softness to grip the pavement properly. Below about 8 degrees Celsius, normal summer tires lose their effectiveness, no matter how many engineers designed the tread. And below 0, or 32 degrees Fahrenheit, ordinary tires are very hard.





Winter tires are considerably softer, and maintain their grip well, even at Canadian winter temperatures. Whether the roads are peppered with snow, or ice, or melted salt-water, you need winter tires in order to be able to corner safely, and to stop in time to avoid the driver in front of you.





Sure, it may take an hour of hard work in the driveway, but it is well worth the expense to get not only winter tires, but a set of rims you can keep them on while they hibernate in the summer months next to the furnace downstairs.





Alternatively, you can have them changed by your mechanic for a reasonable charge; both in spring and late fall. Some of them will even store the set of tires you aren’t using on-site for your convenience. So remember, drive to the conditions, slow down in bad weather, and always change your tires as soon as winter comes.





Be prepared for all that winter can throw at you though. If hail stones or icicles fall onto your car and result in a cracked windscreen, you can quickly arrange for high-tech windshield replacement to ensure your car is safe to drive in extreme weather conditions. It can also help to keep a good ice-scraper in the trunk of your car all year long.