What are they?

All weather tires or more commonly known as winter tires is my topic for today. This winter has been relentless, snowfall in the month of February was the highest in history and tonight we were hit with another 15-20 centimeters. I was driving home from the movie theatre in harsh freezing rain conditions with about 5 cm of snow on the highway. Traffic was really slow on the QEW and I drove past countless accidents and cars which spun out of control into the ditch but I was not afraid because I change my tires every winter to all weather tires.

Most of us have a set of all season tires which we use all year, they are great all around tires but below zero celcius they stiffen and lose grip with the road. If you live in the snow belt such as Waterloo-Kitchener, Hamilton and up north in Barrie and further north I highly suggest you get all weather tires for the winter.

Which tire to choose?

Snow tires are specifically designed to provide better traction and braking in deep snow conditions as well as greater stability and control on slushy roads. Some winter tires offer additional features that will enhance the tires’ performance in icy conditions. These features may include studs, specialized rubber compounds or additional traction enhancers moulded directly into the tire.

There are so many tires from different manufacturers out there and it was hard for me to choose. From my endless searching I found that the top 3 were:

1. Michelin X-Ice
2. Bridgestone Blizzak REVO
3. Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50.

Here is a quick video about different tires:

Here is a video which demonstrates the difference between All Season vs. All Weather tires:

Quick Tips:

• Install 4 tires - 2 tires or mixing tires will cause handling issues which can be very unsafe.
• As weather gets warmer, the rubber on your winter tires will melt. Change them to All Season tires (marked with M + S for mud and snow).
• Ensure you have proper air pressure.

When buying all weather tires, be sure to look for the symbol of the mountain with a snowflake logo on it. These tires have been designed specifically for use in severe snow conditions.

I myself bought the Michelin X-Ice from Canadian Tire but I am sure any reputable car shop, although expensive I was able to afford it because my car uses 13″ wheels. I hope that everyone has a safe drive into work tomorrow!

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