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winter tires mississauga

All Season Tires or Winter Tires?

Winter is still here and so is the dilemma about tires. Should you continue with all season tires or switch to winter tires? To answer this, it is important to understand the basic differences between the two.

All-Season Tires

All season tires serve well for spring, summer, fall and mild winter conditions. They are designed to provide a smooth journey through year-round temperature differences, from hot days in the peak of summer to wet spring weather and light snow in the winters. This also means all season tires are not built to handle extreme winter conditions such as heavy snow or black ice. For moderate climates, all season tires are recommended. But for extreme winters, you may need winter tires for greater safety and a smoother ride.

Winter Tires

Winter can be unpredictable in Ontario. One day you are driving through flurries; the next day you could be deluged in snow or facing black ice. With winter tires, you know your car will weather it all better. They are designed with tough tread rubber, tread depth, unique patterns and biting edges to provide better traction in all kinds of cold topography.

  • Tread Rubber: Tread rubber allows the tires to remain soft on freezing roads instead of turning stiff, allowing a better grip on black ice and snow. Deeper tread depth and unique patterns repel snow and slush buildup, expel water from tires and provides better traction. The surface of the tires are designed with metal studded holes to provide a firm grip for braking safely on icy roads.
  • Tread Pattern: Tread pattern is designed to provide smooth resistance when driving through snow and slush so you don’t lose control in slippery conditions.
  • Biting Edges: Biting edges and high sipe densities are basically thousands of tiny slits in the tread that offer better traction on ice. Some tires feature a multi-cell compound that removes the water that is typically found over ice, responsible for slips and accidents. This helps you retain more control over your vehicle.

Installing Winter Tires

  • The best time to mount winter tires is towards the end of fall season. Winter tires need to be remounted during spring because they wear down in warm, dry weather.
  • Make sure you install a full set of winter tires. Changing just the front two may cause the rear wheels to skid.
  • Similarly, changing just the rear tires may cause the front wheels to have less traction so it’s easy to lose control of the vehicle. Change all four tires when you do.

416 Wheels and Tires, Mississauga

Based in Mississauga, 416 Wheels and Tires provides a wide range of tire styles and top of the line brands for optimum performance through all seasons: spring, summer, fall and winter. Our experts have extensive knowledge of rims and tires and are trained to provide quality customer service so you know you’re in reliable hands. Visit our store to pick the right brand of winter tires for your vehicle.