Winter Tires & the 7 °C  Sweet Spot

As we rapidly move towards December, it seems that Fall hasn't really come around much over the last few weeks. With numerous days of temperatures above 16°C and still being able to occasionally roll our windows down - we've been lucky. Unfortunately, according to the good ol' Canadian Farmer's Almanac, thats all about to change and we are in for a big cold shock. The winters we remember from years ago are predicted to make a comeback, complete with regular snow storms and freezing temperatures (basically what living in Canada is supposed to be).

Winter in Hamilton

So what is the importance of this prediction on the roads? Well you may have heard before that 7 Degrees is the magic number when it comes to snow tires. It isn't necessarily the snow hitting the ground that should push us to get our winter tires installed - it’s the temperature. Research has shown that when the cold hits 7 degrees and below our summer tires lose their ability to grip and make contact with the road due to the rubber hardening. Picture your summer tires basically turning into a hockey puck. What is a hockey puck good at? That's right - sliding and gliding, the opposite of what anyone wants in a tire in the cold of winter.   

All Season Tires vs Winter Tires

Winter tires on the other hand are designed with a different type of rubber compound that has much better grip and optimized tread width to deal with snow and ice. All season tires are typically rated to deal with mud and snow but generally are not capable of dealing as well with extreme freeze and deep snow conditions. Snow Tires will have a mountain/snowflake symbol on the side wall to indicate it meets the required performance in snow testing. Always change all 4 tires! Changing just two is not adequate.

Picture Courtesy of: Rubber Association of Canada

So, as we approach colder temperatures and the likelihood that snow is soon to fall, keep in mind the importance of winter tires. They are a part of a vehicle that can help keep you safe, but you must always drive with caution and adapt to road conditions. Always keep your distance from the next vehicle in front of you, leaving 8 times the distance compared to dry roads. Stay safe on the roads this winter!

EXTRA TIP: Changing your winter tires too early or waiting too long to swap them for summer tires will create unnecessary wear on your tires. Winter tires are made of softer rubber that does not hold up well on hot pavement. Having them on in higher temperatures will create more drag and friction, requiring more power to move the vehicle, therefore decreasing gas mileage.

BONUS: Bay King Chrysler is currently running a promotion were you can win a FREE set of winter tires. For full details check out this link. Contest closes November 30th - so enter now! We've also got some great deals going on in our Tire Shop like Buy 3 get 4th Free and many brand rebate coupons! Shop for your winter tires today!