Tires

Frequently Asked Questions about Winter Tires

How are snow tires different?

Winter tires are made out of a specialized rubber and have a unique tread that enables them to handle Saskatchewan's temperatures. The rubber in an All-Season tire starts to lose elasticity and harden at temperatures around 7° Celcius, greatly reducing grip.The rubber in a winter tire will only harden at around -40° celcius.

Tires marked with the pictograph of a peaked mountain with a snowflake meet specific snow traction performance requirements, and have been designed specifically for use in severe snow conditions - such as the over 120cm of snow that Saskatoon and area get on average every year.

Do I need Winter Tires? Aren't All-Season tires good enough?

Not quite. All-season tires are equipped to deal with many sorts of driving conditions, such as dry roads and rainy weather, but they?re not as specific as winter tires. All-Season tires are usually made from a harder rubber, so they?re not able to work as effectively in colder Nova Scotia temperatures. Winter tires are able to really dig into the icy roads, giving you a more secure ride.

But I have All-Wheel Drive. Isn't that good enough?

While all-wheel-drive, does have its benefits in winter weather, it doesn?t offer you the same stopping ability that snow tires do. Because snow tires are built to grip the road and handle snow better than regular tires, they are able to give you the extra control you need on slick roads.

Can Snow Tires say on all year?

Yes, but it's not the best idea to leave them on. Since snow tires are made from softer rubber materials, they will wear out faster. This is especially true in the warmer seasons.

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